Ayah 3

Inna shaani-aka huwa al-abtar

Indeed, your enemy, he is the one cut off.

Ina – surely (a sure statement to someone who is in doubt.)
= No Doubt.

Allah is talking to His Messenger.

The Quraysh polytheists are many in number, while the believers are a minority and being tortured. So Allah is telling them; No Doubt they will be cut off.

Difference betweeb Abtar and Batr - when the tail of an enemy is cut off. A sign of humiliation for the animal.

The way the Arab would be humiliated is if the son does not carry your name. I.e. If you have no son or if they have died. The daughter could not carry your name because she would get married into another family and be the mother of another man’s children.

You should be embarrassed just like an animal whose tail has been cut off.

This is the type of statement they were saying to Allah’s Messenger; when

Abdullah ibn Muhammad (sal Allah alayhi wasalam, his son) died – so the people said Batara Muhammad (Muhammad has been cut off).

Abu Lahab also used this against Allah’s Messenger.

Abtar – Even more cut off, and truly cut off will be the enemy of the Messenger of Allah.

az-Zamakhshari:
huwa – he.

By mentioning ‘he’ [huwa] – it is signifying that it is not the Messenger of Allah who is cut off, RATHER – he (your enemy [O Muhammad]) is being cut off.

i.e. Allah could say; your enemy is cut off.

But by saying; your enemy, HE (huwa) is the one who is cut off.

= you have said that it’s only the enemy who is cut off, not you.

But why didn’t He say specifically; La Ant (not you)?

Because He does not even want to place His Messenger in the same ayah as those who are cut off.

So Abtar has been used for the enemy, but not mentioning the enemies insult, nor mentioning Allah’s Messenger in the same ayah as the one who has been cut off.

- All those who believe and every child which recieves the azan (call to prayer) in his ear when he is born – every single Muslim child is part of your progeny/descendants now (O Muhammad).

Their idea of continuing your legacy is false – and your legacy (O Muhammad) is in a unique way which no-one else has been given.

A person might be chinese, african, indian, white or arab – and he will love Allah’s Messenger more than he loves his own nationality and tribe and colour. All of them are a big family which take pride in the statement; Laa illaaha Illa Allah, Muhammadun Rasool Allah.

The one who is truly cut off (munqati’) in this world and the next is the one who is your enemy. And if he is ever remembered – he is cursed and not remembered in a good way.

Every generation of believers curse the enemies of Allah’s Messenger, and Allah accepts their prayer against the enemy.

Even those who disbelieve do not praise the enemies, rather – the majority are quiet because of their ignorance.

Billions curse the enemy. They thought their legacy would pass on through the legacy of their sons.

They thought that Allah’s Messenger would die and his legacy will vanish because he has no sons.

Some say this surah was revealed about:

‘Aas bin Wa’il – he had named the Prophet Abtar – the one who has no backing/protection.

So Allah sent this ayah.

Shaani’ – enemy.

Similar to ‘Aduw – enemy.

So why is Shaani’ used in this ayah?

3 words for Animosity;

1 – shana’aan شنعن / shaani’

2 – bughdd بغض / baghdaa (mughbid)

3 – Aduw عدو /Udwan / ‘Adawa

shana’aan & bughdd – hatred – an enemy who hates you.

When Allah described the disbelievers, He described them as those who are cut off – alluding to the victory of Allah’s Messenger. This guarantee is proven in surah an-Nasr and the fact that the Arabian Peninsula has not returned to the same idol worshipping since the coming of Allah’s final Messenger.

‘Aduw - an enemy who wishes to hurt you and wants to cause harm to you. He wants to defeat you. (i.e. In a battle – the opposite fighter attacking at you is an ‘aduw).

Mubghid – bagheed – this is an ‘aduw, but he has an additional feeling of anger and envy against you. 

Shana’aan – one who has attribute of ‘aduw and hatred, and third – he hides some of it but what he has inside of him is extreme anger against you.

He is the worst enemy. This is known because even an enemy who celebrates at the death of your child is a enemy who hates you inside and out – ashaani’ – he is the one who is cut off.

Abtar – bitr - qat‘ = to Cut.

Ibn Taymiyyah had an Amazing thesis on Surah Kawthar, he said:

Allah has cut the enemy of Allah’s Messenger from any possible good. Cut (in absolute terms / totally);

- wealth
- family,
-in this life and the next,
- even if he has them – he won’t be able to use them in good.
- Allah has cut off his heart – so it will never go to good. Because it took Allah’s Messenger as an enemy.

- It will never incline to knowing Allah, or love for Him or His Prophets’ or Eman (belief), and all his deeds (good or bad) will be cut off.

-And even if he has the good abilities – he will not be able to use them for Allah’s pleasure.

- He will NOT have any help, supporters, and cut off from anything he finds close to him, he will find no sweetness and no satisfaction in anything, because he became an enemy of the Prophet willingly.