فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَٱنْحَرْ 2
Translations
So pray to your Lord and offer sacrifice [to Him alone].
Transliteration
Fasalli li-rabbika wanhar
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to establish prayer and perform sacrifice for his Lord, expressing gratitude for the blessings of Al-Kawthar (the abundance). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as a comprehensive directive to worship Allah through both ritual prayer (salah) and ritual sacrifice (nahr), symbolizing complete devotion and submission. The command emphasizes that true gratitude for divine blessings is manifested through obedience and sacred acts of worship.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Kawthar was revealed in Mecca as a consolation to the Prophet Muhammad regarding the death of his son Al-Qasim, assuring him of abundant blessings in this life and the next. This ayah concludes the surah by directing the Prophet to respond to divine favor through prayer and sacrifice, establishing the proper response to Allah's generosity.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet said, 'My Lord has given me good tidings of Al-Kawthar' (Sahih Bukhari). Additionally, 'Whoever slaughters a sacrifice should not take anything from his hair or nails until the sacrifice is completed' (Sahih Muslim), relating to the practice of sacrifice mentioned in this verse.
Themes
Key Lesson
True appreciation for Allah's blessings is demonstrated through consistent prayer and charitable acts of sacrifice, not merely through words. This teaches believers that gratitude must translate into concrete acts of worship and service to God.