Al- Kauther #108 (The name of a river in Paradise)

1. Al-Kauther #108(The name of a river in Paradise)

2. First: The MeaningGo to Worksheet

3. Al-Kauther • MakkanSurah • Meaning covers all revelation before migration (hijra) • It doesn’t matter where the revelation took place • So long as it is before hijra then it is Makkiyyah • It is also Makkiyyah when a revelation occurs on the way to the migration (meaning on the migration journey) • Madanisurah : After the migration • This is the preponderating (meaning majority) opinion of the scholars of Islam (concerning Makki/Madani)

4. The River • Al-Kauther in linguistically means “abundant good” (الخير الكثير) • Allah gave Rasul (SAW) abundant good in this life and the hereafter, including this great river in Paradise. • From it flows two spouts which flow into the Prophet's pool (or pond, called the حوض). • Its water is whiter than milk, and sweeter than honey. • Its fragrance is better than musk.

5. The Hawdh... • The believers of the ummah will come to the hawdh (حوض) • Its jugs and utensils are like stars in the sky; in some narrations it outnumbers them; in some narrations it numbers the same as the stars. • Anyone who follows the shariah in this life will come to the hawdh in the hereafter; anyone who doesn’t will be denied access to the hawdh.

6. The Favors From the great good that’s given to Rasul (narrated in the two saxixs; Bukhari Vol. 1, Hadith #331): Narrated by Jabir, that Rasul (SAW) said, “I have been given 5 things which were not given to anyone else before me: • Allah made me victorious when fighting my enemies; Allah will instill in them fear from a distance of one month’s journey. • The Earth has been made for me and my followers a place for offering prayer (a masjid) and for purification (tayyamum; dry ablution). Anyone of my followers can offer salah wherever he is. • The (war) booty has been made halal for me and was not for anyone else before me. • And I have been given the right of intercession on the day of resurrection. • Every prophet was sent to his nation only, but I have been sent to all mankind.

7. Intercession • Al-Maqaam al-Mahmood (المقام المحمود), meaning the station of praise and glory is given to Rasul (SAW). He alone will have the intercession. • The people (in distress and agony on the Day of Resurrection) will go to Adam, then to Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, Isa, until they finally go to the Prohpet. He will then stand and seek intercession. • Allah will decree amongst the creation due to this intercession.

8. Station • Allah speaks of Rasul’s (SAW) station in SuratIsra, verse 79: “And in some parts of the night offer the prayer with it (meaning recite the Qur’an) as an additional prayer for you (Tahajjud optional prayer- nawafil). It may be that your Lord will raise you to Maqaam Mahmud (a station of praise and glory; the intercession).”

9. The Surah • Ayah # 1: Allah reminds Rasul of the favor bestowed upon him. • Ayah #2: Therefore turn in prayer to you lord and sacrifice to him alone; be grateful. • What’s intended by prayer is all the prayers; the first to be included is the salah associated with the sacrifice- meaning the salah of Eid al Adha (the Eid of the Sacrifice). • But generally it is all salah; the obligatory ones and the optional ones. • Wanhar- “Seek means of nearness to Allah by sacrifice” • The nahr (نحر) refers to the ibl- camels • Dhabh (ذبح): cows, sheep • The mentioning of nahr concerns camels because it’s more beneficial with respect to the poor.

10. The Surah • That’s why Rasul offered 100 camels (during the farewell pilgrimage), and sacrificed from that 63 with his own hand and gave the rest to Ali to sacrifice. • He gave all of the sacrifice in charity except some (he put it in a pot, cooked it, ate the meat, and drank the soup). • He commanded that the meat be given in charity including the skin. • The command in this ayah (ayah # 2) is a command for Rasul and us (the ummah) to pray (worship) and sacrifice in sincerity.

11. The Surah (Cont’d) • Ayah #3: Al-Kauther means abundant good (this life and hereafter), but the one who makes Rasul (SAW) angry will be cut off in this world and hereafter! • This last verse refers to the kuffar of Quraysh when they used to say, “Muhammad abtar”; meaning there is no good in Muhammad, nor blessings (both him and his followers). • When Rasul’s son Qasim died, they said, “Muhammad abtar”, Muhammad is cut off (from children). • Allah made it clear that the “abtar” is the one who hates Muhammad (he will be cut off, his life will be one of sorrow and regret).

12. Kufr & Hypocrisy Also applicable regarding those who are “abtar” are: • anyone who hates the shari’ah that was sent with Muhammad • or hates a symbol of the shari’ah • or hates any kind of worship • This person is then a disbeliever. Allah states in surah Muhammad (#47) verse # 9:  ذَٲلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمۡ كَرِهُواْ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ فَأَحۡبَطَ أَعۡمَـٰلَهُمۡ  That is because they hate that which Allâh has sent down (this Qur'ân and Islâmic laws etc.), so He has made their deeds fruitless. • The deeds becoming fruitless only occurs in a state of kufr. • Ex: anyone who hates the obligation of salah then becomes a kaafir even if he performs the salah. The same with zakah. • HOWEVER: whoever feels burdened by it without hating it then falls into the category of having a quality or trait of hypocrisy, BUT it does not make him a kaafir. • There is a difference between the one who is burdened by something and the one who hates it.

13. Summary • Abundant good is given to Muhammad (SAW) • We are command to have sincerity in all acts of worship (salah, sacrifice, etc.) • Anyone who hates the Messenger and the shari’ah then he is abtar, cut off (unblessed).