Mankind was one single nation, and Allah sent Messengers with glad tidings and warnings; and with them He sent the Book in truth, to judge between people in matters wherein they differed; but the People of the Book, after the clear Signs came to them, did not differ among themselves, except through selfish contumacy. Allah by His Grace Guided the believers to the Truth, concerning that wherein they differed. For Allah guided whom He will to a path that is straight.

Then Allah sent a raven, who scratched the ground, to show him how to hide the shame of his brother. "Woe is me!" said he; "Was I not even able to be as this raven, and to hide the shame of my brother?" then he became full of regrets-

世人原是一个民族，嗣後，他们信仰分歧，故真主派众先知作报喜者和警告者，且降示他们包含真理的经典，以便他为世人判决他们所争论的是非。惟曾受天经的人，在明证降临之後，为互相嫉妒，而对天经意见分歧，故真主依自己的意旨而引导信道的人，俾得明了他们所争论的真理。真主引导他所意欲的人走上正路。

真主使一只乌鸦来掘地，以便指示他怎样掩埋他弟弟的尸体。他说：“伤哉！我怎不能像这只乌鸦那样，把我弟弟的尸体掩埋起来呢？”于是，他变成悔恨的人。