Qoran Shenakht

Surah al-Kawthar is among the surahs that have always been debated by exegetes because of disagreement over the intended meaning of the word “al-Kawthar.” Most interpretations, focusing on determining the referent, have proposed views such as the heavenly river, the pool, abundant good, prophethood, the Qur’an, intercession, and the progeny of the Messenger of God (PBUH), while the Qur’anic criterion for evaluating these referents has received less attention. The present study, using a descriptive-analytical method and drawing on lexical, contextual, historical, and syntactic analysis, reconstructs the semantic system of Surah al-Kawthar. The findings show that the structure of the surah, in light of the contrast between “al-Kawthar” and “al-Abtar,” is not merely a response to the mockery of the polytheists; rather, it reflects a critique of the value system of jahili society, which defined survival and status in terms of numerical multiplicity, male offspring, and continuity of lineage. On the basis of this analysis, “Kawthar” denotes a divine gift that combines the components of good, abundance, and continuity. Within this framework, Fatimah al-Zahra (PBUH) is more consistent than other referents with the concept of “Kawthar” and with the apparent meaning of the verses, the context of the surah, and the atmosphere of its revelation; the continuation of the prophetic lineage, the survival of the Ahl al-Bayt, and the extension of the mission are among its effects and fruits, not the reality of “Kawthar” itself.