THE STORIES OF the Quran are there for us to take a lesson. Like reflections in the mirror, insights into human nature are given which should make us pause and take measure of ourselves.
One such subtle insight is found in the story of the two sons of Adam (as) that Allah relates.
۞ وَٱتْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ نَبَأَ ٱبْنَىْ ءَادَمَ بِٱلْحَقِّ إِذْ قَرَّبَا قُرْبَانًۭا فَتُقُبِّلَ مِنْ أَحَدِهِمَا وَلَمْ يُتَقَبَّلْ مِنَ ٱلْـَٔاخَرِ قَالَ لَأَقْتُلَنَّكَ ۖ قَالَ إِنَّمَا يَتَقَبَّلُ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ
Tell them the truth about the story of Adam’s two sons: each of them offered a sacrifice, and it was accepted from one and not the other. One said: ‘I will kill you,’ but the other said: ‘Allah only accepts the sacrifice of those who are mindful of Him.’ (al-Ma’idah 27)
The two sons each made an offering to Allah. Habil’s offering was accepted whilst Kabil’s was rejected. What was Kabil’s response to this rejection? To blame his brother and wish for his destruction. Habil however pointed out the root of the issue- the issue lay not with Habil but with Kabil and his lack of taqwa. Habil showed his brother the road to success. All Kabil needed to do was to look at his own motivations and actions. He needed to concentrate his efforts on how he could draw closer to Allah and his situation would certainly be improved.
Kabil of course didn’t and with Shaytan further leading him astray we know where that led him.
This message is so profound. How often do we see the destructive fire of jealousy let loose and the fitna it causes?
Within families, a sibling will be consumed with negative thoughts and wish harm to another because he cannot accept that Allah has perhaps given them a blessing or success. Why has he been given this and not me? He will want to bring the other down by any means. He will not look at the blessing he has been given or the errors that he has made that are stopping him from moving on and succeeding.
It helps to remember the words of the Prophet ﷺ: ‘None of you will have iman till he wishes for his brother what he likes for himself.’ (Bukhari)
We see it at play amongst community organisations. One organisation will want to bring another down instead of learning from it. The other organisation will not share best practices, thinking that its success is due to its own endeavours and forgetting that success only comes from Allah. It becomes a negative competition to bring the other down and one’s energy is consumed not with construction but destruction. Such a waste of the ability and talent of the ummah at a time we are in need of cooperation.
It helps to remember the words of Allah:
وَتَعَاوَنُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلْبِرِّ وَٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْعُدْوَٰنِ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ
Help one another to do what is right and good; do not help one another towards sin and hostility. Be mindful of Allah, for His punishment is severe. (al-Ma’idah 2)
May Allah protect us from this disease and allow us to draw closer to Him in taqwa so that we support each other in that which is good and wish the best for each other without taking away from any goodness. Ameen.
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