The Cain and Abel story in the Quran is that of two brothers, but things didn't go the way we thought they would!
It's natural for kids to fight about little things; at times, they are jealous of the other person's toy, clothing, etc. But they must realize that jealousy is an evil thing! It was indeed the reason for the very first murder in history! And not between two strangers, but between two brothers! That's the history of Cain and Abel (or Qabil and Habil in the Quran).
The Quran is replete with stories that provide simple but engaging means of bringing children to timeless values. One of the earliest stories in the history of mankind is that of Cain and Abel. Their tale teaches us about the devastating power of jealousy and envy. It also teaches us about the value of Taqwa, the consciousness of Allah in all our actions.
We at Islamic Galaxy love being part of your educational journey. That is why we are going to present the Quranic version of the story of Cain and Abel. Let us find out what happened to the two brothers and what lesson we can learn today from it. Read more Quranic Stories for Kids.
What Caused the Tragic Fight Between Cain and Abel?
Cain (Qabil) and Abel (Habil) are the first two sons of Adam and Eve.
Scholars tell us that in every one of Adam and Eve's pregnancies, they each had a boy and a girl. Adam (peace be upon him) would marry the boy twin of one pregnancy to the girl twin of the other, so no one would marry their own twin.
Something began to go wrong with something seemingly minor: a test by Allah. So what was the test?
Abel would wed Cain's very beautiful sister, and Cain himself wanted her. Cain's father instructed Cain to let Abel marry her, but he defied him. Adam (peace be upon him) instructed them to sacrifice unto Allah, and he proceeded to Mecca and performed the pilgrimage (Hajj). Anybody who made the sacrifice would be okay; he would marry her.
“And remind them of the two sons of Adam, indeed, when both of them offered an offering [to Allah] and accepted it from one of them while not accepting from the other.” (Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:27)
Abel was righteous and well-meaning; he offered the best he could. He offered a fat ram (he was a shepherd), but Cain offered a group of the worst that he had harvested.
This is why Allah SWT approved the offering of Abel and not Cain's. Both of them brought their offering to a mountain and, in a sign of approval, fire fell on the mountain and consumed Abel's lamb, but did not even get near Cain's crop.
This was the start of the disastrous conflict that would alter their lives forever. Learn more about Surah Al-Ma’idah and its lessons on obedience and morality
Continue reading to find out how it all went wrong...
How Did Cain and Abel’s Offerings Bring about Fratricide in the Quran?
Wait, what's fratricide? That's such a frightening word, isn't it? Well, yes, it is. Fratricide means when a brother kills another brother.
Okay! How did we even learn how to kill one another?!
When Qabil was angry, he told his brother that he would kill him!
The latter said to the former, “I will surely kill you.” The former said, “Surely, Allah only accepts from those who are Al-Muttaqun (the pious). If indeed you stretch your hand against me to kill me, I shall never stretch my hand against you to kill you, for I do fear Allah, the Lord of the `Alamin (mankind, jinn, and all that exists). Surely, I intend to allow you to invite my sin upon yourself as well as yours, then you will be one of the dwellers of the Fire, and that is the reward of the Zalimin (polytheists and wrongdoers).”
Abel was the more powerful of the two; he could easily have defended himself. But he didn’t; he was humble, patient, and above all, fearful of Allah. He tried to guide his brother toward righteousness. But instead of reflecting on his own shortcomings, Cain let his jealousy and rage grow stronger.
This is where we first see the true meaning of Taqwa (God-consciousness), being aware of Allah’s presence even when emotions cloud our judgment. Habil’s restraint came from his Taqwa, while Qabil’s loss of it led him toward destruction.
You can teach your kids more about the Quran and its virtues from these stories to keep them engaged.
Why Cain Killed Abel? A Study of the Quranic Account of the First Murder
Cain could not bear that Allah had accepted the offering of Abel. He complained to his brother, and his brother told him that Allah accepts offerings only from those who are honest and righteous. That only made Cain more furious! The result: a choice that determined human history for better or worse.
It was unbearable for him to see his brother as virtuous and favored by Allah. Cain could no longer control himself; his jealousy consumed his mind. Fuming with rage, Cain killed his brother, and he became the first murderer in the world.
“Then the other (latter) self enraged him and made to him appear fair the slaughter of his brother; he slew him and became one of the losers.”
Did he feel good about it? Did he feel relieved? Not at all, now Cain only felt deep regret, but it was too late; his brother was dead.
Allah then sent a crow to show Cain how to bury his brother's body, demonstrating that even animals understand respect for life and death better than those blinded by anger.
Some narrations mention that Qabil carried his brother’s body for a long time, not knowing what to do, until Allah sent two crows. One crow killed the other and dug into the ground to bury it. Seeing this, Cain realized what must be done and buried his brother’s body.
"Then Allah sent a crow who scratched the earth to teach him to bury the body of his brother. He (the murderer) said, 'Woe to me! Have I not been made to resemble this crow and bury the body of my brother?' Then he became one of those who regretted." (Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:31)
The story is simple yet contains profound lessons about moral choice, regret, and human weakness. It also reflects the beginning of the eternal struggle between good and evil.
If you’d like to teach your kids more about forgiveness in Islam, you don't have to go and research for examples or stories yourself when all you have to do is get them to watch this!
How Did the Story of Cain and Abel Represent Early Human Conflicts and Morality?
The story of Cain and Abel tells us about early human conflicts that still ring true today.
Do you ever get jealous? Angry? Your answer is probably “yes!” because we all do. We all feel jealousy and anger; they are part of being human. The trouble begins when we fail to control them. When left unchecked, these emotions can grow into something destructive, hurting others and ourselves.
The good news is that we can control them, and the Quran teaches us how. In this story, Allah instructs us about obedience, humility, and emotional control. If we obey Allah, show patience, and strive to be good even when our emotions overwhelm us, we can overcome our worst impulses.
Abel’s humility and patience teach us how to live good lives. Cain’s failure shows us what happens when pride and anger rule our hearts. These lessons are universal — they apply to our choices, relationships, and moral struggles even today.
For deeper guidance on knowing what's right and what's wrong, you can read our article about Teaching Halal and Haram Through Stories.
What Can We Learn from Cain and Abel’s Story in the Quran?
There are many lessons we can draw from the story of Cain and Abel in the Quran:
- Jealousy and envy are dangerous.
- Pride leads us away from Allah.
- Self-control and humility protect us from sin.
- Our actions are judged by our intentions, not their appearance.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
"Beware of jealousy, for verily it destroys good deeds the way fire burns wood." (Hadith, Abu Dawood)
Cain’s jealousy and envy clouded his judgment and pushed him to commit a terrible sin. He was not afraid of Allah’s punishment, nor did he remember that Abel was his own brother. Envy blinded him completely, and that’s what makes it so dangerous.
That is why the Quran and Hadith constantly caution us against it. We can become envious of someone successful, rich, or has more than we do. It’s normal to want good things, but envy is wanting others to lose their blessings. It not only makes us unhappy, but it can also destroy our peace of heart.
"Take care against envy, for it will devour good deeds as fire consumes wood." (Sahih al-Bukhari 6065)
Pride, too, can close the door to Paradise.
"No soul with an atom’s weight of arrogance will enter Paradise." (Sahih Muslim 91)
That’s why we must always purify our hearts from jealousy, pride, and anger. We do this by practicing shukr, gratitude, and being content with what Allah has given us.
Teach children to thank Allah for their blessings. When they feel jealous, encourage them to think of all that they already have. Allah’s plan for each of us is perfect, even when we don’t understand it.
Making your kids learn new things doesn't have to feel like an obligation for them anymore; there are so many ways they can learn nowadays. You can check our activities and games and make learning fun and engaging for your kids!
Conclusion
The story of Cain and Abel is one of the simplest yet most profound in history. It’s not just about the very first murder on earth; it’s about why it happened and what lessons humanity is meant to learn from it.
It’s a reminder that jealousy, pride, and anger can destroy relationships and peace, while faith, humility, and obedience to Allah protect the soul from corruption.
By reflecting on this story, we learn how to guard our hearts against negative emotions and walk the path of justice, compassion, and self-awareness.
As parents, these kinds of stories are wonderful tools for nurturing strong values in children. When shared with reflection and honesty, they shape hearts and minds early.
If you’d like access to more fun, child-friendly Islamic lessons and stories, don’t forget to subscribe to Islamic Galaxy, where you’ll find educational activities, interactive games, and age-appropriate learning guides rooted in the Quran and Sunnah.
