CHAPTER 108: AL-KAWTHAR (THE ABUNDANCE)

It was revealed in the Mecca period. It consists of three verses. Kawthar is also a pool in Paradise. It takes its name from the same word in the first verse. It is the 15th Surah according to the order of revelation. (H. T. FEYIZLI, 1/602)

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

108/1-3 INDEED, WE HAVE GRANTED YOU AL-KAWTHAR

Translation

1- [O Messenger!] Indeed, We have granted you Al-Kawthar.

2- So pray to your Lord and sacrifice [to Him alone].

3- Indeed, your enemy is the one who is cut off [from all good and from a lasting lineage].

Commentary

(1) ‘[O Messenger!] Indeed, We have granted you Al-Kawthar.’

Or "abundant good and blessing." The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) also said that the river of Kawthar, which will be given in Paradise, was shown to him during the Miraj (Zebîdî, XI, hadith no: 1761-1762). (H. T. FEYIZLI 1/602)

The enemy (namely, the Meccan pagans) thought that Prophet Muhammad was in a bad situation in every respect. According to them, by being cut off from his tribe, the Messenger of Allah had become helpless, his trade was ruined, his male children who would carry on his name had died, and no one remained with him except a few individuals; he had taken up a cause that was not listened to even in the rest of Arabia, let alone in Mecca. Therefore, according to the Quraysh, the fate of the Messenger of Allah was that he would fail in this cause and no one would remember him after he died. Under these conditions, it was declared by Allah: "Indeed, We have granted you Al-Kawthar." (MAWDUDI 7/265)

Hadith: "Kawthar is a river in Paradise. Both of its banks are of gold. This river flows over pearls and rubies. Its soil is more pleasant than musk. Its water is sweeter than honey and whiter than snow." (From Tirmidhi, Tafsir 108; O. CELIK, 5/625)

(2) ‘So pray to your Lord and sacrifice (to Him alone).’

According to some, what is meant by this is to perform the Eid al-Adha prayer and to sacrifice an animal. But when the context (siyaq and sibaq) is considered, the meaning becomes: "O Prophet, your Lord has done such great kindness to you and given you such great blessings that now pray for Him and sacrifice for Him." When this command was given, not only the pagans in Quraysh or all of Arabia but the pagans in the whole world were worshiping the gods they had made and sacrificing for them. The aim here is to state that he should persevere in his path, contrary to the pagans, by performing the prayer and sacrifice only for Allah. (MAWDUDI 7/269)

When the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was honored with Kawthar and the answer given to the pagans, he accepted this verse as an obligation upon himself to show that gratitude and worship should be dedicated to Allah (6/162-163) in response to the pagans sacrificing to their idols; he performed the mid-morning (duha) prayer and sacrificed an animal. Although some linguists have given different meanings to the word "nahr" based on its root, the companions and the imams of the schools of law reached a consensus on the word "wa'nhar" meaning "sacrifice an animal," based on practice and the noble hadiths. Sacrificing and the Eid prayer were made Sharia for the believers in Medina. This, like the night prayer, was made obligatory specifically for the Prophet. According to the Hanafis, the Witr prayer, Eid prayer, and sacrificing an animal are wajib (necessary). (Râzî, XXIII, 478; Ibni Kesîr (Sâbûnî), III, 684; ELMALILI, IX, 526-535; Derveze, I, 184; Kenûn, p. 415). (H. T. FEYIZLI 1/602)

Hadith: Anas b. Malik (ra) said; "The Prophet sacrificed two horned, piebald rams. He slaughtered his sacrifices with his own hand, mentioned the name of Allah (basmala), and said the takbir while slaughtering, and placed his feet on their sides." (Muslim, Edahi 17; Tirmidhi, Edahi 2; I. KARAGOZ,8/650)

According to Hanafi mujtahids, every Muslim who is sane, has reached puberty, is free, is a resident (muqim), and is religiously wealthy; and according to Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali mujtahids, every Muslim whether a resident or a traveler, is obligated to sacrifice. Those who possess 80.18 grams of gold or its equivalent in money or goods, excluding their basic needs and debts, are obligated to sacrifice. (I. KARAGOZ,8/651)

(3) ‘Indeed, your enemy is the one who is cut off.’

When Prophet Muhammad's son Qasim passed away, one of the pagans, As b. Wail, called him "abtar" (one whose lineage is cut off). However, his lineage and the loftiness of his fame have continued. It was actually those [enemies] whose names were forgotten and who were humiliated. There are many who attribute themselves to the Messenger of Allah, even from afar, but there is no one who boasts of being the grandchild of a polytheist. (H. T. FEYIZLI 1/602)