سُورَةُ الكَوۡثَرِ
Surah 108 - Al-Kawthar
Abundance
- 3 verses
- Juz 30
- Page 602 of the Mushaf
Al-Kawthar has three verses, and each holds a distinct role. The first announces a gift, stated in the first person plural and addressed to a “you”, in a single word that is not explained. The second draws a consequence in two orders, prayer and sacrifice, both referred to the Lord of the one addressed. The third leaves that address to speak of a third party, the one who shows hatred: he will be left without continuation. The text thus rests on a contrast, between what is given in abundance and what is cut short. It shares with Al-Asr and An-Nasr the briefest format in the Mushaf.
The main parts
The text of the surah
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ إِنَّآ أَعْطَيْنَٰكَ ٱلْكَوْثَرَ
Indeed, We have granted you, [O Muhammad], al-Kawthar.
فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَٱنْحَرْ
So pray to your Lord and sacrifice [to Him alone].
إِنَّ شَانِئَكَ هُوَ ٱلْأَبْتَرُ
Indeed, your enemy is the one cut off.
What is surah Al-Kawthar about?
Of a gift and of what follows from it. Three sentences are enough: what is granted, what is asked in return, and what becomes of the one who bears hatred. None of the three terms is explained; the text sets them down and stops.
What does surah Al-Kawthar command?
Two things, in the second verse: to pray and to sacrifice. Both are tied to the Lord whom the text speaks to. Nothing is said of time, place or manner: the verse keeps to those two verbs, joined by a single connector.
How is surah Al-Kawthar built?
In three one-line sentences, one per verse: an announcement, an order, a statement. The first and third begin with the same emphatic particle; the second, which separates them, opens with a particle of consequence.
How does surah Al-Kawthar end?
With a verse that stops addressing a “you” and speaks of someone else, the one who bears hatred. The text announces he will be left without sequel, then stops. That last word answers, term for term, the gift announced at the head.
Why is surah Al-Kawthar called that?
“Al-Kawthar” names what is granted in the first verse; the word is rendered as abundance. It appears only once, at the head of the surah, and that is where the name comes from. The last verse sets a term of opposite sense against it.
How many verses does surah Al-Kawthar have?
Surah Al-Kawthar has 3 verses. It stands at number 108 in the order of the Mushaf, which holds 114.
The Arabic text is that of the Mushaf. The summary, the outline and the answers on this page describe the text and how it is built: they are not religious commentary.