Cain and Abel facts for kids
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Cain and Abel are two important figures from the Book of Genesis in the Bible. They were the first two sons of Adam and Eve, who were the first humans on Earth. Cain was the older brother and worked as a farmer, growing crops. His younger brother, Abel, was a shepherd, taking care of sheep.
The story of Cain and Abel teaches us about choices and consequences. It is a very old story that has been told for thousands of years.
The Story from the Bible
Cain and Abel both wanted to show their respect to God. They each brought an offering to God from their work. Cain brought some of the crops he had grown from his farm. Abel brought some of the best young animals from his flock of sheep.
God looked kindly upon Abel's offering. However, God did not look kindly upon Cain's offering. This made Cain very angry and sad. He felt jealous of his brother.
Sadly, Cain's anger grew too strong. He took Abel out into a field and hurt him badly, causing Abel's death. This was the first murder ever committed.
God knew what Cain had done. As a result, God put a special mark on Cain and sent him away. Cain was told he would wander the Earth and find it hard to grow food. Cain then went to live in a place called the land of Nod. This name means "wandering." In Nod, Cain built a city and had children, starting a new family line. One of his sons was named Enoch.
The Story in the Qur'an
In the Qur'an, Cain and Abel are known by different names. Cain is called Qābīl (Arabic: قابيل) and Abel is called Hābīl (هابيل). The story in the Qur'an is very similar to the one in the Bible.
Both brothers offered gifts to God. God accepted Hābīl's gift, but not Qābīl's. Because of this, Qābīl became very jealous of his brother. Out of this jealousy, Qābīl hurt Hābīl, which led to Hābīl's death. This was the first murder on Earth.
The story in both texts highlights the dangers of jealousy and anger. It also shows the importance of making good choices.
