A001
Surah: 108 - Ayah: 001
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108:1
Muhammad bin Ismacil (peace be upon him):
This blessed name of the holy Imam is after the glorious name of the Prophet of Islam, so that people may know the spiritual and ancestral relation of the Imams from the progeny of Muhammad. God has given His beloved Prophet al-Kawthar (108:1), namely the one who has abundant children. He is undoubtedly Mawla cAli, so that the system of guidance, the cherished religion (Islam) of the Prophet may continue forever. Thus all the meanings of Kawthar were hidden in the exalted personality of the Commander of the faithful, cAli. Another meaning of Kawthar is wisdom, in which there is abundant good (khayr-i kathir) (2:269). The third meaning of Kawthar is the pond of the same name (hawd-i Kawthar). All these realities are hidden in the light of Imamat. The ta’wil of the pond of Kawthar is the rank of qiyamat, whose lord is every seventh Imam. Imam Muhammad bin Ismacil was the first lord of qiyamat in the chain of the minor cycles consisting of seven Imams. This is why the light of Imamat was transferred to him extraordinarily.
Q439 Please tell us what is the meaning of kawthar in verse (108:1): “(O Muhammad!) We have given you kawthar”?
A439
- Kawthar is the name of a spring in paradise. It also means abundant good and he who has abundant offspring, that is, Hazrat cAli(c), who has abundant offspring both physically as well as spiritually.
- God had granted him to the holy Prophet as a child. Thus, Hazrat cAli(c) is like the offspring of the holy Prophet, both at the level of the soul and the level of the forehead [i.e. the level of the intellect] and all the meanings of kawthar are applicable to Mawla cAli(c). Al-hamdu li’llah!
This verse has been referred 5 times.