Islam Guidance

Introduction

In the Name of Allah,the Beneficent,the Merciful
Sura Kawthar
(The Abundance)
No. 108 (3 Verses)
Contents of the Sura:
This Sura is known as a Meccan Sura, but some believe that it may be Medinan. Some others have said that this Sura might have been revealed twice; once in Mecca and once in Medina, but the narrations cited on the occasion of its revelation attest to the first idea which says it is Meccan.
Occasion of Revelation:
The following is a story told about the occasion of the revelation of Sura Kauthar: 'As-ibn-Wa'il, who was one of the chiefs of the pagans, met the holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) coming out of the Sacred Mosque. He spoke with him (p.b.u.h.) for awhile. In the meantime, a group of authoritative men of the Quraish were sitting in the Mosque watching him from a distance. When 'As-ibn-Wa'il entered the Mosque they asked him: "To whom were you speaking?" He answered:"With this abtar one".

He used this word for the holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) to taunt him, because he (p.b.u.h.) had two sons born of Lady Khadijah; Chasem and Taher (also called 'Abdullah) who died in Mecca and so, there was no live male issue from the holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.). Henceafter, the Qur'an applied this name to the enemies of the Prophet. (1)
The Arabs used to call the one who had no son /abtar/, and 'abtar' means 'the animal whose tail is cut off'. So, then, it means the one whose succession in his seed has ceased, i.e., the one who has none to inherit him. To console the holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.),this Sura was revealed with the glad tidings of the greatest amount or the highest degree of the grace of Allah, bestowed on him.
Those people traditionally considered the male child extraordinarily valuable and thought of him as a substitute for the father. They happily imagined that with the demise of the holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) his program would cease because he had no son to substitute him to continue it.
The revelation of this Sura was, in fact, an answer to the enemies of the Apostle to inform them that Islam and the Qur'an would remain and ceaslessly continue, forever.
The Virtue of Studying the Sura:
On the virtue of the recitation of this Sura, a tradition from the holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) says: "He who recites it (Sura Kauthar) Allah will quench his thirst from the streams of Heaven and will recompense him good rewards as many as the number of every sacrifice which the servants of Allah make on the day of the Feast of Sacrifice, together with those sacrifices which are of the People of the Book and the pagans." (2)
The name of this Sura, Kauthar, is taken from the first verse of the Sura.
 
(1) The Messenger of Allah (p.b.u.h.) had another son by the name of Abraham, born of Mariyah Qibtiyyah 8 A.H. He, too, died before he was 2 years old.
(2) Majma'-al-Bayan, vol. 10, p. 548.

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