Tafseer Soorah al-Kawthar
Creator: Imam Ibn Kathir
Date: 2006-05-07
Format: text
Identifier: http://www.islaam.com/Article.aspx?id=353
Language: en
Source: Tafseer Ibn Katheer
Subject: quran
Title: Tafseer Soorah al-Kawthar
Created on: Sun May 07 20:15:42 -0400 2006
Updated on: Mon Sep 25 13:29:31 -0400 2006
Version: 3
Abstract: ... s a river in Paradise, given to me by my Lord, whose colour is whiter than milk and whose taste is sweeter than honey; upon it are birds whose necks are like those of camels." `Umar said: "Oh, Messenger of Allaah! It is an ostrich." He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam replied: "Its meat is more delicate and tender than that, O `Umar." Al-Bukhaari relates on the authority of Ibn `Abbaas, that he said Al-Kawthar is the blessings bestowed on the Messenger sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam by Allaah. Abu Bishr then told Sa`eed ibn Jubair (who narrated it from Ibn `Abbaas): "But people say that it is a river in Paradise." Sa`eed replied: "The river in Paradise is from the blessings bestowed by Allaah upon him sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam. Mujaahid said, "It is the abundant blessings of this world and the Hereafter." And it has been confirmed that Ibn `Abbaas also explained it (Al-Kawthar) as being a river. Ibn Jareer narrates on the authority of Ibn `Abbaas that he said: "Al-Kawthar is a river in Paradise, its banks are of gold and silver and its bed is of precious stones and pearls and its water is whiter than snow and sweeter than honey." Something very similar was narrated on the authority of Ibn `Umar and At-Tirmizi narrates something like it in a mawqoof form, while Ahmad has narrated it in a marfoo` form. That is, since We have given you such blessings in this world and in the Hereafter, including the river described previously, then devote your obligatory and your optional prayers to your Lord Alone, likewise your sacrifices and all your acts of worship. Worship Him Alone, without associating any partners with Him and sacrifice in His Name Alone, without associating any partners with Him, as in the Words of Allaah: (Soorah Al-An`aam 6:162) Ibn `Abbaas, `Ataa', `Ikrimah, Mujaahid and Al-Hasan are all agreed that the word nahr means halaal slaughter - most of the scholars from amongst the pious Salaf agreed with this and it is contrary to the practices of idolaters who prostrated themselves before false gods and sacrificed animals in their name. Allaah, Most High says: (Soorah Al-An`aam 6:121) The word nahr was also interpreted as meaning the position of the hands when slaughtering and to the raising of the hands in prayer, at the time of the opening takbeer (saying "Allaahu Akbar" in the prayer) and an instruction to face the Qiblah (the direction which Muslims face when they pray, i.e. the Ka`bah in Makkah) when slaughtering; but all of these sayings are very unusual, and the correct interpretation is the first, i.e. that it refers to halaal slaughter. Because of this, the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, used to pray `Eed prayer before slaughtering an animal, and he said: "Whoever prayed and then slaughtered has performed the slaughter (correctly) and whosoever slaughters before prayer, there is no slaughter for him." Then a Companion named Abu Bardah stood up and said, "Oh, Messenger of Allaah! I have slaughtered my sheep before the prayer for I knew that today was a day on which the meat would be desirable (for slaughter)." He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam said: "Your sheep is merely meat (i.e. it is not acceptable as a sacrifice). Abu Bardah then asked: "I have a young, female goat which is dearer to me than two sheep - is this sufficient recompense from me?" The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam said: "It would recompense you but it would not recompense anyo... [Full Article...]
