Surat Al-Ma'idah
(The Table Spread With Food)
(Verses 27 - 34)

In the Name of Allah,
the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

verse 27 : And (O Muhammad PBUH) recite to them (the Jews) the story of the two sons of Adam (Habil and Qabil-Abel and Cain) in truth; when each offered a sacrifice (to Allah), it was accepted from one but not from the other. The latter said to the former: "I will surely kill you." The former said: "Verily, Allah accepts only from those who are Al-Muttaqun (the pious)."

Verse 28: "If you do stretch your hand against me to kill me, I shall never stretch my hand against you to kill you: for I fear Allah, the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinn, and all that exists)."

Verse 29: "Verily, I intend to let you draw my sin on yourself as well as yours, then you will be one of the dwellers of the Fire; and that is the recompense of the Zalimun (wrong-doers)."

Verse 30: So the Nafs (self) of the other (latter one) encouraged him and made fair-seeming to him the murder of his brother; he murdered him and became one of the losers.

Verse 31: Then Allah sent a crow who scratched the ground to show him how to hide the dead body of his rbother. He (the murderer) said: "Woe to me! Am I not even able to be as this crow and to hide the dead body of my brother?" Then he became one of those who regretted.

Verse 32: Because of that, We ordained for the Children of Israel that if anyone killed a person not in retalitation of murder, or to spread mischief in the land -- it would be as if he killed all mankind, and if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind. And indeed, there came to them Our Messengers with clear proofs, evidences, and signs, even then after that many of them continued to exceed the limits (e.g. by doing oppression unjustly and exceeding beyond the limits set by Allah by committing the major sins) in the land!

Verse 33: The recompense of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger (PBUH) and do mischief in the land is only that they shall be killed or crucified or their hands and their feet be cut off from opposite sides, or be exiled from the land. That is their disgrace in this world, and a great torment is theirs in the Hereafter.

Verse 34: Except for those who (having fled away and then) came back (as Muslims) with repentance before they fall into your power; in that case, know that Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

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HADITH

1. Narrated 'Abdullah Radiyallahu Anh: The Prophet PBUH said, "None (no human being) is killed or murdered (unjustly), but a part of responsibility for the crime is laid on the first son of Adam who invented the tradition of killing (murdering) on the earth. (It is said that he was Qabil)." (Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol.9, Hadith No.6)

 

2. Narrated Anas bin Malik Radiyallahu Anh: The Prophet PBUH said, "The biggest of Al-Kaba'ir (the great sins) are:

(1) To join others as partners in worship with Allah
(2) to murder a human being
(3) to be undutiful to one's parents
(4) and to make a false statement," or said, "to give a false witness."

(Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol.9, Hadith No.10)