First Murder on Earth! The story of Habeel and Qabeel! The story of Habeel and Qabeel (Abel and Cane) is mentioned in the Sacred Scriptures . The emphasis of this story is on jealousy which is such a powerful human emotion. Jealousy is an emotion whose effects “frequently get out of control. It is a common observation that the experience of jealousy can last much longer than the one of a basic emotion like anger, without losing its original intensity. The word stems from the French jalousie, formed from jaloux (jealous), and further from Low Latin zelosus (full of zeal), in turn from the Greek word ζήλος (zēlos), sometimes “jealousy”, but more often in a good sense “emulation, ardour, zeal”. The experience of jealousy involves: Fear of loss Suspicion or anger about betrayal Low self-esteem and sadness over loss Uncertainty and loneliness Fear of losing an important person to an attractive other Distrust If we are in the sad position to experience such an emotion, we should bring to mind that jealousy was the cause of the first murder in humanity. Allah says in the Holy Qur’an, Surah Al’Ma’idah 5.27] And relate to them the story of the two sons of Adam with truth when they both offered an offering, but it was accepted from one of them and was not accepted from the other. He said: I will most certainly slay you. (The other) said: Allah only accepts from those who guard (against evil). [5.28] If you will stretch forth your hand towards me to slay me, I am not one to stretch forth my hand towards you to slay you surely I fear Allah, the Lord of the worlds: [5.29] Surely I wish that you should bear the sin committed against me and your own sin, and so you would be of the inmates of the fire, and this is the recompense of the unjust. [5.30] Then his mind facilitated to him the slaying of his brother so he slew him; then he became one of the losers [5.31] Then Allah sent a crow digging up the earth so that he might show him how he should cover the dead body of his brother. He said: Woe me! do I lack the strength that I should be like this crow and cover the dead body of my brother? So he became of those who regret. [5.32] For this reason did We prescribe to the children of Israel that whoever slays a soul, unless it be for manslaughter or for mischief in the land, it is as though he slew all men; and whoever keeps it alive, it is as though he kept alive all men; and certainly Our apostles came to them with clear arguments, but even after that many of them certainly act extravagantly in the land. So the first murder took place. Allah (swt) also revealed that : “And whoever commits a sin, he only commits it against his own soul; and Allah is Knowing, Wise.” [Holy Quran 4.111] “Say: What! shall I seek a Lord other than Allah? And He is the Lord of all things; and no soul earns (evil) but against itself, and no bearer of burden shall bear the burden of another; then to your Lord is your return, so He will inform you of that in which you differed.” [Holy Quran 6:164] So the murderer solely carries the sin of the murder of his brother. We can all be prone to such a negative feeling as jealousy. We should recognise the signs, admit it to ourselves that we have a problem, and then take the necessary steps to overcome it. Make dua, always asking Allah (swt) to protect us and strengthen us from this terrible emotion and its effects.
Posted on: Tue, 04 Mar 2014 07:34:23 +0000