Prophets Stories In Islam

Part 3: The Children Of Adam And Eve

We do know however that Adam and Eve descended to earth on a Friday. In some traditions narrated Hadith inform us a lot about the importance of Fridays. The Prophet (pbuh) said: "The best of days on which the sun has risen is Friday. One this day Adam was created, and on this day he was descended to earth." (Al Bukhari)
.
Adam and Eve left paradise and began their life on eath. Allah (swt) had prepared them in many ways. Allah (swt) gave them the experience of struggling against the whisperings and tricks of Iblis. He taught Adam the names of everything and instructed him in its properties and usefulness. Adam (as) took up his position as caretaker of the earth and Prophet of God.
.
Adam (as) the First Prophet of God was responsible for teaching his wife and offspring how to worship Allah (swt) and seek His forgiveness. Adam established the laws of God and set about trying to support his family and learning to subdue and care for the earth. His task was to perpetuate, cultivate, construct and populate; He was to raise children who would live according to God's instructions and care for and improve the earth.
.
The pinnacle of earthly bliss was reached when Adam and Eve witnessed the birth of their first children, a set of twins. Adam was a devoted father and Eve a contended mother. The twins were Cain (Qabil) and his sister. Later Eve gave birth to a second set of twins, Abel (Habil) and his sister. Eve gave birth twenty times and each time with the set of twins of a boy and a girl. The family enjoyed the bounties and fruits of the earth provided by their Lord. The children grew up to be strong and healthy young adults. Cain tilted the land while Abel raised cattle.
.
The time arrived when the two young men desired life partners. This was part of Allah's plan for mankind, to multiply and form nations with different cultures and colors. Allah revealed to Adam (as) that he should marry each son to the twin sister of the other.
.
Adam (as) instructed his children according to Allah's (swt) command.
As Cain was not so good looking and Abel was very handsome. Cain's sister was very beautiful but she was born from the same womb as his twin brother Cain. And when it came to Abel, his sister was not so good looking. It seems that beauty has played a part in the attraction of men and women since the beginning. Time passed and the occasioned came for the sons of Adam (as) to marry. So Adam (as) said: "You will marry the sister of this one, and this one will marry your sister."
.
As we know; Cain's sister was very beautiful, so Cain looked at this girl he was supposed to marry. He says: "She's not that good looking, and why must I give my sister to Abel? Why? I don't want my sister to go with him and I don't want his sister either! I'd rather have my own sister." Astagfirulla. But anyways, that's what was going through his mind and as a result it created a problem. Cain was not pleased with the partner chosen for him. And he then, began to envy his brother and refused to obey the command of his father,and in doing so he disobeyed Allah (swt).
.
See brothers and sisters? From the beginning he was worried about looks. And he refused to marry her and the turbulence continued their father heard about it and he was upset, he tried to explain to them and he made a Dua to Allah (swt) and Allah (swt) showed him a way out.
.
What was this way?
Allah (swt) instructed that each son was going to offer a sacrifice. And whoever's sacrifice is accepted will be judged as correct. Allah (swt) even mentioned in the Quran: "And (O Muhammed) recite to them the story of Adam's two sons, in truth, when they both offered a sacrifice (to Allah), and it was accepted from one of them but was not accepted from the other.
Said (the latter), 'I will surely kill you.'
Said (the former), 'Indeed, Allah only accepts from the righteous (who fear him.)' " (5:27)
.
The question is why was it not accepted? Very interesting, you can draw a lesson from this!
.
The one who was a Shepherd was Abel; he came with a good animal and put it on the mountain. Why the mountain?
.
Because at that time, there was no poor people available to give to charity to; so they used put the sacrifice on the mountain and would go away. When they come back they would see the fire has eaten one or the other and it means that it's been accepted by Allah (swt) and if not, it's been rejected by Allah (swt).
.
Abel came with a very good animal and put it there, and his brother Cain, the one who was arguing and fighting offered his worst grain, not so mediocre but the produce was almost rotten and he put it there and said: "Alright, this is the sacrifice..."
.
And I guess it is a bit obvious, Allah (swt) accepted Abel's sacrifice and rejected Cain's. So Cain became enraged, threatening to kill his brother. Abel advised his brother that God would accept good deeds from those that fear and serve Him, but reject the good deeds of those who are arrogant, selfish and disobedient towards Allah (swt).
.
"The former said: 'Verily God accepts only from those who are pious. If you do stretch your hand against me to kill me I shall never stretch my hand against you to kill you, for I fear God; the Lord of mankind, Jinn, and all that exists.'" (5:27-28)
.
But what happens? Cain was adamant and shaitaan had taught him how to kill. Imagine how would someone have known how to kill? How would you stop someone from breathing?
.
The Prophet (pbuh) informed us that Cain was very angry and hit his brother over the head with a stone. As soon as he killed his brother, he sat there and looked at him and he started regretting. Why does he start regretting? That is shaitaan! As soon as you do something bad and you've executed it he goes away.... Be very careful of shaitaan my brothers and sisters.
.
When Abel had not appeared for sometime, Adam (as) began to search for him, but found no trace of his beloved son. He (as) asked Cain: "where is your brother?"
Cain replied: "My brother? I am not responsible of him. Why do I have to know where he is?"
Immediately Adam (as) knew there is something wrong and that his son is hiding something from him.
.
Meanwhile, Cain didn't know that what to so with his brother's corpse. He carried it on his back wandering from place to place trying to hide it. His anger had now subsided and his conscience was saddled with guilt. He was tiring under the burden of corpse which had started to have a stench. As a mercy, and to show that dignity could be retained even in death, Allah sent two ravens that began fighting, causing the death of one. The victorious bird used its beak and claws to dig a hole in the ground, rolled its victim into it and covered it with sand. And it is mentioned in the Quran: "Then Allah sent a crow searching 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 body of my brother?' And he became of the regretful." (5:31)
.
This was the first murder and burial on earth by a man.
And thereafter it was reported that he could not really stay with Adam (as) and with all the regrets he had, he went away.
.
Adam (as) was devastated; he had lost both his first and second born sons. One had been murdered; the other was won over by mankind's greatest enemy - Satan. Patiently, Adam (as) prayed for his son, and continued to care for the earth. He taught his many children and grandchildren about Allah (swt). He told them of his own encounter with Satan and advised them to beware of Satan's tricks and schemes. Years and years passed, andAdam (as) grew old and his children spread out across the earth.