The Two Sons of Adam

The two sons of Adam are the protagonists of humanity's first crime. Each presented an offering to God; one was accepted, not the other. Jealousy drove the second to kill his brother — and the Quran draws from this a lesson on the value of a human life.

The two sons of Adam each offered a sacrifice to God. One's offering was accepted, the other's rejected. Consumed by jealousy, the one whose offering had been refused threatened his brother: 'I will kill you.'

The threatened brother responded with remarkable nobility: God only accepts from those who fear Him; and even if you raise your hand against me, I will not raise mine against you, for I fear God.

But the other's soul overcame him: he killed his brother, and destroyed himself in the process. Before the body, not knowing what to do with it, he saw a crow scratching the earth — and understood he must bury his brother. He was then seized by remorse.

It is in connection with this first murder that God revealed that to kill one soul unjustly is like killing all of humanity, and that to save a life is like saving all of humanity (5:32).

This story teaches where jealousy leads when it is allowed to grow, and the nobility of the one who refuses to return evil for evil. It also establishes the absolute respect for human life: a single life is worth all of humanity.

وَاتْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ نَبَأَ ابْنَيْ آدَمَ بِالْحَقِّ إِذْ قَرَّبَا قُرْبَانًا فَتُقُبِّلَ مِنْ أَحَدِهِمَا وَلَمْ يُتَقَبَّلْ مِنَ الْآخَرِ قَالَ لَأَقْتُلَنَّكَ

Raconte-leur, en toute vérité, l’histoire des deux fils d’Adam qui présentèrent chacun une offrande. Mais l’un d’eux vit son offrande acceptée, contrairement à l’autre dont l’offrande fut rejetée. « Je vais te tuer », dit ce dernier à son frère qui lui répondit : « Allah n’accepte que les œuvres de ceux qui Le craignent.

5:27

فَبَعَثَ اللَّهُ غُرَابًا يَبْحَثُ فِي الْأَرْضِ لِيُرِيَهُ كَيْفَ يُوَارِي سَوْءَةَ أَخِيهِ

Allah envoya alors un corbeau qui, en grattant la terre, lui montra comment enfouir le cadavre de son frère. Il s’exclama : « Malheur à moi ! Ne suis-je donc pas capable, à l’image de ce corbeau, d’ensevelir la dépouille de mon frère ? » Il fut donc en proie aux remords.

5:31