(1–3) “In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. Indeed, We have granted you al-Kawthar * So pray to your Lord and offer sacrifice * Indeed, the one who hates you is himself cut off.”

Allah Most High says to His Prophet Muhammad—peace and blessings be upon him—reminding him of His favor: “Indeed, We have granted you al-Kawthar”; that is, abundant goodness and bountiful grace. Among this is what Allah will grant His Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—on the Day of Resurrection: the river called al-Kawthar and the Cistern (1).

Its length is a month’s journey and its width is a month’s journey. Its water is whiter than milk and sweeter than honey. Its drinking vessels resemble the stars (2) of the sky in ⦗936⦘ their multitude and radiance. Whoever drinks from it once will never again be thirsty.

After mentioning His favor to him, Allah commanded him to show gratitude for it, saying: “So pray to your Lord and offer sacrifice.” He singled out these two acts of worship for mention because they are among the finest acts of worship and the greatest means of drawing near to Him.

Prayer entails humble submission to Allah [in] the heart and limbs and moves them through various forms of servitude. Sacrifice entails drawing near to Allah by offering the finest sacrificial animal a servant possesses and expending wealth that souls are innately disposed to love and withhold.

“Indeed, the one who hates you”—that is, the one who detests, disparages, and belittles you—“is himself cut off”; that is, cut off from every good, with his deeds and remembrance brought to an end.

As for Muhammad—peace and blessings be upon him—he is truly complete, possessing every perfection possible for a created being, including exalted renown and an abundance of supporters and followers. Peace and blessings be upon him.