5. Surah Al-Ma'idah

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَاتْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ نَبَأَ ابْنَيْ آدَمَ بِالْحَقِّ...

5: 27. Recite to them the truth of the story of the two sons of Adam. Behold!

C730. Literally; "recite to them in truth the story", etc.

The point is that the story in Gen. 4:1-15 is a bare narrative, not including the lessons now to be enforced.

The Prophet is told now to supply the truth of the matter, the details that will enforce the lessons.

C731. The two sons of Adam were Habil (in the English Bible, Abel) and Qabil (in English, Cain). Cain was the elder, and Abel the younger, -the righteous and innocent one.

Presuming on the right of the elder, Cain was puffed up with arrogance and jealousy, which led him to commit the crime of murder.

Among the Christians, Cain was the type of the Jew as against Abel the Christian. The Jew tried to kill Jesus and exterminate the Christian. In the same way, as against Muhammad, the younger brother of the Semitic family. Cain was the type of the Old Testament and New Testament people, who tried to resist and kill Muhammad and put down his people.

... إِذْ قَرَّبَا قُرْبَانًا ...

they each presented a sacrifice (to Allah):

... فَتُقُبِّلَ مِن أَحَدِهِمَا وَلَمْ يُتَقَبَّلْ مِنَ الآخَرِ ...

it was accepted from one, but not from the other.

... قَالَ لَأَقْتُلَنَّكَ...

Said the latter: "Be sure I will slay thee."

... قَالَ إِنَّمَا يَتَقَبَّلُ اللّهُ مِنَ الْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٢٧﴾

"Surely," said the former, "Allah doth accept of the sacrifice of those who are righteous.

لَئِن بَسَطتَ إِلَيَّ يَدَكَ لِتَقْتُلَنِي مَا أَنَاْ بِبَاسِطٍ يَدِيَ إِلَيْكَ لَأَقْتُلَكَ...

5: 28. "If thou dost stretch thy hand against me, to slay me, it is not for me to stretch my hand against thee to slay thee:

... إِنِّي أَخَافُ اللّهَ رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٢٨﴾

for I do fear Allah, the Cherisher of the worlds.

إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَن تَبُوءَ بِإِثْمِي وَإِثْمِكَ فَتَكُونَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّارِ...

5: 29. "For me, I intend to let thee draw on thyself my sin as well as thine, for thou wilt be among the companions of the fire,

C732. My sin as well as thine: "My sin" has been interpreted as "the sin against me, in that thou slayest me": in that case thy "sin" may mean;

- either "thy crime in committing a murder." or

- "thy sin against thyself, for the crime causes real loss to thyself in the Hereafter."

See the last clause of the next verse.

... وَذَلِكَ جَزَاء الظَّالِمِينَ ﴿٢٩﴾

and that is the reward of those who do wrong."

C733. Abel's speech is full of meaning. He is innocent and God-fearing. To the threat of death held out by the other, he returns a calm reply, aimed at reforming the other.

"Surely," he pleads, "if your sacrifice was not accepted, there was something wrong in you, for Allah is just and accepts the sacrifice of the righteous.

If this does not deter you, I am not going to retaliate, though there is as much power in me against you as you have against me.

I fear my Maker, for I know He cherishes all His Creation. Let me warn you that you are doing wrong. I do not intend even to resist, but do you know what the consequences will be to you? You will be in torment."

فَطَوَّعَتْ لَهُ نَفْسُهُ قَتْلَ أَخِيهِ ...

5: 30. The (selfish) soul of the other led him to the murder of his brother:

... فَقَتَلَهُ فَأَصْبَحَ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ ﴿٣٠﴾

he murdered him, and became (himself) one of the lost ones.

C734. The innocent unselfish pleading of the younger brother had no effect, for the soul of the other was full of pride, selfishness and jealousy.

He committed the murder, but in doing so, ruined his own self.

Other versions:

5: 27 [al-Maidah, Medina 112 ]

Asad And convey unto them, setting froth the truth, the story of the two sons of Adam – how each offered a sacrifice, and it was accepted from one of them whereas it was not accepted from the other.

[and Cain] said : “I will surely slay thee! [Abel ] replied: “Behold, God accepts only from those who are conscious of Him.

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.

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).

Transliteration Watlu 'alaihim naba'abnai a_dama bil haqq(i), iz qarraba_ qurba_nan fatuqubbila min ahadihima_ wa lam yutaqabbal minal a_khar(i), qa_la la'aqtulannak(a), qa_lainnama_ yataqabbalulla_hu minal muttaqin(a).

5: 28

Asad Even if you lay your hand on me to slay me, I shall not lay hand on you to slay you: behold, I fear God, the Sustainer of all the worlds.

Yusuf Ali "If thou dost stretch thy hand against me to slay me it is not for me to stretch my hand against thee to slay thee: for I do fear Allah the Cherisher of the worlds.

Pickthall Even if thou stretch out thy hand against me to kill me, I shall not stretch out my hand against thee to kill thee, lo! I fear Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.

Transliteration La'im basatta ilayya yadaka litaqtulani ma_ ana bi ba_sitiy yadiya ilaika li'aqtulak(a), inni akha_fulla_ha rabbal'a_lamin(a).

5: 29

Asad I am willing, indeed, for you to bear all the sins ever done by me as well as of the sin done by you: then you would be destined for the fire, since that is the requital of evildoers!”

Yusuf Ali "For me I intend to let thee draw on thyself my sin as well as thine for thou wilt be among the companions of the fire and that is the reward of those who do wrong."

Pickthall Lo! I would rather thou shouldst bear the punishment of the sin against me and thine own sin and become one of the owners of the Fire. That is the reward of evil doers.

Transliteration Inni uridu an tabu_'a bi ismi wa ismika fa taku_na min asha_bin na_r(i), wa za_lika jaza_'uz za_limin(a).

[[ Ruby’s note – According to Dr. Adel Azdemir ( as per my phone discussion with him today), who is an expert on the rhetoric of the Quranic language, said that here the meaning is just opposite of ‘inni uridu an tabuabi’ means not that Abel desiring the eternal punishment on his brother but he is warning his brother and actually wanting his brother to fail in such a way. ]]

[[ Ali’s notes - 730 Literally; "recite to them in truth the story", etc. The point is that the story in Gen. iv. 1-15 is a bare narrative, not including the lessons now to be enforced. The Prophet is told now to supply the truth of the matter, the details that will enforce the lessons. (5.27)

731 The two sons of Adam were Habil (in the English Bible, Abel) and Qabil (in English, Cain). Cain was the elder, and Abel the younger,-the righteous and innocent one. Presuming on the right of the elder, Cain was puffed up with arrogance and jealousy, which led him to commit the crime of murder. Among the Christians, Cain was the type of the Jew as against Abel the Christian. The Jew tried to kill Jesus and exterminate the Christian. In the same way, as against Muhammad, the younger brother of the Semitic family, Cain was the type of the Old Testament and New Testament people, who tried to resist and kill Muhammad and put down his people. (5.27)

732 My sin as well as thine. "My sin" has been interpreted as "the sin against me, in that thou slayest me": in that case thy "sin" may mean either "thy crime in committing a murder." or "thy sin against thyself, for the crime causes real loss to thyself in the Hereafter." See the last clause of the next verse. (5.29)

733 Abel's speech is full of meaning. He is innocent and God-fearing. To the threat of death held out by the other, he returns a calm reply, aimed at reforming the other. "Surely," he pleads, "if your sacrifice was not accepted, there was something wrong in you, for Allah is just and accepts the sacrifice of the righteous. If this does not deter you, I am not going to retaliate, though there is as much power in me against you as you have against me. I fear my Maker, for I know He cherishes all His Creation. Let me warn you that you are doing wrong. I do not intend even to resist, but do you know what the consequences will be to you? You will be in torment." (5.29) ]]

5: 30

Yusuf Ali The (selfish) soul of the other led him to the murder of his brother: he murdered him and became (himself) one of the lost ones.

Pickthall But (the other's) mind imposed on him the killing of his brother, so he slew him and became one of the losers.

Transliteration Fa tawwa'at lahu_ nafsuhu_ qatla akhihi fa qatalahu_ fa asbaha minal kha_sirin(a).