And recite to them the story of Adam's two sons, in truth.
“In truth”: the Qur'an tells the story in six verses, with no names, no place and no date.
The names Hâbîl and Qâbîl, Abel and Cain, come from the commentators and the People of the Book.
When they both offered a sacrifice, and it was accepted from one of them but not from the other.
Why these offerings? The Qur'an does not say. The commentators report a dispute over a marriage.
They also report that one gave the best of his flock, the other poor grain. That is not in the verse either.
He said: “I will surely kill you.”
He said: “Allah only accepts from the God-fearing.”
Look at the anger: Allah refused his offering, and he turns on his brother.
The answer sends him back to himself: acceptance depends on fearing Allah, not on your brother.
“If you stretch out your hand against me to kill me,
I will not stretch out my hand against you to kill you. I fear Allah, Lord of the worlds.”
He does not answer a threat with a threat. His reason fits in a few words: I fear Allah.
Speaking of times of trial, the Prophet ﷺ said: let a man “be like the better of Adam's two sons”.
He adds a warning: “I want you to carry my sin and your sin, and be among the people of the Fire.”
Two brothers, the first sons of Adam (peace be upon him).
One of them will kill the other. How does it begin?
It began with an offering refused, and a heart that could not bear another's gift.
Tonight, name one blessing given to someone you envy, and ask Allah to bless them in it.