Tafsīr of Surah al-Kawthar

﴿In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful﴾

﴿Indeed, We have granted you al-Kawthar. So pray to your Lord and sacrifice. Indeed, your enemy is the one cut off﴾.

The basmala has already been discussed.

This surah is said to be Meccan, though it is also said to be Medinan. A Meccan revelation is one revealed before the Prophet’s migration to Medina, whether it was revealed in Mecca, Medina, or while travelling. Everything revealed after the migration is Medinan, while everything revealed before it is Meccan. This is the preponderant view among the scholars.

Allah, Glorious and Exalted, addresses the Prophet—may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him and his family—saying: ﴿Indeed, We have granted you al-Kawthar﴾. In Arabic, al-Kawthar means abundant goodness. Allah Most High did indeed grant the Prophet—may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him and his family—abundant goodness in this world and the Hereafter. Among this is the mighty river in Paradise from which two channels flow into the Prophet’s Pond, to which people will come—may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him. Its water is whiter than milk and sweeter than honey in taste, (and more fragrant than musk) (1). This Pond will be on the open plains of Resurrection, and the believers from the nation of the Prophet—may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him—will come to it. Its vessels will be like the stars in the sky in both number and beauty (2). Thus, whoever adheres to his revealed law in this world,