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
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ تَعَالَوْا۟ إِلَىٰ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ وَإِلَى ٱلرَّسُولِ قَالُوا۟ حَسْبُنَا مَا وَجَدْنَا عَلَيْهِ ءَابَآءَنَآ ۚ أَوَلَوْ كَانَ ءَابَآؤُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ شَيْـًٔا وَلَا يَهْتَدُونَ
And when it is said to them, "Come to what Allāh has revealed and to the Messenger," they say, "Sufficient for us is that upon which we found our fathers." Even though their fathers knew nothing, nor were they guided?
وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ ۙ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ
Allāh has promised those who believe and do righteous deeds [that] for them there is forgiveness and great reward.
لَيْسَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ جُنَاحٌ فِيمَا طَعِمُوٓا۟ إِذَا مَا ٱتَّقَوا۟ وَّءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ ثُمَّ ٱتَّقَوا۟ وَّءَامَنُوا۟ ثُمَّ ٱتَّقَوا۟ وَّأَحْسَنُوا۟ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
There is not upon those who believe and do righteousness [any] blame concerning what they have eaten [in the past] if they [now] fear Allāh and believe and do righteous deeds, and then fear Allāh and believe, and then fear Allāh and do good; and Allāh loves the doers of good.
وَأَنِ ٱحْكُم بَيْنَهُم بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَآءَهُمْ وَٱحْذَرْهُمْ أَن يَفْتِنُوكَ عَنۢ بَعْضِ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَيْكَ ۖ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَٱعْلَمْ أَنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ أَن يُصِيبَهُم بِبَعْضِ ذُنُوبِهِمْ ۗ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَفَـٰسِقُونَ
And judge, [O Muḥammad], between them by what Allāh has revealed and do not follow their inclinations and beware of them, lest they tempt you away from some of what Allāh has revealed to you. And if they turn away - then know that Allāh only intends to afflict them with some of their [own] sins. And indeed, many among the people are defiantly disobedient.