The Reason for Revealing {Asbab al Nuzul} of Surah Kawthar and Tafsir of its last Ayah

The Reason for Revealing {‘Asbab al Nuzul’} of ‘Surah Kawthar’ and Tafsir of its last Ayah

إِنَّ شَانِئَكَ هُوَ الْأَبْتَر ُ

“Undoubtedly, one who is your enemy, he is cut off from every good.”

{Surah al Kawthar; 108: 3}

Imam Ibn Kathir Shafai’ mentions the following in his ‘Tafsir’:

Imam al Mufassirin Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas, Sayyiduna Mujahid, Sayyiduna Saeed bin Jubayr and Sayyiduna Qatadah say that this particular Ayah or Surah was revealed for Aas bin Wael. Muhammad bin Ishaq narrates from Sayyiduna Yazid bin Ruma that, “When Aas bin Wael used to hear about the Prophet he used to say, ‘Leave him, he is with out a tail (sibling), he has no male child. When he will die his remembrance (fame) will also die.’ So upon this Allah Almighty revealed this Surah.” {Sirat Ibn Hisham; 1: 393 and Tafsir Ibn Kathir; 4: 958, Urdu Translation by Shaykh Ikram al Azhari, Shaykh Saeed al Azhari and Shaykh Altaf Husayn al Azhari; Adabi Dunya, Delhi}

Sadr al Afazil Sayyid Nayimuddin Quadri Ashrafi Muradabadi also writes that The Reason for Revelation {‘Shan ul Nuzul’} of Surah Kawthar is that: “When the son of the Chief of the Worlds- the Beloved Prophet , Qasim passed away, the Infidels {‘Kuffar’} referred to him as ‘Abtar’ i.e. Childless or the one whose progeny is terminated {‘Munqata’ ul Nasal’} and said that after him his progeny will not be present, after him his remembrance will also end and all these publicity will also end. Upon these sayings, the Surah was revealed and Allah Almighty has clearly mentioned these sayings as lies (falsehood) and amply refuted them.” {Tafsir Khazayin al Irfan}

Compiled & Translated by

Basharath Siddiqui Ashrafi