Curious Christian

This Islamic miniature depicts Qabil (Cain) carrying the body of his slain brother, Habil (Abel), attempting to conceal the crime from Allah (God). The image comes from an illuminated manuscript of the Stories of the Prophets, a rich tradition of sacred storytelling in the Islamic world.

This ancient portrayal of brother-against-brother violence feels uncomfortably close to the bloodshed unfolding between the United States, Israel, and Iran in the Middle East today. Except now, all parties seem to be acting like Cain. None of this resembles the God revealed in Jesus, who would rather bear violence than bless it.