فَطَوَّعَتْ لَهُۥ نَفْسُهُۥ قَتْلَ أَخِيهِ فَقَتَلَهُۥ فَأَصْبَحَ مِنَ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ 30
Translations
And his soul permitted to him the murder of his brother, so he killed him and became among the losers.
Transliteration
Fatawwaat lahu nafsuh qatla akhih faqatalahu fa-asbaha minal khasirin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how the soul of one of Adam's sons (Cain) enticed him to kill his brother (Abel) out of jealousy and envy. Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this represents the first murder in human history, demonstrating how unchecked nafs (ego/desire) and envy lead to grave sins. The phrase 'fa-asbaha min al-khasirin' (he became among the losers) indicates both worldly punishment and eternal loss, as the murderer lost his dunya (worldly life) through execution and his akhirah (afterlife) through divine displeasure.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Cain and Abel in Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:27-32), which provides the Quranic account of the first crime committed by mankind. The story illustrates the consequences of envy and jealousy, serving as a moral lesson for believers. This Medinan surah addresses the community directly about proper conduct and the sanctity of human life.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever kills a soul without right, it is as if he has killed all of mankind; and whoever saves a life, it is as if he has saved all of mankind' (Quran 5:32, often cited with hadith parallels in Jami' at-Tirmidhi and other collections). Additionally, hadiths warn against envy as a destructive trait that 'eats up good deeds as fire eats wood' (Sunan Abu Dawud).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah warns believers that allowing envy and negative impulses to dominate one's character leads to spiritual and eternal ruin. We must struggle against our base desires and ego, recognizing that true success lies in obedience to Allah, not in worldly comparisons or competitions with others.
Related Ayahs
أَفَحُكْمَ ٱلْجَـٰهِلِيَّةِ يَبْغُونَ ۚ وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ حُكْمًا لِّقَوْمٍ يُوقِنُونَ
Then is it the judgement of [the time of] ignorance they desire? But who is better than Allāh in judgement for a people who are certain [in faith].
۞ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ ۖ وَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالَتَهُۥ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
O Messenger, announce that which has been revealed to you from your Lord, and if you do not, then you have not conveyed His message. And Allāh will protect you from the people. Indeed, Allāh does not guide the disbelieving people.
وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ أَقَامُوا۟ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةَ وَٱلْإِنجِيلَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِم مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ لَأَكَلُوا۟ مِن فَوْقِهِمْ وَمِن تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِهِم ۚ مِّنْهُمْ أُمَّةٌ مُّقْتَصِدَةٌ ۖ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنْهُمْ سَآءَ مَا يَعْمَلُونَ
And if only they had upheld [the law of] the Torah, the Gospel, and what has been revealed to them from their Lord [i.e., the Qur’ān], they would have consumed [provision] from above them and from beneath their feet. Among them are a moderate [i.e., acceptable] community, but many of them - evil is that which they do.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تُحِلُّوا۟ شَعَـٰٓئِرَ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا ٱلشَّهْرَ ٱلْحَرَامَ وَلَا ٱلْهَدْىَ وَلَا ٱلْقَلَـٰٓئِدَ وَلَآ ءَآمِّينَ ٱلْبَيْتَ ٱلْحَرَامَ يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًا مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَرِضْوَٰنًا ۚ وَإِذَا حَلَلْتُمْ فَٱصْطَادُوا۟ ۚ وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَـَٔانُ قَوْمٍ أَن صَدُّوكُمْ عَنِ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ أَن تَعْتَدُوا۟ ۘ وَتَعَاوَنُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلْبِرِّ وَٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْعُدْوَٰنِ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ
O you who have believed, do not violate the rites of Allāh or [the sanctity of] the sacred month or [neglect the marking of] the sacrificial animals and garlanding [them] or [violate the safety of] those coming to the Sacred House seeking bounty from their Lord and [His] approval. But when you come out of iḥrām, then [you may] hunt. And do not let the hatred of a people for having obstructed you from al-Masjid al-Ḥarām lead you to transgress. And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. And fear Allāh; indeed, Allāh is severe in penalty.