تويت
It was said earlier that ‘al-Kawthar’ has a vast, inclusive meaning which is ‘goodness in abundance’ and the examples are many.
A large number of scholars of the Shia school believe that one of the most clear examples of this word is the auspicious existence of Fatima Zahra, because the occasion of the revelation of the verse indicates that the enemies accused the Noble Prophet of being without offspring to which the Qur’an replied:
Surely (Muhammad) We have given you abundance of good (al-Kawthar). (108:1).
From this verse we understand that this ‘abundance of good’ is that very Lady Fatima Zahra’.
In addition, not only is it the physical and biological offspring of the Prophet which will increase, rather it is these abundant number of offspring scattered which continue his religion and are responsible for the preservation of all of the values of Islam and continue to convey it to the future generations!
This is not only limited to the infallible Imams of the Ahlul Bayt who have a literal number that we can enumerate (12), rather it is the thousands and thousands of children of Fatima which have spread around the entire world from whom so many great scholars, scientists, writers, exegetists, jurists, narrators of the Prophet’s sayings and leaders have come from – individuals who have left outstanding works and unmatched fame in this world, and have protected Islam with their selfless giving (of themselves and their efforts) and their hard work and devotions.
Here, we encounter a very interesting discussion from Fakhr ad-Din al-Razi who along with other commentators on ‘al-Kawthar’, says:
The third statement of the meaning of this chapter is that it was revealed to reject those who criticized the Noble Prophet for his lack of progeny.
Therefore the meaning of this chapter is that Allah will give him a generation which will remain throughout all of the ages.
Considering the fact that how many members of the Ahlul Bayt have been martyred, we still see that the world is replete with them, whereas the Umayyads (who were the enemies of Islam) there remains no mentionable figure in the world.
Then, behold and see how many of the great men of leadership such as al-Baqir, as-Sadiq, al-Ridha, and Nafs al-Zakiyyah 9, etc… are found among them (the household)!”10 2. The Miracle Of This Chapter
In reality, this chapter contains three important miraculous predictions:
On one hand, it informs the Prophet of the glad tidings of the ‘abundance of good’, (although the verb “أَعْطَيْنَا” is in the past tense form), it may definitely be considered as meaning the present and future which has been stated in the form of the past tense and this ‘abundance of good’ encompasses all victories and successes that were obtained later by the Noble Prophet however which were not predictable in Mecca at the time of the revelation of this chapter.
On the other hand, the chapter foretells that the Noble Prophet will not be without posterity, and his generations and descendants will exist abundantly all over the world.
The third thing which this chapter foretells is that the enemies of the Prophet will be ‘abtar’ - without posterity. This too actually happened and those enemies were so rooted out that no trace of their generations can be seen today.
We see that today, tribes such as the Umayyads and Abbasids, who opposed the Prophet and his prophecy and who enjoyed such a population in the past, today their family and children cannot even be counted and they not even present anywhere! 3. Allah And The Plural Pronoun
It is noteworthy that here and in many other verses of the Noble Qur’an, Allah introduces Himself by the first person plural pronoun and says:
‘We’ have given you an abundance of good (al-Kawthar). (108:1).
This wording and others like it are for the expression of Glory and Power, as when the noble talk about themselves, they announce not only themselves, but also their commissionaires, and this refers to their power and nobility, as well as to the presence of those in obedience, along with the commands.
In the verse under discussion the term “إِنَّ” is also another emphasis on this meaning, and the phrase “أَعْطَيْنَاكَ” - ‘We have given you’, rather than “آتَيْنَاكَ” is evidence to the fact that Allah has awarded the Noble Prophet “al-Kawthar” which itself is a great glad tiding to the Prophet in order to keep his heart aloof from annoyance resulting from the nonsensical remarks of the enemies; and consequently, languor does not affect his firm determination, and for him to know that Allah is his support and that He is the source of all welfare and grace in abundance.
O Lord! Do not deprive us from the blessings of that ‘abundance of good’ that You granted to Your Prophet.
O Lord! You know that we truly love Your Prophet and his pure progeny; therefore include us among their ranks.
O Lord! The glory of Your Prophet’s essence and the religion which he taught us is much notable; add to this grandeur, majesty and honor.
…So be it, O Lord of all of the Worlds
End of Surah Al-Kawthar
- 1. Majmaʿ al-Bayan, vol. 10, pg. 549.
- 2. The Noble Prophet had other male children as well – namely Ibrahim, from his wife Mariyah al-Qubtiyyah, and who was born in Medina. Coincidentally, he too passed away before reaching the age of two and his death also weighed heavily on the heart of the Prophet.
- 3. Majmaʿ al-Bayan, vol. 10, pg. 548.
- 4. Majmaʿ al-Bayan, vol. 10, p. 549.
- 5. Ibid.
- 6. Ibid.
- 7. Majmaʿ al-Bayan, vol. 10, p. 550.
- 8. Majmaʿ al-Bayan, vol. 10, p. 548.
- 9. Nafs al-Zakiyyah is another name for Muhammad b. ʿAbdullah, the grand-son of Imam Ḥasan al-Mujtaba who was martyred by Mansur al-Dawaniqi in 145 ah.
- 10. Tafsir of Fakhr ad-Din al-Razi, vol. 32, p. 124.