The Virtue of Studying the Surah On the virtue of the recitation of this Surah...

The Virtue of Studying the Surah On the virtue of the recitation of this Surah, a tradition from the holy Prophet (S) says: "He who recites it (Surah Kawthar) 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 Surah, Kawthar, is taken from the first verse of the Surah.

Surah Kawthar, Verses 1-3 بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ In The Name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ الْكَوْثَرَ فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْ إِنَّ شَانِئَكَ هُوَ الْأَبْتَرُ 1. “Surely (O Muhammad) We have given you abundance (of good (Kawthar).” 2. “Therefore to your Lord turn in Prayer and Sacrifice.” 3. “Surely your enemy is the one who will be without spring.” In this Surah, similar to Surah Duha and Surah Inshirra, the holy Prophet (S) is addressed.

One of the objective points in all three Suras is that of consoling him when he was faced with a magnitude of painful incidents and numerous taunts by the offensive language of his enemies. "Surely (O Muhammad) We have given you abundance of good (Kawthar).” The term /kauthar/ is a descriptive case derived from /kathrat/ with the meaning of 'a lot of goodness, or blessing'; while gracious persons are also called 'Kawthar'. What is the purpose of using the term 'Kawthar', here?

A narration says that when the holy Prophet (S) sat on the pulpit and recited this Surah, some of the companions asked him what it was that Allah had given him and he answered: "It is a stream in Heaven, whiter than milk, more clear than a goblet (of crystal) with dome-shaped ornaments from pearls and rubies...” [^3] Another tradition from Imam Sadiq (as) says: "Kawthar is a stream in Heaven that Allah granted His Apostle for his son (who died in his lifetime)”.

Some have also said the purpose of using the word 'Kawthar' is for the Pool of Abundance (haud-i-kauthar) that belongs to the Prophet (S) wherefrom the believers quench their thirst when arriving in Paradise.

^4 Some have commented on it as being 'prophecy' and some others as 'the Qur'an'; still others as 'abundance of the Prophet's companions and followers', or the 'abundance of the descendants' all of whom came from his daughter, Fatimah Zahra (as), and they multiplied to such an extent that it is impossible to count them.

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