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wa-tlu ʿalayhim nabaʾa bnay ʾādama bi-l-ḥaqqi ʾidh qarrabā qurbānan fa-tuqubbila min ʾaḥadihimā wa-lam yutaqabbal mina l-ʾākhari qāla la-ʾaqtulannaka qāla ʾinnamā yataqabbalu llāhu mina l-muttaqīna
Relate to them truly the account of Adam’s two sons. When the two of them offered an offering, it was accepted from one of them and not accepted from the other. [One of them] said, ‘Surely I will kill you.’ [The other one] said, ‘Allah accepts only from the Godwary.
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah Al-Ma'idah, Verse 27
Cain's aggression -The Israelites warned -Punishment for those who war on the Apostle (Muhammad).
The objective meaning of 'reciting the truth', maybe, is an indication to the idea that the explanation of this event has been distorted in the Torah and it has been combined with superstitions; hence, what is stated in the Qur'an is the 'truth'.
In Islamic literature and in the Torah, (Genesis, Chapter 4, No.3 to12),1 it is recorded that Abel was a shepherd and he offered his best lamb as the sacrificial animal. But, Cain who was a farmer brought the worst part of his agricultural product to sacrifice. The Qur'an also says:
Therefore, the main principle is striving to draw near to Allah, no to simply sacrifice. Whatever the sacrificial thing may be, the criterion o the acceptance of deeds is piety.
Also, we must know that the expansion of envy stretches forth up to slaying one's brother; so, we must avoid this quality.
Footnotes
4. And Abel, he also brought of the first lings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering.
5. But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his
countenance fell.
6. And the LORD said, Cain, Why art thou wroth? And why is thy countenance fallen?
7. If thou doest well, shall thou not be accepted? And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door and unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
8. And Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and slew him.
9. And the LORD said unto Cain. Where is' Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not; Am I my brother's keeper?
10. And He said. What hast thou done? The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto Me from the ground.
11. And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;
12. When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.