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
فَمَن تَابَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ظُلْمِهِۦ وَأَصْلَحَ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَتُوبُ عَلَيْهِ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
But whoever repents after his wrongdoing and reforms, indeed, Allāh will turn to him in forgiveness. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
قُلْ أَتَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا يَمْلِكُ لَكُمْ ضَرًّا وَلَا نَفْعًا ۚ وَٱللَّهُ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ
Say, "Do you worship besides Allāh that which holds for you no [power of] harm or benefit while it is Allāh who is the Hearing, the Knowing?"
إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَا ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةَ فِيهَا هُدًى وَنُورٌ ۚ يَحْكُمُ بِهَا ٱلنَّبِيُّونَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسْلَمُوا۟ لِلَّذِينَ هَادُوا۟ وَٱلرَّبَّـٰنِيُّونَ وَٱلْأَحْبَارُ بِمَا ٱسْتُحْفِظُوا۟ مِن كِتَـٰبِ ٱللَّهِ وَكَانُوا۟ عَلَيْهِ شُهَدَآءَ ۚ فَلَا تَخْشَوُا۟ ٱلنَّاسَ وَٱخْشَوْنِ وَلَا تَشْتَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِى ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا ۚ وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ
Indeed, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light. The prophets who submitted [to Allāh] judged by it for the Jews, as did the rabbis and scholars by that with which they were entrusted of the Scripture of Allāh, and they were witnesses thereto. So do not fear the people but fear Me, and do not exchange My verses for a small price [i.e., worldly gain]. And whoever does not judge by what Allāh has revealed - then it is those who are the disbelievers.
وَلْيَحْكُمْ أَهْلُ ٱلْإِنجِيلِ بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ فِيهِ ۚ وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْفَـٰسِقُونَ
And let the People of the Gospel judge by what Allāh has revealed therein. And whoever does not judge by what Allāh has revealed - then it is those who are the defiantly disobedient.