فَبَعَثَ ٱللَّهُ غُرَابًا يَبْحَثُ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ لِيُرِيَهُۥ كَيْفَ يُوَٰرِى سَوْءَةَ أَخِيهِ ۚ قَالَ يَـٰوَيْلَتَىٰٓ أَعَجَزْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِثْلَ هَـٰذَا ٱلْغُرَابِ فَأُوَٰرِىَ سَوْءَةَ أَخِى ۖ فَأَصْبَحَ مِنَ ٱلنَّـٰدِمِينَ 31
Translations
Then Allāh sent a crow searching [i.e., scratching] in the ground to show him how to hide the disgrace of his brother. He said, "O woe to me! Have I failed to be like this crow and hide the disgrace [i.e., body] of my brother?" And he became of the regretful.
Transliteration
Faba'atha Allahu ghuraban yabhathu fi al-ardi liyuriyahu kayfa yuwaari sawat akhih. Qala ya waylataa a'ajaztu an akuna mithla hadha al-ghurabi fa-uwaari sawata akhi. Fa-asbaha mina al-nadimin.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah concludes the story of Cain and Abel (Habil and Qabil), recounting how Allah sent a raven to scratch the earth, demonstrating to Cain how to bury his brother's body. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the raven's action served as a divine lesson, and Cain's remorse (nadama) upon witnessing it reflects his recognition of his sin and the consequences of murder. The ayah emphasizes Allah's mercy in providing guidance even after a grave sin, and Cain's regret marks a turning point in acknowledging the gravity of his transgression.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the story of Adam's sons (Habil and Qabil) found in Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:27-32), which is a Medinan surah. The story illustrates the first murder in human history and serves as a profound lesson on the sanctity of life. The context addresses the consequences of envy, disobedience, and the importance of taqwa (God-consciousness) in human relations.
Related Hadiths
The story of Cain and Abel is referenced in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim through various narrations about the first sin committed on earth. Additionally, Hadith Qudsi relates: 'Whoever kills a soul... it is as if he has killed all of mankind' (5:32), which directly follows this ayah and emphasizes the severity of the transgression.
Themes
Key Lesson
Even in the depths of sin, Allah provides opportunities for recognition and remorse; the story teaches that true regret (nadama) requires acknowledging one's wrongdoing and accepting divine guidance. For modern believers, this ayah demonstrates that no one is beyond redemption if they genuinely turn to Allah, while also serving as a deterrent against grave sins like taking innocent life.
Related Ayahs
قَالُوا۟ يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ إِنَّ فِيهَا قَوْمًا جَبَّارِينَ وَإِنَّا لَن نَّدْخُلَهَا حَتَّىٰ يَخْرُجُوا۟ مِنْهَا فَإِن يَخْرُجُوا۟ مِنْهَا فَإِنَّا دَٰخِلُونَ
They said, "O Moses, indeed within it is a people of tyrannical strength, and indeed, we will never enter it until they leave it; but if they leave it, then we will enter."
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَوْ أَنَّ لَهُم مَّا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا وَمِثْلَهُۥ مَعَهُۥ لِيَفْتَدُوا۟ بِهِۦ مِنْ عَذَابِ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ مَا تُقُبِّلَ مِنْهُمْ ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
Indeed, those who disbelieve - if they should have all that is in the earth and the like of it with it by which to ransom themselves from the punishment of the Day of Resurrection, it will not be accepted from them, and for them is a painful punishment.
أُحِلَّ لَكُمْ صَيْدُ ٱلْبَحْرِ وَطَعَامُهُۥ مَتَـٰعًا لَّكُمْ وَلِلسَّيَّارَةِ ۖ وَحُرِّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ صَيْدُ ٱلْبَرِّ مَا دُمْتُمْ حُرُمًا ۗ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِىٓ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ
Lawful to you is game from the sea and its food as provision for you and the travelers, but forbidden to you is game from the land as long as you are in the state of iḥrām. And fear Allāh to whom you will be gathered.
وَإِذْ أَوْحَيْتُ إِلَى ٱلْحَوَارِيِّـۧنَ أَنْ ءَامِنُوا۟ بِى وَبِرَسُولِى قَالُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا وَٱشْهَدْ بِأَنَّنَا مُسْلِمُونَ
And [remember] when I inspired to the disciples, "Believe in Me and in My messenger [i.e., Jesus]." They said, "We have believed, so bear witness that indeed we are Muslims [in submission to Allāh]."