Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Ma'idah Verse 27

Mufti Taqi Usmani

And recite to them the story of the two sons of ’Ādam rightly: When both of them offered a sacrifice, it was accepted from one of them, and was not accepted from the other. He said, “I will kill you.” He said, “Allah accepts only from the God-fearing.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Relate to them in truth ˹O Prophet˺ the story of Adam’s two sons—how each offered a sacrifice: Abel’s offering was accepted while Cain’s was not. So Cain threatened, “I will kill you!” His brother replied, “Allah only accepts ˹the offering˺ of the sincerely devout.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Relate to them the story of the two sons of Adam in truth, when both offered a sacrifice; it was accepted from one [Abel] but not accepted from the other [Cain]. The latter said, “I will kill you.” The former said, “Allah only accepts from those who fear Him.

A. J. Arberry

And recite thou to them the story of the two sons of Adam truthfully, when they offered a sacrifice, and it was accepted of one of them, and not accepted of the other. 'I will surely slay thee,' said one. 'God accepts only of the godfearing,' said the other.

Abdul Haleem

[Prophet], tell them the truth about the story of Adam’s two sons: each of them offered a sacrifice, and it was accepted from one and not the other. One said, ‘I will kill you,’ but the other said, ‘God only accepts the sacrifice of those who are mindful of Him.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And rehearse thou unto them with truth the tale of the two sons of Adam, when the twain offered an offering, and it was accepted from one of them, and was not accepted from the other; he said: surely I will slay thee. Said the other: Allah accepteth only from the God- fearing.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Recite to them the truth of the story of the two sons of Adam. Behold! they each presented a sacrifice (to Allah); It was accepted from one, but not from the other. Said the latter; "Be sure I will slay thee." "Surely," said the former, "Allah doth accept of the sacrifice of those who are righteous.

Abul Ala Maududi

Narrate to them in all truth the story of the two sons of Adam. When they made an offering and it was accepted from one of them and was not accepted from the other, the latter said: 'I will surely kill you.' Thereupon the former said: 'Allah accepts offerings only from the God-fearing.

Ahmed Ali

Narrate to them exactly the tale of the two sons of Adam. When each of them offered a sacrifice (to God), that of one was accepted, and that of the other was not. Said (the one): "I will murder you," and the other replied: "God only accepts from those who are upright and preserve themselves from evil.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And recite to them the true tale of the two sons of Adam; when both of them offered a sacrifice each – hence the sacrifice of one was accepted and not accepted from the other; he (the other) said, “I swear I will kill you”; he answered, “Allah accepts only from the pious.”

Ali Quli Qarai

Relate to them truly the account of Adam’s two sons. When the two of them offered an offering, it was accepted from one of them and not accepted from the other. [One of them] said, ‘Surely I will kill you.’ [The other one] said, ‘Allah accepts only from the Godwary.

Ali Ünal

Narrate to them (O Messenger) in truth the exemplary experience of the two sons of Adam, when they each offered a sacrifice, and it was accepted from one of them, and not accepted from the other. "I will surely kill you," said (he whose sacrifice was not accepted). "God accepts only from the sincere and truly pious," said the other.

Amatul Rahman Omar

And relate to them with the truth the great news of the two sons of Adam, when they (each) made an offering, and it was accepted from one of them and was not accepted from the other. (The latter whose offering was not accepted, out of jealousy for the other) said, `I will slay you.´ He replied, `(How can I be held responsible for the rejection of your offering;) Allâh accepts only from those who become secure against evil,

English Literal

And read/recite on them (the) information/news (of) Adam`s two sons with the truth , when they (B) approached/neared an approachment to God (an offering), so (it) was accepted from one of them (B) and was not (to) be accepted from the other, he said: "I will kill you (E)." He said: "But, God accepts from the fearing and obeying."

Faridul Haque

And recite to them the true tale of the two sons of Adam; when both of them offered a sacrifice each - hence the sacrifice of one was accepted and not accepted from the other; he (the other) said, “I swear I will kill you”; he answered, “Allah accepts only from the pious.”

Hamid S. Aziz

"If you do stretch forth your hand to kill me, I will not stretch forth mine to kill you; for, verily, I fear Allah the Lord of the Worlds.

Hilali & Khan

And (O Muhammad SAW) recite to them (the Jews) the story of the two sons of Adam [Habil (Abel) and Qabil (Cain)] in truth; when each offered a sacrifice (to Allah), it was accepted from the 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 - see V. 2:2)."

Maulana Mohammad Ali

He said: It will surely be forbidden to them for forty years -- they will wander about in the land. So grieve not for the transgressing people.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And relate to them the story of the two sons of Adam with truth when they both offered an offering, but it was accepted from one of them and was not accepted from the other. He said: I will most certainly slay you. (The other) said: Allah only accepts from those who guard (against evil).

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

But recite unto them with truth the tale of the two sons of Adam, how they offered each a sacrifice, and it was accepted from the one of them and it was not accepted from the other. (The one) said: I will surely kill thee. (The other) answered: Allah accepteth only from those who ward off (evil).

Muhammad Sarwar

(Muhammad) tell them the true story of the two sons of Adam (Abel and Cain). Each one of them offered a sacrifice. God accepted the sacrifice of one of them (Abel) but not that of the other (Cain) who then said to his brother, "I shall certainly kill you." (Abel) replied, "God only accepts the offerings of the pious ones.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Recite to them in all truth the news of Adam's two sons; how they each made an offering, and how the offering of the one was accepted while that of the other was not. He said: 'I will surely kill you' (The other) said: 'Allah accepts only from the righteous.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And recite to them the story of the two sons of Adam in truth; when each offered a sacrifice, it was accepted from the 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 have Taqwa.

Wahiduddin Khan

Relate to them, the true story of the two sons of Adam. When they both presented an offering, it was accepted from one of them and not from the other. The latter said, "I shall kill you!" The former said, "God accepts [things] only from the righteous.

Talal Itani

And relate to them the true story of Adam's two sons: when they offered an offering, and it was accepted from one of them, but it was not accepted from the other. He Said, “I will kill you.” He Said, “God accepts only from the righteous.”

Tafsir jalalayn

And recite, O Muhammad (s), to them, your people, the story, the tale, of the two sons of Adam, Abel and Cain, truthfully (bi'l-haqq is semantically connected to utlu, `recite'), how they each offered a sacrifice, to God, which in Abel's case was a ram, and in Cain's, some green crops, and it was accepted from one of them, namely, from Abel, when a fire came down from the heaven and consumed his offering, and not accepted from the other, that is, from Cain, and so he became furious and kept secret his envy until Adam left on pilgrimage. He said, to him, `I will surely slay you,', and the other said, `Why?', to which the first replied, `Because only your offering was accepted'. The other said, `God accepts only from the God-fearing'.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

The Story of Habil (Abel) and Qabil (Cain)

Allah describes the evil end and consequence of transgression, envy and injustice in the story of the two sons of Adam, Habil and Qabil.

One of them fought against the other and killed him out of envy and transgression, because of the bounty that Allah gave his brother and because the sacrifice that he sincerely offered to Allah was accepted. The murdered brother earned forgiveness for his sins and was admitted into Paradise, while the murderer failed and earned a losing deal in both the lives.

Allah said,

وَاتْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ نَبَأَ ابْنَيْ ادَمَ بِالْحَقِّ

And recite to them the story of the two sons of Adam in truth;

meaning, tell these envious, unjust people, the brothers of swine and apes from the Jews and their likes among mankind, the story of the two sons of Adam, Habil and Qabil, as many scholars among the Salaf and later generations said.

Allah's statement,
بِالْحَقِّ
(in truth),

means, clearly and without ambiguity, alteration, confusion, change, addition or deletion.

Allah said in other Ayat,

إِنَّ هَـذَا لَهُوَ الْقَصَصُ الْحَقُّ

Verily, this is the true narrative (about the story of Isa). (3;62)

نَحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ نَبَأَهُم بِالْحَقِّ


We narrate unto you their story with truth. (18;13)

and,

ذَلِكَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ

قَوْلَ الْحَقِّ

Such is Isa, son of Maryam. (It is) a statement of truth. (19;24)

إِذْ قَرَّبَا قُرْبَانًا فَتُقُبِّلَ مِن أَحَدِهِمَا وَلَمْ يُتَقَبَّلْ مِنَ الاخَرِ قَالَ لَاَقْتُلَنَّكَ قَالَ إِنَّمَا يَتَقَبَّلُ اللّهُ مِنَ الْمُتَّقِينَ



when each offered a sacrifice, it was accepted from the 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 have Taqwa.

Several scholars among the Salaf and the later generations said that Allah allowed Adam to marry his daughters to his sons because of the necessity of such action.

They also said that in every pregnancy, Adam was given a twin, a male and a female, and he used to give the female of one twin, to the male of the other twin, in marriage.

Habil's sister was not beautiful while Qabil's sister was beautiful, resulting in Qabil wanting her for himself, instead of his brother. Adam refused unless they both offer a sacrifice, and he whose sacrifice was accepted, would marry Qabil's sister.

Habil's sacrifice was accepted, while Qabil's sacrifice was rejected, and thus what Allah told us about them occurred.

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Ibn Abbas said --

that during the time of Adam -- "The woman was not allowed in marriage for her male twin, but Adam was commanded to marry her to any of her other brothers. In each pregnancy, Adam was given a twin, a male and a female. A beautiful daughter was once born for Adam and another one that was not beautiful. So the twin brother of the ugly daughter said, `Marry your sister to me and I will marry my sister to you.'

He said, `No, for I have more right to my sister.'

So they both offered a sacrifice. The sacrifice of the one who offered the sheep was accepted while the sacrifice of the other (the twin brother of the beautiful daughter), which consisted of some produce, was not accepted. So the latter killed his brother."

This story has a better than good chain of narration.

The statement,

إِنَّمَا يَتَقَبَّلُ اللّهُ مِنَ الْمُتَّقِينَ


Verily, Allah accepts only from those who have Taqwa.

who fear Allah in their actions.

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Abu Ad-Darda' said,

"If I become certain that Allah has accepted even one prayer from me, it will be better for me than this life and all that in it. This is because Allah says,
إِنَّمَا يَتَقَبَّلُ اللّهُ مِنَ الْمُتَّقِينَ
(Verily, Allah accepts only from the those who have Taqwa).

The statement,

لَيِن بَسَطتَ إِلَيَّ يَدَكَ لِتَقْتُلَنِي مَا أَنَاْ بِبَاسِطٍ يَدِيَ إِلَيْكَ لَاَقْتُلَكَ إِنِّي أَخَافُ اللّهَ رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ