سُوْرَةُ الْكَوْثَرِ
Surah Al-Kawthar (108) — Ayah 2
فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَٱنْحَرْ ﴿2﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Therefore turn in prayer to your Lord and sacrifice (to Him only).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَصَلِّ
faṣalli
So pray
لِرَبِّكَ
lirabbika
to your Lord
وَٱنْحَرْ
wa-in'ḥar
and sacrifice
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
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.
(Ayah2) ➊ { فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَ انْحَرْ:} It is generally understood that in this verse, the command to perform prayer and offer sacrifice has been given, although the real meaning here is that when you pray, do so only for your Lord, and when you offer sacrifice, that too should be only for Him, not for anyone else. This is similar to when someone is told, "Pray standing," the intention is not to command prayer itself, but rather to command that prayer be performed standing, not sitting. The same meaning is conveyed in Surah Al-An'am, where it is said: «قُلْ اِنَّ صَلَاتِيْ وَ نُسُكِيْ وَ مَحْيَايَ وَ مَمَاتِيْ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعٰلَمِيْنَ (162) لَا شَرِيْكَ لَهٗ وَ بِذٰلِكَ اُمِرْتُ وَ اَنَا اَوَّلُ الْمُسْلِمِيْنَ » [ الأنعام : ۱۶۲، ۱۶۳ ] "Say, indeed my prayer, my sacrifice, my life, and my death are for Allah, Lord of the worlds, who has no partner. And of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of those who submit."
➋ Allah Almighty, after mentioning the favor of granting Al-Kawthar, commanded that prayer and sacrifice be performed only for the Lord Almighty. In the word {’’ الْكَوْثَرَ ‘‘} (abundant good), everything that Allah has granted you is included; there is nothing that is not encompassed in it. The "fa" in {’’ فَصَلِّ ‘‘} means that since We have granted you abundant good, the way to show gratitude is that every act of worship of yours (whether physical or financial) should be only for Him, not for anyone else. It is extreme ingratitude that every blessing is given by Allah, yet physical or financial worship is for someone else.
➌ Apparently, it should have been said that We have granted you Al-Kawthar, so perform prayer and sacrifice only for Us, but it is said: "So pray to your Lord and sacrifice." This is called {’’اِلْتِفَاتٌ مِّنَ الْمُتَكَلِّمِ إِلَي الْغَائِبِ‘‘}. The purpose is to draw attention that, because of being the Lord, it is Our right that you worship only Us, not anyone else.
➍ In some narrations, it is reported from Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) that the meaning of {’’ وَ انْحَرْ ‘‘} is to fold the hands on the chest during prayer, but those narrations are not Sahih. However, the issue of folding the hands on the chest is established from other authentic ahadith.
➋ Allah Almighty, after mentioning the favor of granting Al-Kawthar, commanded that prayer and sacrifice be performed only for the Lord Almighty. In the word {’’ الْكَوْثَرَ ‘‘} (abundant good), everything that Allah has granted you is included; there is nothing that is not encompassed in it. The "fa" in {’’ فَصَلِّ ‘‘} means that since We have granted you abundant good, the way to show gratitude is that every act of worship of yours (whether physical or financial) should be only for Him, not for anyone else. It is extreme ingratitude that every blessing is given by Allah, yet physical or financial worship is for someone else.
➌ Apparently, it should have been said that We have granted you Al-Kawthar, so perform prayer and sacrifice only for Us, but it is said: "So pray to your Lord and sacrifice." This is called {’’اِلْتِفَاتٌ مِّنَ الْمُتَكَلِّمِ إِلَي الْغَائِبِ‘‘}. The purpose is to draw attention that, because of being the Lord, it is Our right that you worship only Us, not anyone else.
➍ In some narrations, it is reported from Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) that the meaning of {’’ وَ انْحَرْ ‘‘} is to fold the hands on the chest during prayer, but those narrations are not Sahih. However, the issue of folding the hands on the chest is established from other authentic ahadith.
