Sūrat al-Kawthar is the shortest chapter in the Quran with only three verses. Given its short verses and content, it is believed to have been revealed in Mecca,^{‎[1]Nemuneh, 27/395; Mizan, 20/370.} however, some maintain that it was revealed in Medina. Ālūsī, strangely, is of the opinion that it was revealed in both Mecca and Medina.^{‎[2]Alusi, 30/244.} Chronologically, it is believed to be the fifteenth chapter of the Quran in order of revelation. The name al-Kawthar (abundant good) is taken from the first verse of the chapter.

Regarding the context of its revelation, it is narrated from Ibn Abbas that Sūrat al-Kawthar was revealed when ʿĀṣ ibn Wāʾil – although other names have also been mentioned^{‎[3]Alusi, 30/244.} – had a short conversation with the Prophet outside Masjid al-Ḥarām. After he finished his conversation and entered the mosque, some leading figures of Quraysh who were sitting inside the mosque asked him: ‘Did you speak to Muhammad?’ He replied: ‘Do you mean that abtar?’ By abtar he meant someone who has no offspring, and with whom his line of descent would finish.^{‎[4]Prophet Muhammad (s) had another son from his wife Māriyah Qibṭiyyah in Medina in the year 8 ah, but he also passed away before the age of two which was saddening to the Messenger of God (Nemuneh, 27/396).} He chose this title for the Messenger of God because the Prophet’s son, ʿAbd-Allāh, had just passed away. It was after that encounter that this chapter was revealed and gave glad tidings to the Prophet about the abundant mercy he will be granted, and referred to his enemy as abtar.^{‎[5]Nemuneh, 27/395; Tabrisi, 10/836.}

Overall, this surah provides a response to the Quraysh who thought that because the son of the Prophet had passed away, no one would continue his mission, and his call would die when he died. The chapter negates that and declares that not only will his message not die when he dies, it will actually flourish further. Hence, it can be regarded as a prophecy of glad tidings.^{‎[6]Nemuneh, 27/396.}

It is also considered a miracle, since the promise of God has come true, and even after the passage of hundreds of years the descendants of the Prophet, through Lady Fatimah (a), are present throughout the world.^{‎[7]Ahsan al-Hadith, 12/377.}  

[1] Nemuneh, 27/395; Mizan, 20/370.
[2] Alusi, 30/244.
[3] Alusi, 30/244.
[4] Prophet Muhammad (s) had another son from his wife Māriyah Qibṭiyyah in Medina in the year 8 ah, but he also passed away before the age of two which was saddening to the Messenger of God (Nemuneh, 27/396).
[5] Nemuneh, 27/395; Tabrisi, 10/836.
[6] Nemuneh, 27/396.
[7] Ahsan al-Hadith, 12/377.