2

al-Kawthar1
SÙrat al-
By ÂiyÁ al-
al-Ummah, Al-
Al-Shaykh, PÐr, MuÎammad Karam ShÁh

Translated by Shaykh Tahir Mahmood Kiani

Released by www.marifah.net 1429 H

INT
INTRODUCTION

Name

The name of this noble chapter is ‘al-Kawthar’, which is mentioned within its first
verse. This chapter comprises of one unit2 and three verses. It consists of ten words
and forty letters.

Revelation

ÝAllÁmah JalÁluddÐn al-SuyÙÔÐ
cites two statements regarding the revelation of this
chapter:

1. One is that of SayyidunÁ Anas
, who says that this chapter was revealed in al-
MadÐnah al-Óayyibah. The gist of his narration is ‘We were in the company of the
Prophet  when he [] was, all of a sudden, overcome with revelation, and the head
of the Prophet  bowed forward. A short while later, he [] raised his head, smiling.
People inquired the reason for his smile and he [] replied, ‘AllÁh  has revealed
this chapter to me…’ and he recited the chapter of al-Kawthar.’3

2. On the other hand, Ibn Mardawiyyah relates the statement of SayyidunÁ Ibn
ÝAbbÁs, SayyidunÁ ÝAbdullÁh Ibn Zubayr and Sayyidah ÝÀ’ishah  that this chapter
was revealed in Makkah al-Mukarramah.

1
Translated from TafsÐr ÂiyÁ al-Qur’Án, Volume 5, p.682 – 689, published by ÂiyÁ al-Qur’Án
Publictions, Ganj Baksh Road, Lahore, Pakistan (RabÐÝ al-ThÁnÐ, 1400AH), the magnum opus
of the Luminary of the Ummah, Shaykh MuÎammad Karam ShÁh (1918 – 1998CE)
. The
exegesis has been endorsed by prominent scholars from around the world.
2
rukÙÝ
3
Muslim, Ibn Hanbal, DÁwÙd, al-NasÁ’Ð
The statements of these [latter] Senior Companions [] shall be preferred over the
statement of that of SayyidunÁ Anas [
], that this chapter was revealed in Makkah
al-Mukarramah, and is, therefore, a MakkÐ [chapter.] The causation of the reporting
by the latter [, SayyidunÁ Anas
,] may be explained thus, that many chapters are
such that have been revealed many times over. It could be that this chapter may have
been revealed a second instance at this gathering behind a specific logic, and this is
corroborated by another narration of SayyidunÁ Anas [
], reported by ImÁm
Muslim, TirmidhÐ and other muÎaddiths4.

The Prophet [] said:

‘When I entered Paradise on the Night of the Ascension5, I saw therein

a river - tents of pearls were fixed on either of its banks. When I
paddled my hand in its water, the aroma of pure musk began
emanating from it. I inquired [SayyidunÁ] JibrÁ’Ðl [] regarding [that
aroma] and he replied:

‘hÁdhÁ al-kawthar alladhÐ aÝÔÁka-hu AllÁh ’

‘This is the River al-Kawthar, which AllÁh  has bestowed

upon you.’’

The Ascension6 took place in Makkah, and the tidings of being bestowed with al-
Kawthar were given in that very night, and so the disclosure of this bestowment
must also have been made in Makkah.

Moreover, [ImÁm] al-SuyÙÔÐ [
] writes:

‘al-mash’hÙr bayna ahl al-tafÁsÐr wa ’l-maghÁzÐ anna hÁdhihÐ ’l-sÙrah

makkiyyah’7

‘It is common knowledge among the exegetes [of the Noble Qur’Án]
and analysts that this chapter is MakkÐ.’

Furthermore, the expression of this chapter resembles very much that of [other]
MakkÐ chapters.

Historical Background

Mother of the Believers8 Sayyidah KhadÐjah [g] gave birth to four daughters and
two sons of the Prophet . One son was named QÁsim and the other ÝAbdullÁh,
known appellatively as Óayyib and ÓÁhir, respectively.

Prior to the announcement of prophethood, the people of Makkah held the Prophet
[] in high esteem. They were expecting something noble from him. They were so
4
Masters of ÍadÐth
5
Laylat al-MiÝrÁj
6
MiÝrÁj
7
TafsÐr al-Durr al-ManthÙr
8
Umm al-Mu’minÐn
impressed by the conduct and character of the Prophet [] that they would call him
[with the noble titles of] ‘al-ÑÁdiq’9 and ‘al-AmÐn’10.

When the Prophet [] stood atop the Mount ÑafÁ and invited all to ‘qÙlÙ lÁ ilÁha illa
’LlÁhu, tufliÎÙ (Say, ‘There is no god but AllÁh, and you shall prosper)’ their
countenances changed [dramatically]. Their hearts were overwhelmed with passions
of hate, contempt and enmity. They would be irritated with everything associated
with the Prophet [] and everything that would be a cause of sorrow to the Prophet
[], it would be a cause of pleasure to them. Thus, when both the sons of the
Prophet [] passed away, in succession, in their infancy, the people of Makkah were
not saddened to the slightest. In fact, they expressed satisfaction and pleasure. The
dire threat which they were anticipating against their beliefs, culture and civilisation
was, to some extent, reduced. They began to console themselves by saying that
because the Prophet [] has no male heir to continue a succession, the death of the
Prophet [] would also be the end of his religion.

Abtar: One who has no son is known as abtar [in the Arabic language].

The insolent people from the [tribe of] Quraysh would use this very word against the
Beloved [Messenger] of AllÁh []. AbÙ Lahab was, though, an uncle of the Prophet
[], but the grudge and hostility against him was such that upon the death of the
second son of the Prophet [], his happiness knew no bounds. He ran to the [other]
polytheists and broke these uplifting glad tidings to them, ‘batira muÎammad al-
laylah (Tonight, MuÎammad has been severed [of progeny]).’

ÝÀÒ ibn WÁ’il would say [as a taunt]:

‘inna muÎammadan abtaru, lÁ ibna la-hÙ yaqÙmu maqÁma-hÙ baÝda-hÙ,

fa-idhÁ mÁta inqaÔaÝa dhikra-hÙ, wa istarÎamtum min-hu

(Indeed, MuÎammad is severed [of male posterity]; he has no son who

would succeed him after him. When he dies, his mention will no
longer be and you shall then be relieved of him).’

When heart-wrenching episodes such as these exceeded their limits, and the strength
of his [] tolerance began to dwindle by their taunting and reproaching, AllÁh, the
Most Generous, revealed this blessed chapter to His Beloved Bondsman and Holy
Messenger [], which [, in itself,] explains, in an extremely brief and yet exceedingly
impressive manner, the blissful news of limitless and uncountable bounties and
blessings, over which AllÁh  had rendered His Beloved [] a master, an
explanation of which is to follow.

He [] declares [, to the disbelievers,] that ‘though you believe that his [] mention
shall be wiped out, that his name and legacy shall remain no more? Hark! Hark! This
is absurd.

- The grace-emitting spring of My Beloved Messenger [] shall flow forth

forever and the world shall satiate itself thereby,
9
the Truthful
10
the Trustworthy
 - the pious shall continuously offer their florid garlands of devotion and love
in his [] beauteous court ,
- those of fervour and zeal shall continue to disseminate the universal
gathering with his [] remembrance,
- the spiritually exhilarating intonations of ‘peace and blessings [be upon
him]’ shall, ad infinitum, herald the glad tidings of the Spring [of spiritual
bliss],
- so long as the banner of My Grandeur continues to fly over the terrestrial
and the empyrean, the remembrance of My Beloved [] shall persist, and the
lamp which I, Myself, have kindled, it shall continue to emit its light despite
the fierce and violent tempests.

May he perish! May the name and legacy of that individual be wiped out, may he be
severed from the root, the heart of whom is an abode to the enmity against my
Beloved Prophet []’

The fourteen-century-old history of Islam confirms and acknowledges this statement

of AllÁh [] and this shall always continue likewise! In fact, those people [of
Makkah] experienced it themselves, when only a few years later, they became his []
servants and disciples, on their own accord.

That chaste and pure individual, who emigrated from Makkah one dark night, in the
state of poverty and helplessness, the colleague of whom was none, other than
SayyidunÁ Abu Bakr al-ÑiddÐq [
], he headed [back] in the direction of Makkah, a
number of years later, with an army of ten thousand, and Makkah opened up its
once-closed gates in his [] reception, and all the leaders of the Quraysh [of
Makkah], heads bowed, presented themselves at his [] court.

One other point of interest to remember here: Wherever, in the Glorious Qur’Án, the
lofty status of the Beloved Prophet, the Mercy to all the Worlds [], has been
mentioned, there is a note of commonality – and that is, that AllÁh  has firstly
mentioned Himself, and thereafter, He states the glory of His Beloved []. For
example:

‘subÎÁna ’lladhÐ asrÁ bi Ýabdi-Hi laylan…’11

(Pure [and Glorified] is He Who took His Bondsman by night…)

‘wa mÁ arsalnÁ-ka illÁ raÎmata ’lli ’lÝÁlamÐn’12

(And We have not sent you [O’ MuÎammad ] but a mercy to all the
worlds.)

Likewise, here also [we find]:

‘innÁ aÝÔaynÁ-ka ’l-kawthar’13

(Surely, We have bestowed upon you [] al-kawthar)

What is the logic behind this?

11
Noble Qur’Án, 17:1
12
Noble Qur’Án, 21:107
13
Noble Qur’Án, 108:1
As far as my humble understanding is concerned, I see two reasons behind this:

1. one of them is so that, after observing the incomprehensible splendours

of the Prophet [], people do not take him [] as God, therefore, He []
declares that these splendours are not his [] own, and that it is I, the
Lord of the Earth and the Heavens, Who have conferred them to him
[],
2. the second wisdom is so that no imprudent individual would deny the
splendours of the Prophet [], because it is AllÁh  Who has bestowed
them to him [], Who is Omniscient, All-Wise and All-Powerful.

Whoever denies the splendours of the Messengers [], he, in reality, is denying the
power and wisdom, the attributes of benevolence and philanthropy of AllÁh .

al-Îamdu li ’LlÁhi ’lladhÐ aÝÔÁ nabiyya-nÁ min al-mawÁhib al-sunniyyah mÁ lÁ tuÎÒÁ, wa

al-maÎÁmid al-jalÐlah mÁ lÁ tuÝadd

(All praise is to AllÁh Who has bestowed our Prophet with innumerable wonderful
talents that cannot be numbered, and with magnificent encomiums that cannot be
calculated.)

Bismi ’LlÁhi ’r-RaÎmÁni ’r-RaÎÐm 

ِ 
ِ 
‫ ا‬
ِ َ 
ْ 
‫ ِ ا
 ِ ا‬
ْ ِ
In the Name of AllÁh, the Divinely Compassionate, the Ever-Merciful.

innÁ aÝÔaynÁ-ka’l-kawthar
َ َ َْ

ْ ‫ك ا‬
َ َ ْ 
َ
ْ ‫ِإ  َأ‬
1. Verily, We have bestowed upon you in abundance (whatever We have given you O’
MuÎammad );

fa-Òalli li-Rabbi-ka wa ’nÎar  ْ

َ ْ ‫! وَا‬
َ " َ
ِ #
"$َ %َ
2. So (continue to) turn in prayer to your Lord and sacrifice (to Him only).

inna shÁni’a-ka huwa ’l-abtar  ُ ,َ ْ +

َ ‫! ُه َ ا‬
َ )َ ِ َ* ‫ن‬
 ‫ِإ‬
3. Surely, it is your enemy (O’ MuÎammad ) who will be severed (from all future
hope).

The commendation yet continues, which had begun from the Chapter of al-
ÂuÎÁ (the Glorious Morning Light)14, of the wonderful attributes and splendours of
the Prophet, the Mercy for all the Worlds .

14
Noble Qur’Án, Chapter 93
AllÁh  has mentioned, under various headings in the chapters in between, those
bounties and favours which He [] bestowed to either His Beloved [], or by virtue
of [His Beloved ], to the followers of His Beloved Prophet MuÎammad []. In
this chapter, He [] has synopsised all those captions in just one word of ‘al-
Kawthar’,
- so that the divine verity-seeing Eye may incessantly gaze upon each
individual wonder of MuÎammadan beauty and inebriate itself,
it may remain lost in the grace and allurements of that embodiment of
exquisite and elegance,
the heart may continuously sacrifice itself to the benevolences of that
perpetual beauty.
- Each and every expression of His [] is enlivening,
each and every style of His [] is exhilarating.
- When Divine Articulation describes the prestige of its Beloved [], it
begins to adopt a unique format. He [] says:

‘innÁ …’15
(Surely, We have…)

The plural pronoun [‘We’] has been used. The wording of plurality occasionally
denotes profusion and amount, and it sometimes appears as an expression of
greatness and status. Here, the objective is the latter, meaning,

‘We - Who are the Creators of and Masters of the earth and sky,
We - Who are the Embellishers and Illuminators of the universal ceremony,
We - the vast mat of munificence and philanthropy of Whom is forever laid
spread, and is for all an open invitation.
O’ Beloved []!
We have bestowed ‘al-Kawthar’ upon you. Whatsoever We may wish to give,
none can prevent that, and whatsoever We have given, none can seize that.

In the stead of the word ‘ÁtaynÁ ’16, the word ‘aÝÔaynÁ ’17 is stated here. The
conceptual difference in both words is manifest. Upon researching the literal
meaning of the word ‘aÝÔÁ ’18, Ibn ManÛÙr writes:

‘al-iÝÔÁ’u wa’l-muÝÁÔÁtu jamÐÝan: al-munÁwalah

wa qad aÝÔÁ-hu ’l-shay’a, wa ÁÔawtu ’l-shay’a: tanÁwalat-hu bi ’l-yad ’

meaning, to hand over a thing to another with one’s own hand. (lisÁn al-Ýarab)
According to this research, the connotation of the verse is thus, ‘We have, with Our
Divine Hand, handed over ‘al-Kawthar’ to you, We have rendered you a master over
it.’

ÝAllÁmah NayshÁpÙrÐ [
], states in his exegesis [of the Holy Qur’Án] that there are
various [positive] exaggerations in this verse:

15
‫إ‬
16
,-
17
./‫أ‬
18
0/‫أ‬
 ‘min-hÁ al-taÒdÐr bi-anna, wa min-hÁ al-jamÝu ’l-mufÐdu li’l-taÝÛÐm, wa
min-hÁ lafÛ al-iÝÔÁ’ dÙna al-ÐtÁ’ – wa fÐ al-iÝÔÁ’ dalÐlu ’l-tamlÐk dÙna al-ÐtÁ’,
wa min-hÁ ÒÐghat al-mÁÃÐ al-dÁllatu ÝÁlÁ al-taÎqÐq’

This verse commences with the word ‘inna ’, which denotes

intensification. Thereafter, the pronoun of plurality has been used,
which denotes reverence. Moreover, the word [from the infinitive]
‘iÝÔÁ’ ’19has been mentioned, not ‘ÐtÁ’ ’20- proprietorship is found in the
word ‘iÝÔÁ’ whereas this meaning is not to be found in [the latter] ‘ÐtÁ’
’. Furthermore, the wording for the past tense has been used here,
which indicates ascertainment, meaning, that this has already taken
place.

ÝAllÁmah ÀlÙsÐ [
] writes:

‘wa fÐ isnÁd al-iÝÔÁ’i ilayhi dÙna al-ÐtÁ’i ishÁratun ilÁ anna dhÁlika ÐtÁ’un
ÝalÁ jihat al-tamlÐk ’

Here, the ascription of ‘iÝÔÁ’ is towards the nominative pronoun,

rather than of the word ‘ÐtÁ’ ’. This indicates the fact that Allah  has
rendered the Prophet [] the master of ‘al-Kawthar’. What
magnificence of generosity and munificence of the Bestower [], and
what high and lofty status of the recipient [].

Now, an attempt to comprehend the meaning of ‘al-Kawthar’ shall show you the
amount of the oceans of excellences and exquisites that have been contained therein:

1. ÝÀllÁmah [MaÎmÙd] al-ÀlÙsÐ [
]states:

‘al-kawthar: huwa fawÝalun min al-kathrah, ÒÐghatun mubÁlaghah,

al-shay’ al-kathÐr kathrat al-mufraÔah ’

‘al-Kawthar’ is derived from ‘al-kathrah’, upon the measure of

‘fawÝal’, which itself is a noun of exaggeration. It means, ‘the
abundance of a thing in such that such copiousness cannot be
comprehended’.21

2. ÝAllÁmah [JalÁluddÐn] al-QurÔubÐ [
]writes:

‘wa ’l-Ýarabu tusammÁ kullu shay’in kathÐrin fi ’l-Ýadadi wa ’l-qadri

wa ’l-khaÔri kawtharan ’

‘Whatsoever is huge in number, measure and significance, is

called ‘Kawthar’ [with the Arabs].’22

19
1/‫إ‬
20
12‫إ‬
21
TafsÐr RÙÎ al-MaÝÁnÐ
22
TafsÐr al-QurÔubÐ
One point worth considering here is that the common rule is that both the qualified
noun and its attribute are mentioned together, but here, it is in opposition to that.
‘al-Kawthar’ which is an attribute, is stated, but its descriptive noun is not. What
logic can there be behind this?

Scholars say that if AllÁh  had bestowed only one [particular] item to His
Messenger [] in such (limitless and immeasurable) ‘Kawthar’ , then that would have
been mentioned; if it were a number of articles then their mention would have been
formally made, but the situation here is that whatsoever He [] gave, He did so
without bound and beyond measure – what is there to mention and what is there
not. Thus, He [] states the attribute but leaves out the qualified noun dependant
on the comprehension of the reader. In other words, ‘O’ Beloved [The bounties
which I have bestowed upon you, they are limitless and inestimable – knowledge,
serenity, generosity and benignity, in short, those nobilities which AllÁh  had
attributed to His Beloved [], that is an ocean without shore, the extent of which
none can reach.

Exegetes have quoted many statements with respect to the exegesis of ‘al-Kawthar’, of
which the following are a few:

1. Kawthar is that river of Paradise whence originate all other rivers of

Paradise, and that which AllÁh  has bestowed upon His Beloved [].

2. It was related by Ibn ‘Umar [
] who said, that the Messenger of AllÁh 
said:

‘al-kawtharu nahrun fi ’l-jannati ÎÁfitÁhu min dhahabin wa

majrÁhu Ýala ’l-durri wa ’l-yÁqÙt, turbatuhÙ aÔyabu mina ’l-misk,
wa mÁ’u-hÙ aÎlÁ mina ’l-Ýasli wa abyaÃu mina’l-thalj.’

‘The Beloved Messenger [] said that al-Kawthar is a river in

Paradise, its banks are of gold and its bed is of pearls and
rubies, its earth is more aromatic than musk, and its water is
sweeter than honey and more pellucid than ice.’23

3. [Kawthar] is the name of that cistern, in the Plain of Resurrection, by

which the Beloved Messenger [] will satiate the thirsty ones from his
Ummah. Its banks of which are laden with such a numerous amount
goblets as there are stars in the sky, so that none who is thirsty would
have to bear the inconvenience of waiting.

MutawÁtir ÎadÐths24 have been reported with respect to this cistern and
Scholars have also stated:

‘wa inna ÝalÁ arkÁni-hÁ ’l-arbaÝah khulafÁ’ahu ’l-arbaÝah ’

23
Muslim, TirmidhÐ
24
prophetic traditions which have been reported by such a large number of people that they
cannot be expected to agree, unanimously, upon a lie.
 ‘At its four corners his Four Caliphs [] be present.
Whosoever is malevolent to any one of them, he shall not
receive a single drop of al-Kawthar.’25

4. Prophethood: Prophets [], though, have come to us afore, but who is

there to comprehend the amplitude of the beneficence and the blessings
of the prophethood of MuÎammad []. The screen of [this particular]
prophethood embraces all humanity, because he [] is the Prophet to the
entire universe; His [] ocean of messenger-ship is unacquainted with the
boundaries of time and space.

5. Kawthar denotes the Noble Qur’Án. Previous Prophets [] had also
brought with them scriptures and books, but the comprehensiveness and
perpetuance enclosed within its teachings are inimitable. No-one [else] is
fortuned with the treasures that are concealed within this scripture of
rectitude and guidance. It is not a secret from any prudent individual
how the luminance of this explicatory book is shedding forth its light.

6. [Kawthar] means that complete code of life of [known as] IslÁm.

7. [Kawthar] indicates the profusion of the Noble Companions []: No

other Prophet or Messenger was blessed with as many [companions, or
disciples,] as were those of the Holy Prophet [MuÎammad] .

8. [Kawthar] implies the enhancement of remembrance: No [other] example

do we find of the manner in which the extolment of the Prophet
[MuÎammad]  is being made in the apexes and [in the] nadirs of this
whole universe.

9. qÁla jafar al-ÒÁdiq, Ýalayhi wa ‘ÝalÁ ÁbÁ’ihÐ ’l-kirÁm al-salÁm, nÙru qalbi-hi
’lladhÐ dalla-hÙ Ýala ’LlÁhi taÝÁlÁ wa qaÔaÝa-hu ÝammÁ siwÁ-hu

meaning, that according to ImÁm JaÝfar al-ÑÁdiq, Kawthar denotes the

luminance of the heart of the Prophet [], [that which] directed him []
to AllÁh  and severed all ties but to Him [].

10. [Kawthar is] the MaqÁm MaÎmÙd [Station of Praise and Glory]: [That is]
when the Interceder for the Sinful [] will intercede on our behalf, in
general, on the day of resurrection.

11. SayyidunÁ Ibn ÝAbbÁs [
] has presented an exegesis of al-Kawthar[, in

which he cites it as] ‘alkhayr al-kathÐr ’, meaning, ‘an abundance of
goodness’.

12. SayyidunÁ SaÝÐd ibn Jubayr [
] said that people state that Kawthar is the
name of a river in Paradise. [SayyidunÁ Ibn ÝAbbÁs [
] replied:

‘huwa min al-khayr al-kathÐr ’

25
Reported by al-ThaÝlabÐ in al-Kashf
 ‘it is a part of that abundance of goodness’. 26

13. ÝAllÁmah IsmÁÝÐl al-ÍaqqÐ [
] states, following his narration of

several sayings with regards to al-Kawthar:

‘wa ’l-aÛharu anna jamÐÝa niÝam AllÁhi dÁkhilatun fi ’l-

kawthari, ÛÁhiratun wa bÁÔinatun. fa-min al-ÛÁhiri khayrÁt al-
dunyÁ wa ’l-Ákhirah, wa-min al-bÁÔinati, al-ÝÙlÙm al-
ladunniyyah al-ÎÁÒilatu bi ’l-fayÃi ’l-ilÁhi bi-ghayri iktisÁb.’

‘It is apparent that the entire bounties of AllÁh [] are

enclosed within ‘al-Kawthar’, the manifest and the esoteric.
Of the manifest [bounties] are the goodnesses of this world
and the Hereafter, and of the esoteric is that [divinely-
inspired] mystic knowledge [which is] acquired merely
through divine benevolence and without [personal]
learning.’27

14. ÝAllÁmah [JalaluddÐn] al-QurÔubÐ [
] has commented on similar

lines.28

15. ÝAllÁmah [MaÎmÙd] al-ÀlÙsÐ [
] says:

‘inna-hu al-khayr al-kathÐr, wa ’l-niÝam al-dunyawiyyah wa ’l-

ukhruwiyyah min al-faÃÁ’ili wa ’l-fawÁÃili… wa-fÐ-hi
ishÁratun ilÁ anna mÁ ÒaÎÎa fÐ ’l-aÎÁdÐth min tafsÐri-hÐ Òall
AllÁhu taÝÁlÁ Ýalayhi wa-sallam iyyÁhu bi ’l-nahri min bÁb al-
tamthÐli wa ’l-takhÒÐÒi li-nuktatin ’

meaning, ‘Kawthar denotes ‘abundance of goodness’, as

well as the excellences and excesses of this world and the
Hereafter… It also [includes] an indication to the point, of
exemplification and particularisation, mentioned in sound
prophetic traditions from the explanation made by [the
Prophet]  himself [that it is] a river.29

 Primarily, [AllÁh ] mentioned His endless bestowments which He showered

upon His Beloved []. Encouragement of being appreciative is now being made,
regarding those bounties and beneficences.
He [] is saying:

‘O Beloved! (Continue to) establish the prayer to your Lord, and

sacrifice (to Him only).’

26
BukhÁrÐ
27
TafsÐr RÙÎ al-BayÁn
28
TafsÐr al-QurÔubÐ
29
TafsÐr RÙÎ al-MaÝÁnÐ
Those of imprudence, though they eat off the dining table of Allah , thrive on the
morsels of His mercy and advance in His gentle and benign embrace, they are,
however, grateful to others; they worship spurious deities and offer sacrifices to
idols.

‘O Beloved of Mine! Emulate not this fashion of theirs as this is the

greatest form of ingratitude and denial of favour.’

The state of this repentant Bondsman and ethereal Beloved [], with respect to the
compliance of [this] statement was such that he [] would constantly stand all night
in prayer until his feet would tumefy . Someone asked:

‘O Messenger of AllÁh [], Why do you bring so much inconvenience

upon yourself?’

He [] replied, ‘a-falÁ akÙna Ýabdan shakÙran ? (Shall I not be a grateful

bondsman (owing to the unlimited bounties) of my Lord?) ’30

His entire life was spent in veneration and remembrance of AllÁh []. Not even a
moment, of the day nor night, would be wasted in oblivion. The complete life of
that reverend Prophet, exalted Guide []of whom was spent in prostrations, bows,
humbleness and submission [to AllÁh ], if his ummah deprives itself of the
remembrance of its Lord, their foreheads fail to emit forth the marks of prostrations
and if they are not blessed with the grace of prayer, then what can be more an ill
fortune than that?!

 shÁni’ : mubghià : In the heart of whom is malice and animosity, he is called

shÁni’ (shÁni )

abtar : from the root verb batara, means al-qaÔÝ : to sever something.

- With linguists, that man who has no son is known as abtar.

- A quadraped lacking a tail is also known as abtar.
- Moreover, all such action, the positive impact of which discontinues is also
called abtar. (al-QurÔubÐ)

SayyidunÁ Ibn ÝAbbÁs [
] states that these are the children born out of the womb of
Lady KhadÐjah [g]:

QÁsim, Zaynab, ÝAbdullÁh, Umm KulthÙm, FaÔimah and Ruqayyah Òall AllÁhu
taÝÁlÁ ÝalÁ abÐ-him wa Ýalayhim ajmaÝÐn, respectively.

It was QÁsim whose death took place first, then ÝAbdullÁh (the appellative names of
whom are Óayyib and ÓÁhir) left with a stain of separation.

Subsequent to the prophet’s announcement of prophethood, all of the residents of

Makkah had become enemies. When the saw that both of his [] sons have passed

30
Agreed upon (Bukhari, Muslim)
away, and that only [his ] daughters are [alive], they began to talk annoyingly. ÝÀÒ
ibn WÁ’il was saying,

‘qad inqaÔaÝa naslu-hÙ wa huwa abtar ’

‘His lineage has disconnected and he is now abtar ’.

When the disbelievers observed the daily progress of IslÁm, they would say, in order
to console their [own] hearts, ‘Nothing to worry about, this is only a game of a few
days. He has no boy who would continue this mission after him. He [himself] is a
guest for a few days. When he departs from here, his religion will also be
annihilated.’

AllÁh , with this one verse, gave them a stupefying reply; He [] ended their vain
hopes. He [] said, ‘Whosoever bears animosity against my Beloved, whoever is
malevolent of this religion, whoever bears a tiff against its SharÐÝah system, he shall
perish! His nation shall disregard him, history will forget him, none shall mention
his name, his children will even citing saying his name and all forms of linkage to
him shall be a cause of nudity and humiliation for him.

And the [lofty] status of My Beloved [] is such each kinsman (ummatÐ ), be he the
member of any clan, the resident of any country and the speaker of any language,
shall keep alight the lamp of the remembrance of my Beloved [].

The posterity of others continues through [their] sons, but I shall continue the
progeny of my Beloved [] through the apple of his eye, his darling daughter, the
Lady of Paradise, Sayyidah ÓÁhirah FÁÔimah [g], and I shall place so much blessings
into those descendants that they shall disseminate into every corner of the globe.’

This chapter, in spite of its brevity and concision, is such a beautiful album of
rhetoric eloquence and expressivity, that the eloquent scholars of Arabia and the
literary experts of the ÍijÁz were left to say, ‘mÁ hÁdhÁ kalÁm al-bashar ’ ‘This is not
the speech of any human.’

Al-Îamdu li ’LlÁhi wa ’Ò-ÒalÁtu wa ’s-salÁmu ÝalÁ sayyidi-nÁ rasÙli ’LlÁhi ’lladÐ aÝÔÁ-hu
Rabbu-hu ’l-kawthar, kullamÁ dhakara-hu al-dhÁkirÙn, wa ghafala Ýan dhikri-hi al-
ghÁfilÙn

AllÁhumma urzuq-nÁ Îubba-hÙ wa ittibÁÝa-hÙ wa uÎshur-nÁ fÐ zumrati-hÐ taÎta liwÁ’i-hÐ,

wa ighfir la-nÁ wa liwÁliday-nÁ, wa dhurriyyati-nÁ bi-shafÁÝati-hÐ, yÁ Rabb al-ÝÁlamÐn, yÁ
Akram al-mas’ÙlÐn

All praise is due to AllÁh, and blessings and salutations upon our Leader, the
Messenger of AllÁh, to whom His Lord has bestowed al-Kawthar, whenever those
who remember [him] make remembrance of him, and whenever those who are
oblivious [of him] neglect to make remembrance of him.

O Allah! Bless us the love for him, the adherence to him, and assemble us in his
party [and] under his banner, and exonerate us, our parents and our progeny by
[virtue of] his intercession, O Lord of the Worlds, O Most Benign of those
Petitioned.