108
Muhammad Asad
AL-KAWTHAR (GOOD IN ABUNDANCE)
THE HUNDRED-EIGHTH
SURAH
Total Verses: 3
PERIOD UNCERTAIN
Introduction
WHEREAS most of the
authorities assign this surah to the
early part of the
IN THE NAME OF
GOD, THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE DISPENSER OF GRACE:
IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE DISPENSER OF
GRACE:
(1) BEHOLD, We have bestowed upon thee good in abundance: 1
(2) hence, pray unto thy Sustainer [alone], and sacrifice [unto
Him alone].
(3) Verily, he that hates thee has indeed been cut off [from
all that is good]! 2
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1 The term kawthar
is an intensive form of the noun kathrah (Zamakhshari), which, in its turn, denotes "copiousness",
"multitude" or "abundance"; it also occurs as an adjective
with the same connotation (Qamus, Lisan
al-Arab, etc.). In the above context, which is the sole instance of its use in
the Qur'an, al-kawthar
obviously relates to the abundant bestowal on the Prophet of all that is good
in an abstract, spiritual sense, like revelation, knowledge, wisdom, the doing
of good works, and dignity in this world and in the hereafter (Razi); with reference to the believers in general, it
evidently signifies the ability to acquire knowledge, to do good works, to be
kind towards all living beings, and thus to attain to inner peace and dignity.
2 Lit., "it is he that is cut
off (abtar)". The addition, between brackets, of
the phrase "from all that is good" is based on an explanation
forthcoming from the Qamus.