First Crime of Mankind Committed by Qabil

TEHRAN (IQNA) – Qabil was the first son of Adam and Eve. He had no problem with his brother Habil but arrogance and envy led him to commit the first murder in history.

According to narratives, Qabil was a farmer. He committed a major sin due to his envy and arrogance which misguided him.

There is no reference to the name of Qabil in the Quran. He and his brother are referred to as “sons of Adam” in the Holy Book. “Recite to them in all truth the news of Adam's two sons.” (Surah Al-Ma'idah, verse 27)

Verses 27 to 31 of Surah Al-Ma'idah point to the story of the two brothers. According to the verses, Adam, as the first divine prophet, was tasked by Allah to appoint Habil as his successor. However, Qabil did not accept the issue. The brothers were set to make offerings to God. God the Almighty rejects Qabil’s offering and this fuels envy and arrogance in the heart of Qabil.

Seeing himself defeated, Qabil decided to kill his brother. “His soul made it seem fair to him to slay his brother; he killed him and became one of the lost.” (Verse 30)

Part of this story has also been mentioned in divine books prior to Islam. According to the Bible, Qabil offered his agricultural products (wheat) but God rejected his offering. Qabil then takes his brother to a desert and kills him.

There are also some other narrations that claim Qabil’s envy was aroused due to a love affair, however, all divine texts cite Habil’s appointment as the successor of his father as the main reason. 

There are numerous narratives on the fate of Qabil; the certain issue is that he was banished from his land and could not engage in farming again. 

Some historians believe that descendants of Qabil were killed during the flood of Nuh due to their sins.