Surah 108 · Meccan · 3 Verses
الكوثر
SURAH AL-KAWTHAR
Abundance
Surah Al-Kawthar answers hostility toward the Messenger with the gift of abundant good, then directs prayer and sacrifice to the Lord. The final reversal says the hater is the one cut off. Its brevity joins consolation, worship and freedom from measuring worth through an opponent’s insult. More about this surah
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
إِنَّآ أَعْطَيْنَٰكَ ٱلْكَوْثَرَ
Indeed, We have granted you, [O Muḥammad], al-Kawthar.
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فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَٱنْحَرْ
So pray to your Lord and offer sacrifice [to Him alone].
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About This Surah
The Messenger is told that abundant good has been granted. Classical commentary discusses the river or basin of Kawthar and the wider abundance included in the term. The Quran’s own wording is brief; further details come from hadith reports, which have their own sources.
The response to the gift is prayer and sacrifice for the Lord. Gratitude is worship directed away from public hostility and away from any rival recipient.
The closing reverses the insult: the hater, not the Messenger, is cut off. The verse should not become a slogan for cursing personal critics. It assures the Messenger that hostile status judgments do not control his legacy or divine gift.
All three verses work together: gift, grateful worship and the collapse of contempt.
Core Themes
- God’s gift exceeds hostile judgment
- Gratitude is expressed in worship
- Contempt does not determine lasting worth
Structure
Verses 1: abundant good — 1
Verses 1 focus on abundant good.
Verses 2: prayer and sacrifice — 2
Verses 2 focus on prayer and sacrifice.
Verses 3: the hater cut off — 3
Verses 3 focus on the hater cut off.
Key Passages
Al-Kawthar — 1
Verses 1 address al-kawthar.
Worship in gratitude — 2
Verses 2 address worship in gratitude.
The reversal — 3
Verses 3 address the reversal.
Interpretation Limits
- Do not add details about Kawthar without exact hadith references.
- Do not use 108:3 to curse personal opponents.
- Do not market the surah as a guaranteed wealth formula.