Surah Al-Kawthar
الكوثر
Surah Al-Kawthar is the shortest surah in the Quran, three verses telling the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ that he has been given abundant good and that the one who hates him is the one cut off.
- Meaning
- The Abundance
- Surah
- 108 of 114
- Verses
- 3
- Revealed in
- Mecca
- Found in
- Juz 30
What Surah Al-Kawthar is about
Surah Al-Kawthar, "The Abundance", is the shortest surah in the Quran. Verse 1 tells the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ that Allah has given him al-Kawthar, abundance. Verse 2 asks him to respond by praying to his Lord and offering sacrifice. Verse 3 says that the one who hates him is the one who is cut off.
Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim report that the Prophet ﷺ described al-Kawthar as a river in Paradise that his Lord promised him, and a pool to which his community will come on the Day of Resurrection. Commentators also understand it more broadly as abundant good of every kind.
Many commentators connect verse 3 with opponents in Mecca who mocked the Prophet ﷺ as abtar, cut off, after the death of his sons, meaning he had no male heir and his name would die out. The surah answers that it is his enemy whose memory will be cut off.
Main themes
A gift of abundance
Verse 1 gives the Prophet ﷺ al-Kawthar at a time when he was being mocked for his losses. It is a reminder that what Allah gives outweighs what people take away.
Verse 1Gratitude through prayer and sacrifice
The response asked for is worship: prayer and sacrifice dedicated to Allah alone.
Verse 2The one who is truly cut off
The mockery that the Prophet ﷺ had no legacy is turned back on his mocker. History bore this out, as his name is remembered daily across the world.
Verse 3
Verses to know
إِنَّآ أَعۡطَيۡنَٰكَ ٱلۡكَوۡثَرَ ﴿١﴾
We have given you plenty.
The gift of al-Kawthar, which the Prophet ﷺ described, in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, as a river in Paradise and a pool his community will come to.
إِنَّ شَانِئَكَ هُوَ ٱلۡأَبۡتَرُ ﴿٣﴾
He who hates you is the loser.
A short, decisive reply to those who mocked the Prophet ﷺ after the loss of his sons.
When Surah Al-Kawthar is recited
Being the shortest surah, Al-Kawthar is often one of the first surahs children learn and is frequently recited in daily prayers. Sahih Muslim records that it was revealed while the Prophet ﷺ was among his Companions, after which he smiled and explained al-Kawthar to them.
Surah Al-Kawthar in Arabic and English
All 3 verses, with the Arabic, a transliteration to help you read it aloud, and the English translation by Talal Itani.
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Surah Al-Kawthar PDF
The whole surah on printable pages: Arabic, transliteration and English side by side. Free to download, print and share.
Questions about Surah Al-Kawthar
What is the shortest surah in the Quran?
Surah Al-Kawthar (108) is the shortest surah, with 3 short verses. Al-'Asr and An-Nasr also have 3 verses each, but Al-Kawthar has the fewest words.
What is al-Kawthar?
According to hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, al-Kawthar is a river in Paradise promised to the Prophet ﷺ, and a pool his community will come to on the Day of Resurrection. Commentators also explain it as abundant good.
Why was Surah Al-Kawthar revealed?
Many commentators connect it to opponents who mocked the Prophet ﷺ as cut off after his sons died. The surah reassures him and says the one who hates him is the one cut off.