11/30/2014 Biblical figures in Islamic tradition ­ Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_figures_in_Islamic_tradition#Cain_and_Abel 1/6

Biblical figures in Islamic traditionFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

There are many Biblical figures which the Qur'an names. Some, however, go unnamed in the Qur'an, butare referenced or referred to in the hadiths, tafsirs, literature or sira. Other figures are mentioned elsewherein tradition and in the sunnah and sayings of prophet Muhammad. Such figures which are not mentioned byname in the Qur'an, are included below.

Contents

1 Old Testament1.1 Cain and Abel

1.1.1 Story of Cain and Abel1.1.1.1 Cain speaks to Abel1.1.1.2 Cain slays Abel1.1.1.3 Shame of Cain

1.1.2 Message and moral1.2 Sarah

1.2.1 Story of Sarah1.2.1.1 The birth of Isaac

1.2.2 Tomb of Sarah1.3 Balaam1.4 Jeremiah1.5 Daniel

1.5.1 Story of Daniel2 References

Old Testament

Cain and Abel

Cain and Abel (Arabic: هابيل,قابيل; Qabil and Habil) are believed by Muslims to have been the first twosons of Adam and Eve. The story in the Qur'an[1] is virtually the same as the Hebrew Bible narrative, sayingthat both the brothers were asked to offer up individual sacrifices to God. God accepted Abel's sacrificebecause of Abel's righteousness and Cain, out of jealousy, slew Abel. This was the first ever sin committedupon Earth but Abel was chronicled in history as one of the first believers and as the first ever martyr. Ahandful of Muslim sources have identified Abel as a prophet like his father, but this identification is nottraditional.[2]

11/30/2014 Biblical figures in Islamic tradition ­ Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_figures_in_Islamic_tradition#Cain_and_Abel 2/6

A Bible illustration depicting Cainand Abel offering up their sacrifices.

Story of Cain and Abel

Of Adam's first children, Cain was the elder son and Abel the younger. Each of them presented a sacrificeto God but it was accepted only from Abel, because of the latter's righteous attitude and his faith and firmbelief in God.

Cain speaks to Abel

After the offering of their sacrifices, Cain, the wicked sibling,taunted Abel out of envy and told him that he would surely slayhim. Abel justly warned Cain that God only accepted the sacrifice ofthose that are righteous in their doings. He further went onto tellCain that if Cain did indeed try to slay him,[3] Abel would notretaliate and slay him because the God­fearing would never murderfor the sake of envy. Abel then told Cain that in murdering him, hewould carry the weight not only of his sin but also of the sins of hisvictim[4] The victim, as a result, in suffering the injustice, would beforgiven his own sins and the murderer, while being warned, wouldconsequently increase his own sin. Abel preached powerfully andreminded Cain that the punishment for murder would be that hewould spend the afterlife in the fires of Hell.

Cain slays Abel

The innocent pleading and preaching of Abel had no effect upon Cain, for he was full of arrogance, prideand jealousy. He subsequently slew[5] the righteous Abel, but in doing so, he ruined himself and became ofthose who remain lost. This would be the earliest example of the murder of a righteous man taking placeupon the earth. In the future, many other evildoers would slay the wise and pious believers.

Shame of Cain

Right after the murder took place, God sent a raven who scratched the ground to show Cain how to hide thebody of dead person. Cain, in his shame, began to curse himself[6] and he became full of guilt. The thoughtof the crime at last came to the murderer, as he realized indeed how dreadful it was to slay anyone, the moreso as the victim was an innocent and righteous man. Full of regrets, Cain was marked with deep sorrow.This was, however, no true repentance.

Message and moral

God makes it clear in the Qur'an that the story of Cain and Abel was a message[7] for the Children of Israel,as it had told them about the consequences of murder and that the killing of one person would be as ifhe/she had slain the whole of mankind. But still people rejected the message, of the story and continued tocommit grave sins, slaying prophets, messengers as well as the righteous people.

11/30/2014 Biblical figures in Islamic tradition ­ Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_figures_in_Islamic_tradition#Cain_and_Abel 3/6

Sarah, as depicted on PromptuariiIconum Insigniorum by GuillaumeRouillé

All the prophets who preached since the time of Adam were persecuted, insulted or reviled in one way oranother. With some righteous men, however, the evildoers went one step further, in attempting to slay themor indeed slaying them. The Qur'an itself mentions the slaying of the righteous, saying "As to those whodeny the Signs of Allah and in defiance of right, slay the prophets, and slay those who teach just dealingwith mankind, announce to them a grievous penalty.".[8] Historical examples of the righteous slain includeZacharias, son of Barachias,[9] Uriah[10] and, in later Islamic history, Hamzah, Ali Ibn Abi Talib, Fatimah,Hasan and Husayn.

Sarah

Sarah (Arabic: سارة, Sara), the wife of the patriarch and Islamicprophet Ibrāhīm (Abraham) and the mother of the prophet Ishaq(Isaac) is an honoured woman in the Islamic faith. According toMuslim belief, she was Abraham's first wife. Although notmentioned by name in the Qur'an, she is referenced and alluded tovia the story of her husband. She lived with Abraham throughouther life and, although she was barren, God promised her the birth ofa prophetic son and a prophetic grandson by the name of Ya`qūb(Jacob).

Story of Sarah

Sarah and Abraham had no children. Abraham, however, prayedconstantly to God for a son. Sarah, being barren, subsequently gavehim her Egyptian handmaiden,[11] Hājar (Hagar), to wed as hissecond wife. Hagar bore Ismā'īl (Ishmael), when Abraham was

86,[12] who too would become a prophet of God like his father.

The birth of Isaac

Thirteen years later, God announced to Abraham, now a hundred,[13] that the barren Sarah would give birthto a second son, Isaac, who would also be a prophet of the Lord. Although the Qur'an does not mentionSarah by name, it vividly mentions the annunciation of the birth of Isaac. The Qur'an mentions that Sarahlaughed when the angels gave her the glad tidings of Isaac, which is perhaps why the name Isaac (in ArabicIshaq) has the root meaning of 'laughter'.[14]

There came Our messengers to Abraham with glad tidings. They said, 'Peace!' He answered,'Peace!' and hastened to entertain them with a roasted calf.But when he saw their hands went not towards the (meal), he felt some mistrust of them, andconceived a fear of them. They said: "Fear not: We have been sent against the people of Lut.And his wife was standing (there), and she laughed: But we gave her glad tidings of Isaac, andafter him, of Jacob.She said: "Alas for me! shall I bear a child, seeing I am an old woman, and my husband here isan old man? That would indeed be a wonderful thing!"

11/30/2014 Biblical figures in Islamic tradition ­ Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_figures_in_Islamic_tradition#Cain_and_Abel 4/6

Rembrandt's Balaam and his Ass

—Qur'an, Sura 11 (Hud), ayat 69­72[15]

Tomb of Sarah

Sarah is believed by Muslims to be buried in the Cave of the Patriarchs (known by Muslims as theSanctuary of Abraham). The compound, located in the ancient city of Hebron, is the second holiest site forJews (after the Temple Mount in Jerusalem), and is also venerated by Christians and Muslims, both ofwhom have traditions which maintain that the site is the burial place of three Biblical couples: Abraham andSarah, Isaac and Rebecca, and Jacob and Leah. Although Jews alternatively also believe this to be the burialplace for Adam and Eve, this is a view not usually adopted by Muslims.

Balaam

In regards to Balaam in Islam, it is very doubtful whether there isany reference to Balaam in the Qur'an. Old classical commentatorsapplied to him, but with reservations:

Relate to them the story of the man to whom We sent Oursigns, but he passed them by: so Satan followed him up, andhe went astray.If it had been Our will, We should have elevated him withOur signs; but he inclined to the earth, and followed his ownvain desires. His similitude is that of a dog: if you attack him,he lolls out his tongue, or if you leave him alone, he (still)lolls out his tongue. That is the similitude of those who rejectOur signs; So relate the story; perchance they may reflect.

—Qur'an, sura 7 (Al­A'raf), ayat 175­176[16]

Many modern commentators, including Abdullah Yusuf Ali,however, feel that the tale of Balaam was different and unrelated.

Jeremiah

Ibn Kathir considers Jeremiah (Arabic: أرميا, Armaya) to be a prophet of Islam, though he is not mentionedin the Qur'an; in his book Stories Of The Prophets, places Jeremiah in the prophetic pantheon, alongsidefellow Old Testament prophets Daniel, Ezekiel and Isaiah. Scholars believe that Jeremiah was a descendantof Levi, son of Jacob, and lived at a troubled time when there were many false prophets spreading falsemessages.

Daniel

Danyal (Arabic: دانيال), known as Daniel in the Bible, is traditionally considered by Ibn Kathirs to be aprophet, alongside the other major prophets of the Old Testament, namely Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel.Although he is not mentioned in the Qur'an, there are a few Hadith which bear his name and which refer to

11/30/2014 Biblical figures in Islamic tradition ­ Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_figures_in_Islamic_tradition#Cain_and_Abel 5/6

Gustave Dore's engraving Daniel InThe Lion's Den

his time spent in the den of the lions. There are debates, however, that go on about Daniel's time ofpreaching and some Muslims believe that he was not a prophet but a saintly man.

Story of Daniel

It was he who preached in Babylonian 'Iraq, exhorting the people toreturn to God. He lived during the reign of Cyrus, and taught thisprince the unity of God and the true religion. al­Tabari says("Chronique," French translation of Zotenberg, i. 44) that thousandsof people who had died in a certain town from an epidemic wereresuscitated a thousand years later by the prayer of Daniel.[17]

When Daniel had become a noted prophet, Cyrus made him thechief of all his kingdom in order that he might teach his people thetrue religion. Daniel asked the king to let him go back to Palestineand re­build the Temple. Cyrus consented to the reconstruction ofthe sanctuary, but refused to let him go, saying, "If I had a thousandprophets like thee, I should have them all stay with me." There isanother tradition, to the effect that Daniel was king of the Israelitesafter their return from captivity.

References

1. ^ Quran 5:27 (http://www.usc.edu/org/cmje/religious­texts/quran/verses/005­qmt.php#005.027): "Recite to themthe truth of the story of the two sons of Adam. Behold! they each presented a sacrifice (to Allah. It was acceptedfrom one, but not from the other. Said the latter: 'Be sure I will slay thee.' 'Surely' said the former, '(God) dothaccept of the sacrifice of those who are righteous.'

2. ^ Holy Qur'an: Text, Translation, Commentary, Yusuf Ali, note. 57: "The slaying of the prophets begins with themurder of Abel, who was in the ancestry of Israel."

3. ^ Quran 5:28 (http://www.usc.edu/org/cmje/religious­texts/quran/verses/005­qmt.php#005.028): "'If thou doststretch thy hand against me, to slay me, it is not for me to stretch my hand against thee to slay thee': for I do fearGod, the cherisher of the worlds.'"

4. ^ Quran 5:29 (http://www.usc.edu/org/cmje/religious­texts/quran/verses/005­qmt.php#005.029): "'For me, Iintend to let thee draw on thyself my sin as well as thine, for thou wilt be among the companions of the fire, andthat is the reward of those who do wrong.'"

5. ^ Quran 5:30 (http://www.usc.edu/org/cmje/religious­texts/quran/verses/005­qmt.php#005.030): "The (selfish)soul of the other led him to the murder of his brother: he murdered him, and became (himself) one of the lostones."

6. ^ Quran 5:31 (http://www.usc.edu/org/cmje/religious­texts/quran/verses/005­qmt.php#005.031): "Then God senta raven, who scratched the ground, to show him how to hide the shame of his brother. 'Woe is me!' said he. 'WasI not even able to be as this raven, and to hide the shame of my brother?' Then he became full of regrets."

11/30/2014 Biblical figures in Islamic tradition ­ Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_figures_in_Islamic_tradition#Cain_and_Abel 6/6

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Biblical_figures_in_Islamic_tradition&oldid=609743291"

Categories: Biblical figures in Islam

This page was last modified on 23 May 2014 at 00:20.Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution­ShareAlike License; additional terms mayapply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is aregistered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non­profit organization.

7. ^ Quran 5:32 (http://www.usc.edu/org/cmje/religious­texts/quran/verses/005­qmt.php#005.032): "On thataccount: We ordained for the Children of Israel that if any one slew a person ­ unless it be for murder or forspreading mischief in the land ­ it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it wouldbe as if he saved the life of the whole people. Then although there came to them Our apostles with clear signs,yet, even after that, many of them continued to commit excesses in the land."

8. ^ Quran 3:21 (http://www.usc.edu/org/cmje/religious­texts/quran/verses/003­qmt.php#003.021)9. ^ Matthew 23:35 (http://tools.wmflabs.org/bibleversefinder/?book=Matthew&verse=23:35&src=KJV): "That

upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the bloodof Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar."

10. ^ Jeremiah 26:23 (http://tools.wmflabs.org/bibleversefinder/?book=Jeremiah&verse=26:23&src=KJV): "And theyfetched forth Urijah out of Egypt, and brought him unto Jehoiakim the king; who slew him with the sword, andcast his dead body into the graves of the common people."

11. ^ Muhammad, Martin Lings, Chapter 1. The House of God, Suhail Academy Publishing12. ^ Genesis 16:16 (http://tools.wmflabs.org/bibleversefinder/?book=Genesis&verse=16:16&src=!): "And Abram

was fourscore and six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram."13. ^ Genesis 21:5 (http://tools.wmflabs.org/bibleversefinder/?book=Genesis&verse=21:5&src=!): "And Abraham

was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born unto him."14. ^ Isaac ­ name meaning, origin (http://www.thinkbabynames.com/meaning/1/Isaac)15. ^ Quran 11:69–72 (http://www.usc.edu/org/cmje/religious­texts/quran/verses/011­qmt.php#011.069)16. ^ Quran 7:175–176 (http://www.usc.edu/org/cmje/religious­texts/quran/verses/007­qmt.php#007.175)17. ^ Chronigue (French transl. by Zotenberg), i. 44, 496, 503, 571, ii. 283;