In the name of Allah; Indeed all Praise is for Allah and may Peace and Blessings be upon His Messenger.
People sometimes confuse the Haudh with the Kawthar, as the English translation for both is similar. In clearing this confusion, by the permission of Allah, a number of differences and also some similarities between the Haudh and the Kawthar can be deduced.
Differences between the Haudh and Kawthar
1. The Kawthar is a flowing river in Paradise, whereas the Haudh will be a pond on Earth
2. Water will be channeled from the Kawthar to the Haudh
3. The Kawthar is currently present in Paradise, whereas the Haudh will emerge upon the Earth on the Day of Resurrection
4. The Kawthar is bigger than the Haudh, as water will be poured from it to the Haudh
Similarities between the Haudh and Kawthar
1. They are both for the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) and his true followers
2. The water of both the Kawthar and Haudh is the same, from Paradise, as the water of the Haudh is channeled from the Kawthar,
Allah knows best, may He make us from those who drink from the Haudh and Kawthar.
The above points can be understood from the authentic Ahadeeth and also the words of the scholars. Shaykh Ibn Baz (may Allah have Mercy upon him) was asked:
Question: What is the pond of Haudh, and what is the difference between it and the river of Kawthar?
Response: The pond of Haudh is a pond upon the earth for the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) on the Day of Resurrection. The Kawthar is in Paradise, and from it water will be channeled into the Haudh on earth. The Haudh is what Allah promised His Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam); the believers from his Ummah will be led to it.
It is a great pond, its length is a [journey of a] month and its width is also a month; the people of Imaan will be led to it.
Whoever drinks from it a single gulp will never feel thirsty again after it. Its utensils are the number of the stars; its water is from Paradise and is sent down from the river of Kawthar. This is the detail in this matter. The Haudh is on the earth; its water is from Paradise.
The Kawthar is a river in Paradise and its water will be sent to the Haudh through channels, as the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said,
It will be poured into this Haudh on the Day of Resurrection; the believers will be led to it from the Ummah of Muhammad
The meaning of ‘earth’ is the Land of Gathering (i.e. the Hashr). The river [of Kawthar] is present now in Paradise, due to His saying (the Most High):
{Indeed we have given you the Kawthar} [01:108]
It is a great river in Paradise; on the Day of Resurrection water will be channeled from it to the earth; it will be replaced on the Day of Resurrection and people will be upon it [to drink]. [1]
Footnotes
[1] For the Arabic fatwa, please refer to: http://www.binbaz.org.sa/mat/21564
