108- Surat Alkawthar

3 Verses Meccan (revealed in Mecca)

A'auzu Bellahi mena ash-shytani ar-rajim

I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan

Bismi Ellahi Ar-rhmani Ar-rahim

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

Inna a'atyinaka alkawthar (1).

Verily, We have given you Alkawthar.

Fa salli li Rabbeka wan-har (2).

So pray to your Lord, and sacrifice.

Inna shani'aka huwa alabbtar (3).

Surely, your enemy is the one cut off.

Simplified interpretation:

 Surat Alkawthar was revealed in a specific situation, where one of the disbelievers of Qurayesh said that Our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is cut off after the last male of the Prophet's sons passed away, and thus His remembrance will cut off after His death.

 Our Prophet was a father of three males as Alqasem and Abdullah were born to Him from Khadija and both died before reaching puberty, and Ibrahim was born to Him from Maria Alqebteyyah, and He also died while he was an infant.

 When the Messenger of Allah adopted Zaid Bin Harithah, people used to call him Zaid Bin Muhammad, then Allah revealed in Surat Alahzab aya (40): "Muhammad is not the father of anyone of your men, but He is the Messenger of Allah and the seal of the prophets".

 The state of adopted sons was existed at the beginning of Islam, but Allah Almighty forbade it after that where He said in Surat Alahzab aya 5: "Call them (adopted sons) by the name of their real fathers, it is more just and equitable in the sight of Allah".

 And the Arabs used to call the person who has no male sons as cut off "abttar", and they imagine that our prophet will be that person, but Allah repelled those who disbelieved in their rage and said to His Messenger: "Surely, Your enemy is the one cut off" Aya (3).

 There is a difference between the scholars about identifying that enemy, it has been said that he is Abu Lahab, and it was said that he might be Ka'b Bin Alashraf, or Uqba, or As Bin Wa'il.

 Allah, Almighty not only made that enemy the most cut off, but He has honored our prophet by mentioning His name in the Holy Quran, where "Muhammad" the name was mentioned 4 times and will be recited till the day of resurrection. Also the prophet's name is an essential part of the Adhan, and is uttered till now five times every day. Thus his remembrance will remain immortal in all times and places.

 In addition to the remembrance of our Prophet will last till the day of judgement, Allah has bestowed upon Muhammad (PBUH) Alkawthar and says in Aya (1) "Verily, We have given you (O Muhammad), Alkawthar", and our Prophet described Allkawthar in narration of Anas by saying: "Verily, it is a river that My Lord, Almighty, has promised Me, and it has abundant goodness. It is a pond where My Ummah (Muslims) will be brought to on the day of judgment, its container are as numerous as the stars". and He said in another description (Narration of Ibn Umar) that its water is whiter than milk and sweeter than honey. 

 After the glad tiding of the river of Alkawthar, Allah commanded His Messenger to perform prayers and to make sacrifice to Him alone in the second verse: "So pray to your Lord, and sacrifice".

No one Knows its interpretation except Allah