A Comparative Study of Sunni and Shia Exegetical Traditions on al-Kawthar

Exegetes and experts in the field of Quranic sciences have expressed different views concerning the meaning of 'alkawthar' (translated as abundance) in the first verse of chapter 108 of the Quran. Some have defined it as heavenly river, others have said that 'al-kawthar' refers to a pond and yet a third group of scholars have stated that it refers to 'abundant good'. Keeping these views into consideration, there seems to be a huge gap in the traditions transmitted by both branches of faith in terms of the interpretation of 'al-kawthar' at the time of the revelation of this verse. Some of the reports and narrations in this regard, especially those interpreting 'al-kawthar' as a heavenly river are poor in terms of the chain of transmission, and the text of the reports cannot be verified either. Imprecise interpretations are antagonistic to the context of the verses as well as incoherent with the traditions concerning the causes of revelation. Therefore, such type of opinions cannot pinpoint and introduce the manifestation of 'al-kawthar' at the time of revelation. Most of what has been expressed by the exegetes have nothing to do with the interpretation of the verse, thus causing misconception and false impression in this regard. Some of the views expressed in regard with the heavenly manifestation of 'al-kawthar' are acceptable.