سُوْرَةُ الْكَوْثَرِ
Surah Al-Kawthar (108) — Ayah 1
إِنَّآ أَعْطَيْنَـٰكَ ٱلْكَوْثَرَ ﴿1﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Verily, We have granted you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) Al-Kauthar (a river in Paradise).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
إِنَّآ
innā
Indeed, We
أَعْطَيْنَـٰكَ
aʿṭaynāka
We have given you
ٱلْكَوْثَرَ
l-kawthara
Al-Kauthar
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
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.
1. Indeed, We have granted you Al-Kawthar [1].
[1]
The Various Meanings and Aspects of Kawthar:
﴿كَوْثَر﴾ is derived from ﴿كَثُرَ﴾, in which there is great emphasis. The linguists have written its meaning as "abundant good," and it is established from many ahadith that ﴿كوثر﴾ is the name of a river in Paradise which has been granted to you. Thus, Sayyiduna Anas ؓ narrates that once you dozed off. When you awoke, you smiled. The reason for your smile was that just now a surah had been revealed to me. Then he recited this Surah Kawthar and said, "Do you know what Kawthar is?" The Companions submitted, "Allah and His Messenger know best." He said, "It is a river which Allah has given me in Paradise." Also, consider the following ahadith in this regard:
1. Sayyiduna Anas ؓ narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said in the story of Mi'raj: "I reached a river on whose banks there were domes of hollow pearls. I asked Jibreel, 'What kind of river is this?' He replied, 'This is Kawthar (which Allah has granted to you ﷺ).'" [بخاري۔ كتاب التفسير]
2. Sayyiduna Abu Ubaidah ؓ asked Sayyidah Aisha ؓ, "What is meant by Kawthar?" She said, "Kawthar is a river which has been given to your Prophet ﷺ. On its banks are domes of hollow pearls, and there are as many goblets there as the number of stars." [حواله ايضاً]
3. Sa'id bin Jubair ؓ says that Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: "By Kawthar is meant every good which Allah has granted to you ﷺ." Abu Basheer says, "I said to Sa'id bin Jubair ؓ, 'People say that Kawthar is the name of a river in Paradise.' Sa'id replied, 'The river in Paradise is also included in that goodness which Allah has granted to you ﷺ.'" [بخاري۔ كتاب التفسير]
In addition, by Kawthar is also meant the Hawd Kawthar (the Pond of Kawthar), which will be granted to you ﷺ on the Day of Resurrection in the plain of Mahshar. On that day, all people will be extremely restless due to thirst, and everyone will be crying out, "al-atash, al-atash" (thirst, thirst). You ﷺ will sit at this pond and give water to the believers, and whoever is fortunate enough to receive the water of this Hawd Kawthar will not feel thirsty for the entire Day of Resurrection. And in this regard, so many authentic ahadith have been narrated that they reach the level of tawatur (mass transmission). What has been mentioned above relates to the abundant good pertaining to the Hereafter. In this world as well, you were granted abundant good. You ﷺ were given prophethood and the great blessing of the Quran, which transformed a wild and uncivilized nation in the short span of 23 years. Your ﷺ mention was elevated. You ﷺ saw your mission fully succeed in your lifetime. In Arabia, disbelief and polytheism were completely eradicated, and you ﷺ left behind such a group of noble Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) who, in a short time, prevailed over the entire world.
[1]
The Various Meanings and Aspects of Kawthar:
﴿كَوْثَر﴾ is derived from ﴿كَثُرَ﴾, in which there is great emphasis. The linguists have written its meaning as "abundant good," and it is established from many ahadith that ﴿كوثر﴾ is the name of a river in Paradise which has been granted to you. Thus, Sayyiduna Anas ؓ narrates that once you dozed off. When you awoke, you smiled. The reason for your smile was that just now a surah had been revealed to me. Then he recited this Surah Kawthar and said, "Do you know what Kawthar is?" The Companions submitted, "Allah and His Messenger know best." He said, "It is a river which Allah has given me in Paradise." Also, consider the following ahadith in this regard:
1. Sayyiduna Anas ؓ narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said in the story of Mi'raj: "I reached a river on whose banks there were domes of hollow pearls. I asked Jibreel, 'What kind of river is this?' He replied, 'This is Kawthar (which Allah has granted to you ﷺ).'" [بخاري۔ كتاب التفسير]
2. Sayyiduna Abu Ubaidah ؓ asked Sayyidah Aisha ؓ, "What is meant by Kawthar?" She said, "Kawthar is a river which has been given to your Prophet ﷺ. On its banks are domes of hollow pearls, and there are as many goblets there as the number of stars." [حواله ايضاً]
3. Sa'id bin Jubair ؓ says that Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: "By Kawthar is meant every good which Allah has granted to you ﷺ." Abu Basheer says, "I said to Sa'id bin Jubair ؓ, 'People say that Kawthar is the name of a river in Paradise.' Sa'id replied, 'The river in Paradise is also included in that goodness which Allah has granted to you ﷺ.'" [بخاري۔ كتاب التفسير]
In addition, by Kawthar is also meant the Hawd Kawthar (the Pond of Kawthar), which will be granted to you ﷺ on the Day of Resurrection in the plain of Mahshar. On that day, all people will be extremely restless due to thirst, and everyone will be crying out, "al-atash, al-atash" (thirst, thirst). You ﷺ will sit at this pond and give water to the believers, and whoever is fortunate enough to receive the water of this Hawd Kawthar will not feel thirsty for the entire Day of Resurrection. And in this regard, so many authentic ahadith have been narrated that they reach the level of tawatur (mass transmission). What has been mentioned above relates to the abundant good pertaining to the Hereafter. In this world as well, you were granted abundant good. You ﷺ were given prophethood and the great blessing of the Quran, which transformed a wild and uncivilized nation in the short span of 23 years. Your ﷺ mention was elevated. You ﷺ saw your mission fully succeed in your lifetime. In Arabia, disbelief and polytheism were completely eradicated, and you ﷺ left behind such a group of noble Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) who, in a short time, prevailed over the entire world.
