wa-ut'lu ʿalayhim naba-a ib'nay ādama bil-ḥaqi idh qarrabā qur'bānan fatuqubbila min aḥadihimā walam yutaqabbal mina l-ākhari qāla la-aqtulannaka qāla innamā yataqabbalu l-lahu mina l-mutaqīna
Translation
And recite to them the story of Adam's two sons, in truth, when they both made an offering [to Allāh], and it was accepted from one of them but was not accepted from the other. Said [the latter], "I will surely kill you." Said [the former], "Indeed, Allāh only accepts from the righteous [who fear Him].
Verse 27 of Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:27), a Medinan surah, is in juz 6, on page 112 of the mushaf. Read it in Arabic with its transliteration, translations and tafsir, and listen to it recited by 73 reciters.
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Tafsir of verse 27
Al-Mukhtasar
Relate with the truth O Messenger, to these Jews who are jealous and who do wrong, the incident of the two sons of Adam, Cain and Abel, When they both offered a sacrifice to gain closeness to Allah, Allah accepted the sacrifice offered by Abel because he was mindful of Him and did not accept the offering of Cain because he was not mindful of Allah. Cain was unhappy about the fact that Abel’s sacrifice was accepted and jealously said, ‘I will kill you, O Abel!’ Abel replied, ‘Allah only accepts the offering of the one who is mindful of Him by fulfilling His instructions and avoiding His prohibitions’.
Relate to them the story of the two sons of Adam in truth, when both offered a sacrifice; it was accepted from one [i.e., Abel] but not accepted from the other [i.e., Cain]25. The latter said, “I will kill you.” The former said, “Allah only accepts from those who fear Him.
Notes
[25] The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “No soul ever gets killed unjustifiably, unless the early son of Adam (Cain) gets some of the burden of its blood, for he was the first human to spill blood”. [Al-Bukhārī: 3335, Muslim: 1677]
And (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) recite to them (the Jews) the story of the two sons of Adam (Hâbîl and Qâbîl-Abel and Cain) in truth; when each offered a sacrifice (to Allâh), it was accepted from the one but not from the other. The latter said to the former: "I will surely kill you.9" The former said: "Verily, Allâh accepts only from those who are Al-Muttaqûn (the pious - See V.2:2)."
Notes
[9] (V.5:27) Narrated ‘Abdullâh رضي الله عنه: The Prophetصلى الله عليه وسلم 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 Qâbîl)." (Sahih Al-Bukhâri, Vol.9, Hadîth No.6)
Narrated ‘Abdullâh bin ‘Umar رضي الله عنهما: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "After me (i.e., after my death), do not become disbelievers, by striking (cutting) the necks of one another."
(Sahih Al-Bukhârî, Vol.9, Hadîth No.7).
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).
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.
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 I will most certainly slay you. (The other) said: Allah only accepts from those who guard (against evil).
And recite to them the tiding of the two sons of Adam with the truth as they offered a sacrifice, (Literally: sacrificed an all-sanctified sacrifice) (and) it was (graciously) accepted of one of them and not (graciously) accepted of the other. One (of them) said, "Indeed, I will definitely kill you." (The other) said, "Surely Allah (graciously) accepts only of the pious.
But the Jews and the Christians say, "We are the children of Allāh and His beloved." Say, "Then why does He punish you for your sins?" Rather, you are human beings from among those He has created. He forgives whom He wills, and He punishes whom He wills. And to Allāh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them, and to Him is the [final] destination.
It is We who relate to you, [O Muḥammad], their story in truth. Indeed, they were youths who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance.
