إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ الْكَوْثَرَ
فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْ
إِنَّ شَانِئَكَ هُوَ الْأَبْتَرُ  

Allah said to his Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم “Verily, We have granted you Al-Kawthar, Therefore turn in prayer to your Lord and sacrifice, For he who hates you, he will be cut off”

In this Allah promised His Messenger with good and that his enemies would be cut off and left deficient, and so turned him صلى الله عليه وسلم towards gratitude for such favours.

The promise was revealed to Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم at a time when his followers were few and his enemies were many. It exemplifies how Allah looked after His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم, who was facing great hardships in his da’awah to the stubborn Meccan people, pulling him ever closer with comforting words. This is in contrast to the condemnation for his despicable enemies (shaaniaka).

The truthfulness of this promise is shown in the reality of goodness, guidance and Iman, which is in contrast to evil, misguidance and kufr. The former grows and expands, while the latter shrivels and shrinks.

The revealed verses replied to the foolish Quraysh who would follow Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم and his da’awah; trying to prevent his words being heard, by mocking and degrading him. Men such as al-‘Aas bin Wa’il, ‘Uqba bin abi Mu’eet and Abu Lahab would say about the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم that he is deficient, having no offspring or inheritors (abtar). It was even said “leave him, for he will die without descendants (or a trace), so his matter will be over!” In such a society obsessed with their sons, it was an attempt to denounce him as inferior. Hence, the verses comforted the noble heart of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم by pointing to the reality of the matter that the truth is lasting, while falsehood fades away.

The kawthar promised to Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم is often thought of as a river in paradise. Ibn Abbas replied that this river is from the goodness given to the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم, so it is one kawthar from all of the kawthar. Al-Kawthar is a derivative of kathrah, meaning plenty, so the abundance promised is unrestricted, and points to the opposite of what those foolish Quraysh would accuse: Verily we have given you great abundance, not at all deficient.

This abundance can be seen in the fact that Allah, the All Mighty, chose Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم to receive his revelation. It can be seen in the Qur’an sent down to him صلى الله عليه وسلم, wherein one chapter is abundant with beauty, guidance and meaning. It is evident in the Angels who pray for Muhammad, and the millions and millions on the earth who daily pray for Muhammad. The abundance can be seen in the longevity of his sunnah and how it has reached so far across the earth, with such vast numbers of people learning his life’s story and following even the smallest manners and habits of their beloved Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. The millions of millions of hearts that are filled with love for Muhammad bear testimony to this abundance. It is also evident in the many bounties which the world now benefits from, derived from the Islamic civilization, built upon his صلى الله عليه وسلم example, whether the origin is acknowledged or not. It is the abundance which cannot be encompassed, as indicated in the text which left it al-kawthar, without mentioning any limits.

Ibn Kathir mentions in his tafsir: Therefore turn in prayer to your Lord and sacrifice. meaning, `just as We have given you the abundant goodness in this life and the Hereafter — and from that is the river that has been described previously — then make your obligatory and optional prayer, and your sacrifice (of animals) solely and sincerely for your Lord. Worship Him alone and do not associate any partner with him. And sacrifice pronouncing His Name alone, without ascribing any partner to Him.’ This is as Allah says,

قُلْ إِنَّ صَلاَتِى وَنُسُكِى وَمَحْيَاىَ وَمَمَاتِى للَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَـلَمِينَ – لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَبِذَلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَاْ أَوَّلُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ 

Say: “Verily, my Salah, my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of all that exists. He has no partner. And of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims.” [6:162-163]

…This is the opposite of the way of the idolaters, prostrating to other than Allah and sacrificing in other than His Name.

The first verse establishes that Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم is definitely not deficient; rather he is rich with abundant favours. The last verse, then, throws back the accusation on the accuser. Truly, the deficient ones are the enemies and haters of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم. They are no longer mentioned with honour, while Muhammad is mentioned often and elevated.

Ibn Kathir says in his tafsir: As-Suddi said, “When the male sons of a man died the people used to say, `He has been cut off.’ So, when the sons of the Messenger of Allah died they said, `Muhammad has been cut off.’ Thus, Allah revealed, For he who hates you, he will be cut off.’‘

So they thought in their ignorance that if his sons died, his remembrance would be cut off. Allah forbid! To the contrary, Allah preserved his remembrance for all the world to see, and He obligated all the servants to follow his Law. This will continue for all of time until the Day of Gathering and the coming of the Hereafter. May the blessings of Allah and His peace be upon him forever until the Day of Assembling.

We are witnesses today how deeply rooted the truth is, and we see how shallow is the falsehood and lies against our Prophet and this deen. Where are they now, those who put forward such false accusations against our Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and his da’awah? Where is there culture and religion? Then where will be those who today put forward lies and slander about Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, Islam and our da’awah?

Truly, the da’awah to the truth, goodness and Allah cannot ever be low, deficient or curtailed, nor can its carrier be described as such, however it may appear at a given moment while comparing to others who are apparently more noble and successful in the society.

بَلْ نَقْذِفُ بِالْحَقِّ عَلَى الْبَـطِلِ فَيَدْمَغُهُ فَإِذَا هُوَ زَاهِقٌ

“Nay, We fling the truth against the falsehood, so it destroys it, and behold, it disappears.”

Al-Bukhari recorded that `Abdullah bin Mas`ud said: The Prophet entered Makkah and around the House were three hundred and sixty idols. He started to strike them with a stick in his hand, saying,

جَآءَ الْحَقُّ وَزَهَقَ الْبَـطِلُ إِنَّ الْبَـطِلَ كَانَ زَهُوقًا

“Truth has come and falsehood has vanished. Surely falsehood is ever bound to vanish.” [17:81]

جَآءَ الْحَقُّ وَمَا يُبْدِىءُ الْبَـطِلُ وَمَا يُعِيدُ

“Truth has come, and falsehood can neither create anything nor resurrect (anything).” [34:49]

وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ الْقُرْءَانِ مَا هُوَ شِفَآءٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلاَ يَزِيدُ الظَّـلِمِينَ إَلاَّ خَسَارًا 

“And We send down of the Qur’an that which is a cure and a mercy to the believers, and it increases the wrongdoers in nothing but loss.” [17:82]

 

Source: Al-Waie Magazine