Final answer:
In Ishmael's retelling, Abel symbolizes individuals favored by God for their devotion, while this story underlines the significance of righteousness within the Abrahamic faiths.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Ishmael's retelling of the story of Cain and Abel, Abel represents the archetype of those individuals whose sacrifices are accepted by God due to their piety and fear of God. In contrast, Cain represents those whose offerings are not accepted, leading to discord and ultimately, the first act of murder recorded in biblical tradition.
In Ishmael's retelling of the story of Cain and Abel, Abel represents righteousness or piety. In the biblical story, Abel's sacrifice is accepted by God because he is god-fearing, while Cain's sacrifice is rejected because he lacks the same devotion. This leads to envy and ultimately Cain killing Abel out of jealousy.
This narrative serves to highlight the importance of righteousness and the consequences of jealousy and violence. The story of Cain and Abel is a crucial element in the shared traditions and beliefs of the Abrahamic faiths: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, each of which reveres the concept of prophets as chosen messengers of God's word.