The Story of Habil and Qabil: The History of the First Qurbani in Islam

Most people know the story of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) being ordered by Allah to sacrifice his son Ismail (AS), a pivotal moment in Islam. But what if we told you the very first sacrifice, and the first act of jealousy and tragedy, happened long before that, right at the dawn of human history, with the two sons of Adam (AS), Habil and Qabil?

This historical event, filled with deep lessons about envy, worship, and the consequences of our actions, is more than just history; it shapes the meaning of sacrifice in Islam today. It is mentioned in the Qur’an in Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:27-31) and numerous Ahadith.

Let’s uncover the origins of this powerful incident and explore why it remains relevant today.

Qabil’s Jealousy and Dispute Over Marriage

Prophet Adam (AS), the first human being, had children in pairs—a boy and a girl in each set. Allah instructed that a child from one pair should marry the sibling from another pair. This was the order from Allah at that time. 

According to this tradition, Habil, the obedient and righteous son of Adam (AS), was supposed to marry Qabil’s beautiful twin sister. Qabil, on the other hand, was to marry Habil’s twin sister, who wasn’t very beautiful.

Qabil didn’t like this. He thought he deserved the prettier sister and refused to accept Allah’s rule. To settle the argument, Prophet Adam (AS) told them both to offer a sacrifice to Allah. Whoever’s Qurbani was accepted would marry the girl as per Allah’s decision.

Two Sacrifices, Only One is Accepted

Habil, with a sincere heart, chose the best and healthiest animal from his flock, hoping to please Allah. His intention was pure. Qabil, on the other hand, gave some poor-quality crops, without any real effort or sincerity. 

Then, as was the sign at that time, a fire came down from the sky and consumed Habil’s sacrifice, showing that Allah had accepted it. Qabil’s offering remained untouched—a clear sign that his sacrifice had been rejected.

Allah tells us in the Quran:

وَٱتْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ نَبَأَ ٱبْنَىْ ءَادَمَ بِٱلْحَقِّ إِذْ قَرَّبَا قُرْبَانًۭا فَتُقُبِّلَ مِنْ أَحَدِهِمَا وَلَمْ يُتَقَبَّلْ مِنَ ٱلْـَٔاخَرِ قَالَ لَأَقْتُلَنَّكَ ۖ قَالَ إِنَّمَا يَتَقَبَّلُ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ ٢٧

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 those who fear Him. [Surah Al Maidah, 5 : 27]

Allah accepted Habil’s sacrifice because it came with love, obedience, and sincerity.

Qabil’s offering was rejected. Instead of repenting, Qabil became furious.

The First Murder in History

Blinded by jealousy and rage, Qabil threatened to kill his brother. Habil, calm and gentle, replied that he would not fight back, even if Qabil raised his hand to kill him. Allah mentions in the Quran:  

لَئِنۢ بَسَطتَ إِلَىَّ يَدَكَ لِتَقْتُلَنِى مَآ أَنَا۠ بِبَاسِطٍۢ يَدِىَ إِلَيْكَ لِأَقْتُلَكَ ۖ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ ٱللَّهَ رَبَّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ٢٨

Meaning: “(Habil said to Qabil )If you stretch your hand towards me to kill me, I am not going to stretch my hand towards you to kill you. Indeed, I fear Allah, the Lord of the worlds.” [Surah Al Maidah, 5 : 28]

But Qabil didn’t pay heed. With fury and vengeance, he became the first person to commit murder in human history by killing his own brother. Allah says in the Quran: 

فَطَوَّعَتْ لَهُۥ نَفْسُهُۥ قَتْلَ أَخِيهِ فَقَتَلَهُۥ فَأَصْبَحَ مِنَ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ ٣٠

Meaning: “His (Qabil’s) self, however, prompted him to kill his brother, so he killed him and became one of the losers.” [Surah Al Maidah, 5 : 30]

After the killing, Qabil didn’t even know what to do with Habil’s body. Allah then sent a crow, which began digging into the ground with its beak and claws. Qabil saw this and realised that the crow was teaching him how to bury his brother.

Allah says in the Quran:

فَبَعَثَ ٱللَّهُ غُرَابًۭا يَبْحَثُ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ لِيُرِيَهُۥ كَيْفَ يُوَٰرِى سَوْءَةَ أَخِيهِ ۚ قَالَ يَـٰوَيْلَتَىٰٓ أَعَجَزْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِثْلَ هَـٰذَا ٱلْغُرَابِ فَأُوَٰرِىَ سَوْءَةَ أَخِى ۖ فَأَصْبَحَ مِنَ ٱلنَّـٰدِمِينَ ٣١

Meaning: “Then, Allah sent a crow that scratched the earth to show him how he should conceal the corpse of his brother. He said, “Alas! Was I not even able to be like this crow so that I could conceal the corpse of my brother? So, he stood regretful.” [Surah Al Maidah, 5 : 31]

Lessons for Us

The story of Habil and Qabil isn’t just a sad story from the past. It teaches us some impactful and significant lessons:

1. Sincerity and obedience matter: Habil’s sacrifice was accepted not because it was an animal, but because it was given with sincerity and Taqwa.

Allah says in the Quran: 

لَن يَنَالَ ٱللَّهَ لُحُومُهَا وَلَا دِمَآؤُهَا وَلَـٰكِن يَنَالُهُ ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ مِنكُمْ 

Meaning: “It is neither their flesh nor their blood that reaches Allah, but what does reach Him is the taqwā (consciousness of Allah) on your part.”  [Surah Al Hajj, 22: 37]

2. Envy and rage destroy: Qabil’s jealousy made him commit a terrible crime and become a loser. Uncontrolled emotions can lead us far from the right path.

3. Killing an innocent is a heinous crime: Taking one life unjustly is a huge crime in Islam because an innocent life is very precious in the sight of Allah.

The Almighty says in the Quran: 

مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَٰلِكَ كَتَبْنَا عَلَىٰ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ أَنَّهُۥ مَن قَتَلَ نَفْسًۢا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ أَوْ فَسَادٍۢ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعًۭا

Meaning: “For this reason, We decreed for the children of Isrā’īl that whoever kills a person not in retaliation for a person killed, nor (as a punishment) for spreading disorder on the earth, is as if he has killed the whole of humankind.” [Surah Al Maidah, 5 : 32]

4. Allah teaches through His signs: Even a crow became a teacher when Qabil didn’t know what to do. It is a lesson for us to learn from others what we don’t know. 

FAQs

Q. What punishment did Qabil get for killing his brother?

Ans. The Qur’an does not mention a physical punishment for Qabil and only mentions that his regret and guilt became his punishment. In the Hadith, our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has mentioned the fate of Qabil. He ﷺ said: 

لَيْسَ مِنْ نَفْسٍ تُقْتَلُ ظُلْمًا إِلاَّ كَانَ عَلَى ابْنِ آدَمَ الأَوَّلِ كِفْلٌ مِنْهَا 

Meaning: “None is killed unjustly, but the first son of Adam will have a part of its burden.” 

Sufyan (R) said, “…a part of its blood because he was the first to establish the tradition of murdering” [Sahih Al Bukhari: 7321]

That means every time someone is unjustly murdered, Qabil gets a share of the sin because he was the one who started this evil act. May Allah protect us from such acts.

Q. Who did Habil and Qabil marry?

Ans. It is mentioned in the Tafsir Ibn Kathir of Surah Al Maidah, 5: 27-31, that Adam’s (AS) children were born in twin pairs. Qabil was supposed to marry Habil’s sister, and Habil was to marry Qabil’s sister. The dispute happened because Qabil didn’t want to marry Habil’s sister but rather his own, and that led to the whole conflict.

Final Thoughts

The story of Habil and Qabil, or Cain and Abel in Islam, is more than just history. It involves the first sacrifice in Islam, the first murder in Islamic history, and a powerful lesson about sincerity and obedience to Allah. It also teaches us the severe consequences of jealousy and rage. 

The sacrifice of Adam’s (AS) sons shows that what matters most to Allah is not what we give, but the intention in our hearts. As we take part in Qurbani, let’s remember Habil’s pure intention and avoid the path of Qabil’s envy. 

Let our sacrifices be pure, sincere, humble, and done for Allah alone. Because Allah only accepts the pure from the righteous.