Surah Al-Kawthar

Abundance

Introduction

Name of Chapter and Reason for its Name

This chapter is called Surah Al-Kawthar and Kawthar means ‘great good.’ The reason this chapter has been named as such, and the surroundings for which it was revealed are connected. This chapter has been revealed in response to the slander of Aas ibn Wail. This man called the Prophet abtar (without a progeny) because the Prophet had lost all of his male children and had no son. In this chapter, the proclamation of the polytheists has been responded to, and good tidings have been given to the Prophet that he will be the owner of Kawthar, or great good and abundance.

Chapter Number

Surah Al-Kawthar is the 108th chapter of the Quran.

Number of Verses

Surah Al-Kawthar is the shortest chapter of the Quran and it has 3 verses.

Place of Revelation

Despite the existence of narrative sources that suggest this chapter to be a Madani one, most commentators believe this chapter to be a Makki one.

Content

Important Concepts in this Chapter

Verse 1

The granting of Kawthar to the Prophet. Regarding the meaning of Kawthar there is a difference of opinion, and different definitions for Kawthar have been suggested. Some definitions that have been propounded are: great/abundance of good, a river in Paradise, a river in Mahshar, a pond in Paradise which is connected to the Prophet, the Prophet’s children and his following, the knowledgeable ones among the nation, the Quran and Prophethood, the facilitation of the Quran, the mitigation of laws, monotheism, and Islam.

By looking at verse 3, it can be said that abundant good, which comprises of the great number of the Prophet’s offspring, is the best definition for Kawthar. This case is one of the epics of the Quran - that the generations [of the Prophet’s offspring] will remain through Fatimah and will be one of the largest progenies.

Verse 2

An order for prayer, supplication and nahr (raising one’s hands). To thank the Lord, the Prophet was ordered to pray, and nahr is defined as raising one’s hands when beginning the prayer during the takbir.

Verse 3

A promise that the enemies of the Prophet will be abtar. Abtar is defined as someone whose progeny is cut short and there is no good for him. Shani is defined as an enemy, and in this instance the intended recipient is Aas ibn Wail.

Discussions on this Chapter

According to the Sunni Traditions

Verse 1: “Indeed We have given you abundance.”

إِنَّآ أَعۡطَيۡنَٰكَ ٱلۡكَوۡثَرَ ١ عن أنس بن مالك قال:أغفى رسول اللّه إغفاءة، فرفع رأسه متبسما إما قال لهم و إما قالوا له: لم ضحكت؟ فقال رسول اللّه صلّى اللّه عليه و سلّم: «إنه أنزلت علي آنفا سورة» فقرأ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ إِنَّا أَعْطَيْناكَ الْكَوْثَرَ حتى ختمها فقال: «هل تدرون ما الكوثر؟» قالوا: اللّه و رسوله أعلم. قال «هو نهر أعطانيه ربي عز و جل في الجنة عليه خير كثير، ترد عليه أمتي يوم القيامة آنيته عدد الكواكب يختلج العبد منهم، فأقول يا رب إنه من أمتي، فيقال إنك لا تدري ما أحدثوا بعدك»

It has been narrated from Anas ibn Maalik that he said, “While we were with the Messenger of Allah, he dozed off into a slumber. Then he lifted his head smiling. We said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! What has caused you to laugh?’ He replied: ‘Verily, a chapter was just revealed to me.’ Then he recited Surah al-Kawthar, and asked us: ‘Do you all know what is Al-Kawthar?’ We answered: ‘Allah and His Messenger know best.’ He said: ‘Verily, it is a river that my Lord, the Mighty and Majestic, has promised me and it has abundant goodness. It is a pond where my nation will be brought to on the Day of Judgement. Its containers are as numerous as the stars in the sky. Then a servant of Allah from among them will be (prevented from it), and I will ask: ‘O Lord! Verily, he is from my nation (followers).’ But He will reply: ‘Verily, you do not know what he introduced (or innovated) after you.’’”

عن أنس قال: قال‏ رسول اللّه صلّى اللّه عليه و سلّم: «دخلت الجنة فإذا أنا بنهر حافتاه خيام اللؤلؤ فضربت بيدي إلى ما يجري فيه الماء فإذا مسك أذفر قلت: ما هذا يا جبريل؟ قال: هذا الكوثر الذي أعطاكه اللّه عز و جل»

Anas has said, “The Messenger of Allah said: ‘I entered Paradise and I came to a river whose banks had tents that were made of pearls. So I thrust my hand into its flowing water and found that it had the strongest (smell) of musk. So I asked: ‘O Jibrail! What is this?’ He replied, ‘This is Al-Kawthar which Allah, the Mighty and Majestic has given you.’’”

Verse 2: “So pray to your Lord, and sacrifice [the sacrificial camel].”

فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَٱنۡحَرۡ ٢ عن الأصبغ بن نباتة عن علي بن أبي طالب قال: لما نزلت هذه السورة على النبي صلّى اللّه عليه و سلّم‏ إِنَّا أَعْطَيْناكَ الْكَوْثَرَ فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَ انْحَرْ قال رسول اللّه صلّى اللّه عليه و سلّم: يا جبريل ما هذه النحيرة التي أمرني بها ربي؟» فقال: ليست بنحيرة و لكنه يأمرك إذا تحرمت للصلاة ارفع يديك إذا كبرت و إذا ركعت و إذا رفعت رأسك من الركوع، و إذا سجدت فإنها صلاتنا و صلاة الملائكة الذين في السموات السبع، و إن لكل شي‏ء زينة و زينة الصلاة رفع اليدين عند كل تكبيرة

It has been narrated from Asbagh ibn Nabatah, from Ali ibn Abi Talib who said: “Why was this chapter revealed to the Prophet of Allah?” The Prophet of Allah replied: “O Jibrail! What is this that I have been ordered to slaughter by the Lord?” Then he (Jibrail) said: “It is not [an order] to slaughter, rather He has ordered you to hold sacred the prayer by raising your hands when you begin to glorify [Him], and when you bow, and when you raise your head from bowing, and when you prostrate. Surely, this is our prayer and the angels’ prayer that [occurs] in the seven skies. Surely for everything there is adornment and the adornment of prayer is the raising of hands when you glorify [Him].”

كان رسول اللّه صلّى اللّه عليه و سلّم يصلي العيد ثم ينحر نسكه و يقول: «من صلّى صلاتنا و نسك نسكنا فقد أصاب النسك، و من نسك قبل الصلاة فلا نسك له» فقام أبو بردة بن نيار فقال:يا رسول اللّه إني نسكت شاتي قبل الصلاة، و عرفت أن اليوم يوم يشتهى فيه اللحم. قال:«شاتك شاة لحم» قال: فإن عندي عناقا هي أحب إلي من شاتين أ فتجزئ عني؟ قال:«تجزئك و لا تجزئ أحدا بعدك»

The Prophet of Allah was praying the Eid prayer, and after it he slaughtered the sacrificial [animal] and said: “Whoever prays our prayer and then sacrifices our sacrifice - he strikes the sacrifice; and whoever sacrifices before the prayer there is no sacrifice for him.” Then Abu Burdah ibn Niyar got up and said: “O Prophet of Allah! I sacrificed my sheep before the prayer, and I am aware that today is the day when we distribute the meat.” He (the Prophet) said: “Surely I have a female goat which is more desirable than two sheep, will it suffice from me? He said: “This suffices from you and it would not suffice from any other.” something is missing in the translation, isn’t correct

According to the Shia Traditions

Benefits of Reciting this Surah

وَ عَنْهُ ص قَالَ: مَنْ قَرَأَ سُورَةَ الْكَوْثَرِ سَقَاهُ اللَّهُ مِنْ أَنْهَارِ الْجَنَّةِ وَ أُعْطِيَ‏ مِنَ‏ الْأَجْرِ بِعَدَدِ كُلِ‏ قُرْبَانٍ‏ قَرَّبَهُ‏ الْعِبَادُ فِي‏ يَوْمِ‏ عِيدٍ وَ يُقَرِّبُونَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ وَ الْمُشْرِكِين‏

The Prophet has said: “Whoever recites Surah al-Kawthar, Allah will let that person drink from the rivers of Paradise, and will grant him the reward for all of the sacrifices of the worshippers on the day of Eid, and it will bring the People of the Book and the polytheists near.”

أبو بصير عن أبي عبد الله قال‏ مَنْ‏ قَرَأَ إِنَّا أَعْطَيْناكَ‏ الْكَوْثَرَ فِي‏ فَرَائِضِهِ‏ وَ نَوَافِلِهِ سَقَاهُ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْكَوْثَرِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَ كَانَ مُحَدَّثُهُ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص

Abu Baseer quotes Abu Abdillah who said: “Whoever recites (Surah al-Kawthar) in his faraidah (religious duties, i.e. obligatory prayers), and in his nawafilah (recommended prayers), Allah will let him drink from [the river of] Kawthar on the Day of Judgement,” and he narrated this from the Prophet of Allah.

Significance of its Revelation

عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ : توفّي الْقَاسِمُ بْنُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ بِمَكَّة - فَمَرَّ رَسُول اللَّهِ ص وَ هُوَ آتٍ مِنْ جَنَازَته - عَلَى الْعَاصِ بْنِ وَائِلٍ وَ ابْنه عَمْرُو - فَقَالَ حِينَ رَأَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص : إِنِّي لأشنؤه - فَقَالَ الْعَاص بْن وَائِلٍ : لا جرمَ لَقَدْ أَصْبَحَ أَبْتَر - فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ «إِنَّ شانِئَكَ هُوَ الْأَبْتَرُ»

Jafar ibn Muhammad narrates from his father who said: “Qasim ibn Muhammad (the son of the Prophet) passed away in Mecca – so the Prophet of Allah came from his funeral – and Aas ibn Wail and his son were there. Upon seeing the Prophet of Allah, he (the son) said: ‘Surely, I hate him.’ Then Aas ibn Wail said: ‘There is no problem [in hating him] for he is (without a progeny).’ Then Allah revealed ‘Indeed it is your enemy who is without posterity.’”

Verse 1: “Indeed We have given you abundance.”

إِنَّآ أَعۡطَيۡنَٰكَ ٱلۡكَوۡثَرَ ١ قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ‏ لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ‏ إِنَّا أَعْطَيْناكَ‏ الْكَوْثَرَ صَعِدَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص الْمِنْبَرَ فَقَرَأَهَا عَلَى النَّاسِ فَلَمَّا نَزَلَ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا هَذَا الَّذِي قَدْ أَعْطَاكَ اللَّهُ قَالَ نَهَرٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ أَشَدُّ بَيَاضاً مِنَ اللَّبَنِ وَ أَشَدُّ اسْتِقَامَةً مِنَ الْقِدْحِ حَافَتَاهُ قِبَابُ الدُّرِّ وَ الْيَاقُوتِ يَرِدُهُ طَيْرٌ خُضْرٌ لَهَا أَعْنَاقٌ كَأَعْنَاقِ الْبُخْتِ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا أَنْعَمَ هَذَا الطَّائِرَ قَالَ أَ فَلَا أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِأَنْعَمَ مِنْهُ قَالُوا بَلَى يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ مَنْ أَكَلَ الطَّيْرَ وَ شَرِبَ الْمَاءَ فَازَ بِرِضْوَانِ اللَّه

Ibn Abbas says: “When [Surah al-Kawthar] was revealed, the Prophet of Allah climbed the pulpit and recited it for the people. When he descended, they said, ‘O Prophet of Allah, what is this that Allah has given you?’ He replied, ‘A river in Paradise that is the whiter than milk, and clearer than crystal. On both sides of it are domes of pearls and rubies. Next to it are green birds whose necks are like the necks of partridges.’ They said, ‘O Prophet of Allah, what blessing are these birds?’ He replied: ‘You do not know about this blessing.’ They said, ‘Indeed, O Prophet of Allah.’ He replied, ‘Whosoever eats these birds and drinks the water [of this river] is victorious in [having achieved the] satisfaction of Allah.’”

رُوِيَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ أَنَّهُ قَالَ نَهَر فِي الْجَنَّةِ أَعْطَاهُ اللَّهُ نَبِيَّهُ ص عِوَضاً مِن ابْنِهِ

It has been narrated from Abu Abdillah that he said: “There is a river in Paradise that Allah has bestowed upon his Prophet in exchange for his son.”

قِيلَ هُوَ الشفاعة رووه عَنْ الصادق

It has been said that this is intercession and that his been mentioned in a narration from al-Sadiq.

عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ قَالَ : لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ السُّورَةُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ص « إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ الْكَوْثَرَ » قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص لِجِبْرِيلَ : مَا هَذِهِ النَّحِيرَةُ الَّتِي أَمَرَنِي بِهَا رَبِّي ؟ قَالَ : إِنَّهَا لَيْسَتْ بِنَحِيرَةٍ - وَ لَكِنَّ يَأْمُرُكَ إِذَا تَحَرَّمْتَ لِلصَّلَاةِ - أَنْ تَرْفَعَ يَدَيْكَ إِذَا كَبَّرْتَ - وَ إِذَا رَكَعْتَ وَ إِذَا رَفَعْتَ رَأْسَكَ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ - فَإِنَّهَا صَلَاتُنَا وَ صَلَاةُ الْمَلَائِكَةِ الَّذِينَ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ السّبع ، وَ أَنَّ لِكُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ زِينَة - وَ زِينَة الصَّلَاةِ رَفْع الْيَدَيْنِ عِنْدَ كُلِّ تَكْبِيرَةٍ

Ali ibn Abi Talib has said: “Why was this chapter revealed to the Prophet of Allah? Meaning ‘Indeed We have given you abundance.’” The Prophet of Allah asked Jibrail: “What is this that I have been ordered to slaughter by the Lord?” He (Jibrail) replied: “It is not [an order] to slaughter rather He has ordered you to hold sacred the prayer by raising your hands when you begin to glorify [Him], and when you bow, and when you raise your head from bowing, and when you prostrate. Surely, this is our prayer and the angels’ prayer that [occurs] in the seven skies. Surely for everything there is adornment and the adornment of prayer is the raising of hands when you glorify [Him].”

Verse 2: “So pray to your Lord, and sacrifice [the sacrificial camel].”

فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَٱنۡحَرۡ ٢ عَنْ عُمَر بْنِ يَزِيد قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ يَقُولُ فِي قَوْلِهِ « فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَ انْحَرْ » هُوَ رَفْعُ يَدَيْكَ حِذَاءَ وَجْهِكَ

Umar ibn Yazeed says that: “I heard Abu Abdillah say in his statement the (verse of Surah al-Kawthar) - ‘So pray to your Lord, and sacrifice [the sacrificial camel]’ and then he raised his hands to his face.”

عَنْ جَمِيلٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ « فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَ انْحَرْ » فَقَالَ بِيَدِهِ هَكَذَا يَعْنِي اسْتَقْبَلَ بِيَدَيْهِ حَذْوَ وَجْهِهِ الْقِبْلَةَ فِي افْتِتَاحِ الصَّلَاةِ

Jameel says: “I said to Abu Abdillah: ‘So pray to your Lord, and sacrifice [the sacrificial camel].’ (the 2nd verse of Surah al-Kawthar). Then he said with his hands as such - that is he put his hands in front of his face facing the Qiblah for the beginning of the prayer.”