He, peace and blessings be upon him, also informed us that certain people will reach it, only to be pushed back and prevented from drinking. The Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, will plead, “My Lord, my community, my community,” whereupon Allah will say, “You do not know what they introduced after you.” The Prophet will then proclaim, “Away and far removed be those who altered and changed!” (1)
Those who will be barred from the Cistern are the people of misguided innovation who opposed the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him—those who fell into disbelief and turned back on their heels, abandoning the Sunnah and following their desires and deviant opinions. Such people will be kept from the Prophet’s Cistern because they distorted and altered his guidance; none will reach it except those who followed the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, in word, deed, and belief.
Some scholars hold that the Kawthar mentioned in Allah’s words, “Indeed, We have granted you al-Kawthar” (Al-Kawthar 1), is the very Cistern itself; others maintain that al-Kawthar means “abundant goodness.” In any event, the Cistern is certainly included in that abundant goodness, for it is a blessing granted to this community. (2) Thus