It is the shortest chapter, consisting of three ayat or verses: There are several different opinions as the timing and contextual background of its supposed revelation (asbāb al-nuzūl).

According to Ibn Ishaq, it is an earlier Meccan surah, which is believed to have been revealed in Mecca, sometime before the Isra and Mi'raj.

The word Kawthar is derived from the triliteral root ك - ث - ر (k - th - r), which has meanings of "to increase in number, to outnumber, to happen frequently; to show pride in wealth and/or children; to be rich, plentiful, abundance."

³ ’in-na shāni’aka huwa l-’abtar(u) بِسۡمِ اِ۬للَّهِ اِ۬لرَّحۡمَٰنِ اِ۬لرَّحِيمِ‎ Bismi l-lāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīm(i) إِنَّآ أَعۡطَيۡنَٰكَ اَ۬لْكَوۡثَرَ ۝١‎

³ ’in-na shāni’aka huwa labtar(u) 1 Verily, We have granted you (O Muhammad) Al-Kauthar (A River in Jannah and a lot of goodness]);