سُوْرَةُ الْكَوْثَرِ

Surah Al-Kawthar (108) — Ayah 3

Abundance · Meccan · Juz 30 · Page 602

إِنَّ شَانِئَكَ هُوَ ٱلْأَبْتَرُ ﴿3﴾
For he who hates you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), he will be cut off (from posterity and every good thing in this world and in the Hereafter).
إِنَّ inna Indeed
شَانِئَكَ shāni-aka your enemy
هُوَ huwa he (is)
ٱلْأَبْتَرُ l-abtaru the one cut off

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

(Ayah 3) ➊ { اِنَّ شَانِئَكَ هُوَ الْاَبْتَرُ: ’’شَانِئٌ‘‘ ’’ شَنِئَهٗ شَنْئًا ‘‘} (S, F) (on the pattern of {فَلْسٌ}) is an active participle from {’’وَشَنَئَانًا‘‘} (with fathah and sukoon on the noon), its meaning is "one who harbors enmity." {’’ الْاَبْتَرُ ‘‘} is one who has no offspring. Originally, this is derived from {’’ بَتَرَهٗ ‘‘}, which means {’’ قَطَعَهٗ ‘‘} he cut it off. {’’حِمَارٌ أَبْتَرُ ‘‘} is the donkey whose tail is cut off. A snake with a cut tail is also called "abtar."
➋ By bringing the pronoun {’’ هُوَ ‘‘} and adding the definite article "al" to {’’ الْاَبْتَرُ ‘‘}, the statement becomes even more exclusive, meaning only the enemy is without offspring, not you. The enemies of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to say that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is alone, he has no offspring, and when he dies, there will be no one to remember his name. Allah Almighty said, your name will be remembered by countless people and will remain until the Day of Judgment. When reciting the kalimah, in the adhan, in the iqamah, in prayer, in sending blessings, in short, your mention will always remain. People will take pride in being associated with you. You will also have many descendants, but your enemy will have no one to remember him. Even if his lineage continues, no one will take pride in being attributed to their disbelieving father.

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

3. 1. "Abtar" refers to a person who is cut off from progeny or whose remembrance is severed, meaning his lineage ends with him or there remains no one to remember his name. When the male children of the Prophet ﷺ did not survive, some disbelievers called the Prophet ﷺ "abtar." Upon this, Allah comforted him ﷺ that you are not abtar; rather, it is your enemies who will be abtar. Thus, Allah kept his ﷺ lineage intact, even though its continuation is through his daughter. Similarly, his ﷺ ummah is also his ﷺ spiritual progeny, whose abundance he ﷺ will take pride in on the Day of Judgment. Moreover, his ﷺ mention is made with great honor and respect throughout the world, whereas those who harbored hatred and enmity towards him ﷺ now exist only on the pages of history, but there is no respect for them in any heart and no mention of them on any tongue.

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

3. Surely, it is your enemy who is cut off [3].

[3]
The Descendants of the Disbelievers of Makkah:

From ﴿شانئ﴾ ﴿شَنأ﴾ ﴿شناء﴾, the verbal noun is ﴿شَنَاٰنُ﴾ and the active participle is ﴿شانيئ﴾, and by this is meant such an enemy who is both ill-wishing and spiteful. That is, one who harbors both enmity and malice, and this is the third and ultimate degree of hostility. The Quraysh of Makkah were such enemies to you ﷺ, especially their leaders and notable people. When your ﷺ second son (who is also called Tayyib and Tahir) also passed away, all these people became very happy and started clapping and began to say to each other as a congratulation: "Batara Muhammad." The word "batar" is specifically used for the cutting of an animal's tail, and in meaning, it refers to someone who is cut off or childless, or one who has no one left to mention him in good terms. Their intent was that Muhammad ﷺ no longer has any male offspring; his matter is limited to his own lifetime only. After him, there will be no one to remember him. In response to this, Allah Almighty said that ﴿اَبْتَرْ﴾—not you ﷺ, but your enemies are so. Most of these enemies were killed in the Battle of Badr, and even if their lineage survived somewhere, none among their descendants is willing to mention such ancestors or attribute themselves to them. To speak well of them is out of the question; everyone sends curses upon them. In contrast, the honor and greatness that Allah Almighty has granted His Messenger ﷺ, and the perpetuity given to your ﷺ remembrance, is everlasting. Billions of Muslims around the world send blessings upon you ﷺ and your family many times every day. Your ﷺ name is mentioned in the calls to prayer and in prayers, and this will continue to increase until the Day of Judgment. Then, the ranks and the Maqam-e-Mahmud that will be granted to you ﷺ in the Plain of Resurrection—the books of Quran and Hadith are filled with their mention.