RENAISSANCE APRIL 2020

Queries 41 Monthly Renaissance April 2020 he did not look with favour. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Then the Lord said to Cain: ‘Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires you have you; but you must master it.’ Now Cain said to his brother Abel: ‘Let’s go out to the field.’ And while they were in the field Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him (Genesis, 4:3-8) Certain historical reports mention another account of the episode. The Jewish Encyclopedia has summarized the contents of Rabbinical literature on this issue in the following words: Woman was at the bottom of the strife between the first brothers. Each of the sons of Adam had a twin sister whom he was to marry. As Abel’s twin sister was the more beautiful, Cain wished to have her for his wife and sought to get rid of Abel. 1 It is evident that the above quoted account is in direct contradiction with the Qur’ ā n and with the Old Testament as well. According to this account, the reason Cain murdered Abel was dispute between the two as regards marriage. On the other hand, both Divine books state Cain got incensed when he saw that his offering had not been accepted by God while that of his brother had been. Consequently, this report cannot be accepted. Are the Words of the Qur’ ā n Spoken by God? Question: Here is a question asked by a Hindu friend. Hope you can answer it for me. According to the Muslims, the Qur’ ā n contains the words of God. It is to be read as if God Himself had spoken the words stated in it. (It is important to emphasize this point because if the Qur’ ā n is the word of God, then it should not contain any errors and it should hold true for all times.) However, 1. The Jewish Encyclopaedia, 1 st ed., vol. 1 (New York: KTAV Publishing House, 1901), 48.