Suratul Kawthar, Abundant Good
This chapter was revealed in Mecca and contains 3 verses
Contents of Suratul Kawthar
In the Name of Allah, the All-Beneficent, the All-Merciful
It is commonly held that this chapter was revealed in Mecca, however there are some scholars who believe that it may have been revealed in Medina. Another opinion states that this chapter was revealed twice - once in Mecca and once in Medina.
However the narrations cited on the occasion of its revelation attest to the first idea which says that it is a Meccan chapter.
In regards to the occasion of revelation, the following story has been narrated:
As b. Wail, who was one of the chiefs of the pagans, met the Noble Prophet as he was coming out of the Sacred Masjid (Masjid al-Haram). As b. Wail proceeded to speak with the Prophet during that short time, a group of leaders of the Quraysh were sitting in the masjid watching him from a distance.
When As b. Wail entered the masjid they asked him: “Who were you speaking to?” He answered: “With the ‘abtar’ one.”
As b. Waill used this (derogatory) word (abtar) for the Noble Prophet to taunt him, because he knew that the Noble Prophet had a son named ʿAbdullah who had died in his infancy, and in the language of the Arabs, a person who had no male offspring was referred to as “abtar” - meaning one who has no posterity to follow after him. Thus, the Quraysh gave the Noble Prophet this nickname after the death of his son.
To condole the Noble Prophet , this chapter was revealed with the glad tidings of the greatest amount of grace (al-Kawthar - an abundance of goodness) from Allah opponents would be9and that the Prophet’s ‘abtar’ or have no posterity.1
In summary: The Noble Prophet had two male children from his first wife Khadijah - one named Qasim and the other one named Tahir (who was also known as Abdullah) and both of them passed away in Mecca, and thus the Prophet did not have any son who lived.
This tragic event gave the Quraysh the opportunity to hurl insults at the Prophet and refer to him as ‘abtar’ or one who has no (surviving) male children.2
According to their traditional ways, the Arabs gave a great deal of importance to male children and considered the son as being an extension of their father.
Thus, after the death of his two sons, they thought that with the eventual death of the Noble Prophet , his mission (of spreading Islam) would also cease to exist as he had no male children (to carry on his message) and this greatly pleased the polytheistic Arabs greatly!
The Noble Qur’an was revealed and through a miraculous message in this chapter, replied to these individuals and let them know that: It is the enemies of the Prophet who will actually be ‘abtar’ or cut off in progeny, and that the program of Islam and the Qur’an will never come to a halt!
The revelation of this chapter was in fact, an answer to the enemies of the Apostle of Allah to inform them that Islam and the Qur’an would remain and continue forever. From another point of view, it was also a consolation to the Messenger of Allah that after he had heard this despicable nickname which they gave him, and knew of their plots against him, that his heart was brought to tranquility through this news.
The virtue of studying this chapter
In regards to the virtue of the recitation of this chapter, a tradition from the Noble Prophet says:
مَنْ قَرَأَهَا سَقَاهُ اللهُ مِنْ أَنْهَارِ الْـجَنَّةِ وَ أَعْطي مِنَ الأَجْرِ بِعَدَدِ كُلِّ قُرْبَانٍ قَرَّبَهُ الْعِبَادِ فِي يَوْمِ عِيدٍ وَ يَقْرَبُونَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ وَ" الْمُشْرِكِينَ”
One who recites it (Suratul Kawthar), Allah will quench their thirst from the streams of heaven and will recompense them good rewards as many as the number of every sacrifice which the servants of Allah make on the day of the Feast of Sacrifice, together with those sacrifices which are of the People of the Book and the pagans.3
The name of this chapter, al-Kawthar, is taken from the first verse of the chapter.
Commentary of the Verses
In the Name of Allah, the All-Beneficent, the All-Merciful
“إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ الْكَوْثَرَ فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْ إِنَّ شَانِئَكَ هُوَ الْأَبْتَرُ”
“Surely We have given you (Muhammad) abundance of good (al-Kawthar).
~
Therefore turn to your Lord in prayer and sacrifice.
~
Indeed your enemy is the one who will be without offspring.”
We have given you (Muhammad) much goodness!
In this chapter, similar to what is seen in Suratul Ḍuha and Suratul Inshirah, the Noble Prophet is the focal point of the address, and one of the prime objectives in all three of these chapters is to grant consolation to the Prophet in relation to the continuous painful incidents and numerous taunts of his enemies and their harsh language (towards him).
We first read:
{
Surely We have given you (Muhammad) an abundance of good (al-Kawthar).
}
The term “أَلْکَوْثَرُ” is the descriptive case derived from the (Arabic word) “كَثْرَتٌ” which means “ample goodness or blessings” and those individuals who are extremely generous are also referred to as “al-Kawthar”.
What is the purpose of using the term “al-Kawthar”?
It is mentioned in the narrations that: When this chapter was revealed, the Noble Prophet ascended the pulpit (mimbar) and recited it. His companions asked him what it was that Allah had given him and he answered: “It is a stream in paradise, whiter than milk, more clear than a goblet (made of crystal), and on either side are domes decorated with pearls and rubies.”4
In a tradition from Imam Jafar as-Sadiq he says: “Al-Kawthar is a stream in paradise which Allah has granted to His Prophet in exchange for his infant son (ʿAbdullah) who passed away during the life of the Prophet.”
Some scholars have stated that “al-Kawthar” is a ‘Pool of Abundance’ which belongs to the Prophet from where the believers will quench their thirst when they arrive in paradise.5
Other opinions of ‘al-Kawthar’ include the following:
Some have commented on it as being ‘prophecy’;
Others mention that it is the Qur’an;
Another opinion is that it refers to an abundance of companions and followers of the Prophet ;
Yet another interpretation is that it refers to the abundance of descendants all of who will come from his daughter, Fatima Zahra’, and will increase to such an extent that it will be impossible to count them.
They do not only exist today, but in fact will continue to remain until the hereafter as reminders of the Noble Prophet ;
Some have also commented on this term referring to ‘intercession’ and have narrated a tradition from Imam Jafar as-Sadiq in this regards.6
Even the Sunni scholar, Fakhr ad-Din al-Razi has narrated fifteen different narrations on the meaning of ‘al-Kawthar’, however most of them are merely statements of the clear examples of this broad concept, because as was mentioned before, ‘al-Kawthar’ means ‘goodness and blessings in abundance’, and we know that Allah the Grand, granted the Noble Prophet so many blessings such that each of the ones mentioned above is but one clear example of them.
There are many other examples that may be cited as commentaries for the verse; however we will mention them here.
All of the Divine gifts granted to the Noble Prophet in every aspect - such as the victories in his expeditions against his enemies; the scholars of his community who in every era and age, guard the illuminated torch of Islam and the Qur’an and carry it throughout the world - all in all are contained in this ‘abundance of goodness’.
It should not be forgotten that Allah revealed these verses to His Prophet’s blessed heart at a time when the manifestations of this ‘abundance of good’ had not yet appeared.
It was a miraculous piece of news which he was informed about and was to transpire in the near and remote future to confirm the legitimacy of the Noble Prophet .
This great blessing and the ‘abundance of good’ should have a lofty level of thanks (to be given to Allah ), although creatures can never entirely thank the Creator for His blessings because even the ability to be thankful is another blessing from Him which needs thanks. Therefore, Allah
says,
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Thus, turn towards your Lord in prayer and (offer the) sacrifice.
}
He is the One who grants these blessings, therefore prayer, worship and sacrifice - which is also a kind of worship in itself - has no meaning unless it is done solely for the sake of Allah , particularly in regard to the meaning of the term Lord (رَبِّ) which indicates the constancy of grace and providence.
Briefly it can be stated that: ‘worship’ - whether it be in the form of the salat (prayer) or making a sacrifice of an animal, is only the Lord’s and Benefactor’s privilege, and it is exclusively for the Pure Supreme Being - Allah - to be directed towards.
This portion of the verse refers to the behavior of the pagans who used to prostrate and sacrifice animals to the idols, while they knew their thanks for all of the blessings that they had been given truly belonged only to Allah, and the phrase ‘your Lord’ (لِرِبِّكَ) used in this verse, is a clear evidence for the necessity of pure intentions in all acts of worship.
Many commentators believe that the meaning of salat in this verse is the salat on the Day of the Feast of Sacrifice (Eid al-Qurban), and making the sacrifice of an animal on that day. However, the meaning of the verse is apparently general in its scope and inclusive of many other types of prayers, even though salat and the sacrifice of the Day of the Feast of Sacrifice are clear examples of this term.
Perhaps the use of the term “وَانْحَرْ” or ‘offer sacrifice’ which comes from the root ‘نَحَرَ’ and is specific to the process of slaughtering a camel has been employed because among all of the animals which can be slaughtered (on the Day of the Feast of the Sacrifice and also in general), the camel is the best of them, and among the early community of Muslims, we know that they had a great fondness of slaughtering (and eating) the camel and that slaughtering a camel was not possible without a show of generosity (due to its great worth and value).
Here are two more commentaries which have been offered on the above verse:
1. The implied meaning of the phrase “وَانْحَرْ” is to face the qiblah (the Kaʿbah) when performing the salat. This interpretation is given because the word “نَحَرٌ” originally meant the ‘throat’, and then later on it was used by the Arabs to mean the act of ‘standing in front of anything’.
It is for this reason that the Arabs say, “مَنَازِلُنَا تَتَنَاحَرُ” meaning that “Our stations are opposite of one another.”
2. Another meaning is the raising of the hands up to the face and neck when pronouncing the ‘takbir’ (to begin the salat).
In a tradition we read that when this chapter was revealed, the Noble Prophet asked Gabriel : “What is this “نُحَيرَة” that my Lord has commissioned me to do? Gabriel said: “This is not “نُحَيرَة”; rather Allah has commanded you to raise your hands at the beginning of prayer when you say “أَللهُ أَكْبَرُ” and also every time when you are going to perform the ruku or sajdah and after that (particular act), because our prayer (salat) and that of the angels in the seven heavens is exactly like this. Everything has an
adornment and the adornment of prayer is raising the hands at the time of saying “أَللهُ أَكْبَرُ”.7
In another tradition, this one from Imam Jafar as-Sadiq who on the commentary of this verse, indicated with his hands and said: “The meaning of this verse is that you raise your hands in such a way that your palms face towards the qiblah (the direction of the Kabah).”8
However the first commentary given is the most appropriate in regards to what this verse means, since its meaning was to negate the actions of the idolaters who used to perform acts of worship such as the sacrifice of animals for other than Allah .
However with this said, there is also no problem in combining all of these meanings together and in particular, there are many narrations about raising the hands at the time of saying “أَللهُ أَكْبَرُ” and there are traditions in the books of the Shia and the Ahlus Sunnah in this regards, and therefore this verse can have such a vast meaning that it covers all of them.
In the last verse of this short chapter, keeping in mind the taunts made by the chiefs of the pagans towards the Noble Prophet, we read,
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Surely your enemy is the one who will be without offspring.
}
The term “شَانِي” or ‘enemy’ is derived from the word “شَنَئَآنٌ” which means ‘enmity, spitefulness, and bad manners’; thus, the word “شَانِي” is the one who possesses these characteristics.
It is worthy to note that the word “أَبْتَرُ” originally meant ‘an animal whose tail is cut off’ and the enemies of Islam taunted the Noble Prophet by using this word.
In reality, the usage of the term “شَانِي” clearly shows that in their desire to express their enmity towards the , these people did not even display the smallest amount of9Prophet respect or dignity - meaning that their enmity was interwoven with hard-heartedness and the use of shameful words! In reality, the Qurʾan retorted to such individuals and told them, “It is actually you who have this characteristic (of being cut off of your posterity) and not the Noble Prophet!”
In addition, just as has been mentioned in regards to the history of revelation of this chapter, the Quraysh were waiting for the death of the Prophet to transpire as they felt that with his departure from this world and since he had no son to inherit his position, the dissolution of the rule of Islam would happen.
But the Qur’an, consoling the Noble Prophet told him that it is not him who will be without offspring, but surely his enemy is the one who will not continue on!
Points of Interest
1. Lady Fatima and al-Kawthar
It was said earlier that ‘al-Kawthar’ has a vast, inclusive meaning which is ‘goodness in abundance’ and the examples are many.
A large number of scholars of the Shia school believe that one of the most clear examples of this word is the auspicious existence of Fatima Zahra, because the occasion of the revelation of the verse indicates that the enemies accused the Noble Prophet of being without offspring to which the
Qur’an replied:
{
Surely (Muhammad) We have given you abundance of good (al-Kawthar).
}
From this verse we understand that this ‘abundance of good’ is that very Lady Fatima Zahra’.
In addition, not only is it the physical and biological offspring of the Prophet which will increase, rather it is these abundant number of offspring scattered which continue his religion and are responsible for the preservation of all of the values of Islam and continue to convey it to the future generations!
This is not only limited to the infallible Imams of the Ahlul Bayt who have a literal number that we can enumerate (12), rather it is the thousands and thousands of children of Fatima which have spread around the entire world from whom so many great scholars, scientists, writers, exegetists, jurists, narrators of the Prophet’s sayings and leaders have come from - individuals who have left outstanding works and unmatched fame in this world, and have protected Islam with their selfless giving (of themselves and their efforts) and their hard work and devotions.
Here, we encounter a very interesting discussion from Fakhr ad-Din al-Razi who along with other commentators on ‘al-Kawthar’, says:
The third statement of the meaning of this chapter is that it was revealed to reject those who criticized the Noble Prophet for his lack of progeny.
Therefore the meaning of this chapter is that Allah will give him a generation which will remain throughout all of the ages.
Considering the fact that how many members of the Ahlul Bayt have been martyred, we still see that the world is replete with them, whereas the Umayyads (who were the enemies of Islam) there remains no mentionable figure in the world.
Then, behold and see how many of the great men of leadership such as al-Baqir, as-Sadiq, al-Ridha, and Nafs al-Zakiyyah 9, etc… are found among them (the household)!”10
2. The miracle of this chapter
In reality, this chapter contains three important miraculous predictions:
On one hand, it informs the Prophet of the glad tidings of the ‘abundance of good’, (although the verb “أَعْطَيْنَا” is in the past tense form), it may definitely be considered as meaning the present and future which has been stated in the form of the past tense and this ‘abundance of good’ encompasses all victories and successes that were obtained later by the Noble Prophet however which were not predictable in Mecca at the time of the revelation of this chapter.
On the other hand, the chapter foretells that the Noble Prophet will not be without posterity, and his generations and descendants will exist abundantly all over the world.
The third thing which this chapter foretells is that the enemies of the Prophet will be ‘abtar’ - without posterity. This too actually happened and those enemies were so rooted out that no trace of their generations can be seen today.
We see that today, tribes such as the Umayyads and Abbasids, who opposed the Prophet and his prophecy and who enjoyed such a population in the past, today their family and children cannot even be counted and they not even present anywhere!
3. Allah and the plural pronoun
It is noteworthy that here and in many other verses of the Noble Qur’an, Allah introduces Himself by the first person plural pronoun and says:
{
‘We’ have given you an abundance of good (al-Kawthar).
}
This wording and others like it are for the expression of Glory and Power, as when the noble talk about themselves, they announce not only themselves, but also their commissionaires, and this refers to their power and nobility, as well as to the presence of those in obedience, along with the commands.
In the verse under discussion the term “إِنَّ” is also another emphasis on this meaning, and the phrase “أَعْطَيْنَاكَ” - ‘We have given you’, rather than “آتَيْنَاكَ” is evidence to the fact that Allah has awarded the Noble Prophet “al-Kawthar” which itself is a great glad tiding to the Prophet in order to keep his heart aloof from annoyance resulting from the nonsensical remarks of the enemies; and consequently, languor does not affect his firm determination, and for him to know that Allah is his support and that He is the source of all welfare and grace in abundance.
O Lord! Do not deprive us from the blessings of that ‘abundance of good’ that You granted to Your Prophet.
O Lord! You know that we truly love Your Prophet and his pure progeny; therefore include us among their ranks.
O Lord! The glory of Your Prophet’s essence and the religion which he taught us is much notable; add to this grandeur, majesty and honor.
…So be it, O Lord of all of the Worlds
End of Suratul Kawthar
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Author: Ayatullah Makarim Shirazi
