Originally published: 06-06-1423 [1]
In the Name of Allaah, may the Salaah and Salaam of Allaah be upon His Final Messenger, to proceed:
Muslims are obliged to send Allaah’s Salaah [2] and Salaam [3] upon Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) when his name is mentioned. Allaah has commanded us [4]:
( Verily Allaah and His Angels send salaah on the Prophet. O you who believe! Invoke salaah upon him, as well as a complete salaam! )
And the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) said:
“For each time someone invokes salaah upon me, Allaah writes for him ten good rewards because of it.” [5]
And the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) had described the one who does not send salaah upon him when he is mentioned as “the stingiest of people.” [6] And he exclaimed “Aameen!” to Jibreel’s supplication, “May Allaah repel the one who hears mention of you and does not invoke any salaah upon you!” [7]
So here is the issue that needs to be clarified: Many people use the abbreviation “SAW,” “SAWS,” or “PBUH” to fulfill this obligation in their writing. Is this something that fulfills the obligation of sending the salaah and salaam on the Messenger? Let us look now to some of the statements of the scholars regarding this practice.
The Permanent Committee of Scholars in Saudi Arabia headed by ‘Abdul-‘Azeez ibn ‘Abdillaah ibn Baaz issued the following verdict when asked about the validity of abbreviating the salaah on the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam): “The Sunnah is to write the entire phrase “sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam,” since it is a kind of supplication, and supplication is worship, (in one’s writing) just as it is in one’s speech. So to abbreviate it using the letter SAAD or the word SAAD-LAAM-‘AYN-MEEM is not a supplication nor is it worship, whether it occurs in speech or writing. For this reason, this abbreviation was not used by the the first three generations, those that the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) testified to their goodness.” [8]
“SAAD” and “SAAD-LAAM-‘AYN-MEEM” are often used in some Arabic books. The English equivalents of these abbreviations would be: SAW, SAWS, SAAWS, PBUH, and the likes.
Al-Fayrooz-Abaadee said, “It is not appropriate to use symbols or abbreviations to refer to salaah and salaam, as some of the lazy ones do, as well as some ignorant people and even some students of knowledge – they write ‘SAAD-LAAM-‘AYN-MEEM’ instead of writing ‘sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam.'” [9]
Ahmad Shaakir said, “It is the absurd tradition of some of the later generations that they abbreviate the writing of ‘sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam.'” [10]
Wasee Allaah ‘Abbaas said, “It is not permissible to abbreviate the salaams in general in one’s writing, just as it is not permissible to abbreviate the salaah and salaam on the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam). It is also not permissible to abbreviate either of these in one’s speech.” [11]
And Allaah knows best. May the most perfect and complete salaah and salaam be upon our beloved Messenger, and upon his noble family and companions.
FOOTNOTES
[1] written by Moosaa Richardson
[2] Sending salaah on the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) means that one invokes Allaah to praise him and mention his high status to the angels. See Jalaa’ Al-Afhaam (p.253) of Ibn Al-Qayyim, Fat-hul-Baaree (11/179-197) of Ibn Hajr, or Ibn Katheer’s tafseer to verse 33:56.
[3] salaam: security
[4] The meaning of Soorah Al-Ahzaab (33):56
[5] An authentic hadeeth collected by Ibn Hib-baan in his Saheeh (#906, 3/187) on the authority of Aboo Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him). Al-Albaanee declared it to be saheeh in Silsilatul-Ahaadeeth As-Saheehah (#3359, 7/1080).
[6] From a hasan hadeeth collected by Ibn Abee ‘Aasim in As-Salaah ‘Alan-Nabee (p.30-31) on the authority of Aboo Tharr (may Allaah be pleased with him). Hamdee As-Salafee called it hasan in his checking of the book.
[7] From an authentic hadeeth collected by At-Tabaraanee in Al-Mu’jam Al-Kabeer on the authority of Jaabir ibn Samurah (may Allaah be pleased with him). Al-Albaanee authenticated it in his checking of Al-Munthiree’s At-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb (#1677, 2/298).
[8] Fatwaawee Al-Lajnatid-Daa’imah #18770 (12/208-209)
[9] From his book As-Salaatu wal-Bashar, as quoted in Mu’jam Al-Manaahee Al-Laf-thiyyah (p.351)
[10] the Musnad of Imaam Ahmad (#5088, 9/105)
[11] From a handwritten answer provided by the shaykh, file no. AAWA004, dated 1423/6/24
REFERENCES
As’ilah Amreekiyyah Ajaaba ‘Anhaa Shuyookh Makkah, file no. AAWA004 (not published yet).
As-Salaah ‘Alan-Nabee (sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) of Ibn Abee Ad-Dunyaa, checking by Hamdee As-Salafee, Daar Al-Ma’moon lit-Turaath in Damascus, first printing, 1415.
Fadhlus-Salaati ‘alan-Nabee (sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) of Ismaa’eel ibn Ishaaq Al-Qhaadee Al-Maalikee, with checking and comments by Al-Albaanee, Al-Maktabatul-Islaamiyyah in Beirut, third printing, 1397.
Fataawaa Al-Lajnatid-Daa’imah lil-Buhooth wal-Iftaa’, Daar Al-Balansiyyah in Riyadh, second printing, 1421.
Fat-hul-Baaree of Ibn Hajr, with checking by Bin Baaz, Daar Al-Hadeeth in Cairo, first printing, 1419.
Jalaa’ Al-Afhaam fee Fadhlis-Salaati was-Salaami ‘alaa Muhammadin Khayril-Anaamof Ibn Al-Qayyim Al-Jowziyyah, with checking and comments by Mash-hoor Hasan Salmaan, Daar Ibn Al-Jowzee in Dammam, second printing, 1420.
Mu’jam Al-Manaahee Al-Lafthiyyah, Daar Al-‘Aasimah in Riyadh, second printing, 1417.
Musnad al-Imaam Ahmad, Mu’assastur-Risaalah in Beirut, first printing, 1415.
Saheeh At-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb (2/288-303: The Chapter of Sending Salaah on the Prophet) of Al-Albaanee, Maktabatul-Ma’aarif in Ar-Riyaadh, first printing, 1421.
Saheeh Ibn Hib-baan bi Tarteeb Ibn Bulbaan, Mu’as-sasatur-Risaalah, third printing, 1418.
Silsilatul-Ahaadeethis-Saheehah of Al-Albaanee, Maktabatul-Ma’aarif in Ar-Riyaadh, first (complete) printing, 1422.
Tafseer Al-Qur’aan Al-‘Atheem (the verse 33:56) of Ibn Katheer, Daar Taybah in Ar-Riyaadh, first printing of the second edition, 1422.
Salaamu alaik. JazaakAllaahu khair 4 d article. Wud d same apply to giving salaam 2 a fellow muslim? Wen we txt/chat with one another,sistrs tend to write sa or sa wr b.. & the likes. Sa being salaam & d latter being d full greeting. Any beneficial narrations pls?
wa ‘alaykis-salaamu wa rahmatullaah. The answer to your question: http://www.bakkah.net/interactive/q&a/aawa004.htm
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته
What about the brothers just saying the word (or texting the word on sms messages) “salaam” instead of the greeting “assalaamu ‘alaykum”? Just one word as a replacement for the whole phrase?
Salaamu alaik,jazaakaLlaahu khair for link. I was curious about d phrase “good luck” too. Is there any statement from the scholars in this regard? Wassalaam.
http://www.wiziq.com/class/info.aspx?5mA7G8fKaxmSsc%2f0zONzT7FXgAON8EXf2JCWoMBeA7sOV2IG%2b8iErFyuoWJnwCdwVwK0RoF7omQYFxe202Ldk5r9XLMeMbiwPr3mg5HQPqY%3d in the Q&A session at the end – your question is asked there.
one doubt,
Sheikh Wasiullah Abbas said “It is not permissible to abbreviate the salaams in general in one’s writing,” is this also for those who say assalamualaikum wr wb ?
assalamualaikum is an acceptable representation of the salaams when people can not express it in Arabic letters.
“wr wb” is not allowed specifically, according to Shaykh Wasee Allaah, and it is understood from the other scholars’ general fataawee that it is to be avoided, and that is in both speech and writing, and Allaah knows best.
Assalamu alaykum, is it permissible to write “SWT” after mentioning Allah?
Wa ‘alaykas-salaamu wa rahmatullaah. Based on the reasoning found in the fatwa of the Permanent Committee (above), that “since it is a kind of supplication, and supplication is worship, (in one’s writing) just as it is in one’s speech,” then SWT seems to be an attempt at abbreviating “subhaanahu wa ta’aalaa (glorified and most high)” and thus, is a supplication, and you should take the same stance on it. If someone said: It’s not a supplication, its just praise, then we need to understand that both are considered “du’aa'” in Arabic: du’aa’ at-talab, also called du’aa’ al-mas’alah (supplications, prayers of request) and du’aa’ ath-thanaa’ or du’aa’ at-tamjeed (praises). And Allaah knows best.
as-salaam alaikum,
first of all jazaakallahu gair for the article. Secondly, I was wondering if it’s okay to write the duaa out in western letters? Do you also get reward for ‘sallallahu’alaihiwasallam’, or do you only get the reward if you say صلى الله عليه و سلم ?
and since it says ‘salaah’ in the hadith, would it suffice to only say صلى الله عليه ? Because I experience a bit of hardship while making notes during classes if I have to write it out everytime. One student of knowledge here in Holland said I could also just write his name and say صلى الله عليه و سلم out loud.
So, to sum up:
– Do I have to use Arabic letters (صلى الله عليه و سلم) or will I also get rewarded for writing ‘sallallahu’alaihiwasallam’?
– Would it suffice to write صلى الله عليه?
– Could I also just say sallallahu’alaihiwasallam out loud when writing his name?
wa ‘alaykas-salaamu wa rahmatullaah, Bilaal.
[1] The issue of saying the salaat and salaam while writing (but not writing it – One very prominent scholar in Hadeeth of this era used to not write out the salaat and salaam in his writings, and he would only pronounce the salaat and salaam verbally, while writing a ص “saad” (which would be typed out completely before printing). However, the ancient books written by the Salaf on Hadeeth Sciences, which include sections on how to write hadeeths and the manners related to that, date back centuries before this great scholar existed, and they remind those who write hadeeth to write it out completely and not be lazy in that. This, and the clear fatwaa from the Permanent Committee, has more right to be followed than the personal practice of a later scholar, that he himself did not promote nor defend (to the best of my knowledge), and Allaah knows best.
[2] Regarding the hadeeth about sending salaat – That one hadeeth might only mention salaat (without salaam), but Allaah commands us to send salaat “and a complete salaam” in the Quran [33:56]. And Allaah is the One who grants success.
[3] Regarding the writing of the transliteration of salaat and salaam in Latin letters – I don’t know.
“When they came in to him and said: ‘Salaam, (peace be upon you)!’ He answered: ‘Salaam, (peace be upon you ),’”
[Al-Dhaariyaat 51:25]
Based on this verse is it permissible to simply say ‘salaam’ or ‘salaamun’ instead of saying as-salāmu Alaykum? This was a doubt some brothers had brought up.
Now-a-days many youth simply say salaam in person and via text message.
assalaam ‘alaikum ustaadh,
I have to translate an article which begins with the salaat and salaam upon the messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم, his family and companions. I want to translate it (salaat and salaam) with ”the praise and protection” from Allaah; however, does this meaning (praise and protection) also apply to the companions and the prophet’s family? Meaning, if one would call for salaat and salaam upon his family and his companions, would salaat and salaam also have the meaning of praise and protection? If not, then I guess it would be better to leave ”salaat” and ”salaam” without translating the words, wouldn’t it?
Jazaakallaahu khayran for giving me your time.
السلام عليكم ورحمة اللة وبركاته
May Allaah keep you save.
I also read that a lot of people write hmdl instead of Alhamdulillah.
Is there also a statement from a scholar about this?
وعليك السلام ورحمة الله وبركاته
This falls under the generality of thikr and du’aa’ being acts of worship, as mentioned by the scholars, and thus not left to the people to do however they wish. “HMDL” is meaningless. Let them decide if they want to praise Allaah or not. If they want to praise Allaah, then let them praise Allaah with clear expressions of praise.
In the 3rd footnote, u mentioned salaam means security. So when we invoke for security to be bestowed upon the Prophet
( صلى الله عليه وسلم), is this physical security or something else?
safety and security from all harm and disliked matters
Is “peace be upon him” a correct and allowed translation of salallahu alyhi wasalam or is it not allowed
It is only a partial translation; it omits the “salaat” part of the supplication (صلى الله عليه وسلم), so “may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace” is more complete. “Peace be upon him” is more of a translation of ‘alayhe as-salaam” (عليه السلام), which is only part of the required supplication needed when the Prophet is mentioned, may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace, due to the Command of Allah to send both salaat and salaam upon him:
يا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيماً
“O you who believe! Send [both] salaat and a complete salaam upon him” [33:56]
And Allah knows best.
Asalam alaykoom
I bought The Noble Quran to leave in masjid from darussalam. They abbreviate pbuh for our Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and RA for the Sahabah الصحابه رضي الله عنهم
My question is should i leave this quran in masjid???
I bought a couple so some people can benefit.
This copy of quran only has english language as i know some have arabic and english.
Wa ‘alaykum as-Salaamu wa rahmatullaah. This is an error, but it does not mean that the book cannot be of benefit to people.
Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatullah, jazakAllahu khairan.
How about when we are taking notes in a class? Are we permitted to abbreviate it then? Are we sinful if we do not write them fully after taking the class?
Wa ‘alaykum as-Salaamu wa rahmatullaah wa barakaatuh. I would recommend that if you do not have enough time to write it during class, then utter it quietly on your lips while you take notes, at the mention of the Prophet (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace), and leave a space sometimes for you to write it in when you go back and review your notes. I hope this advice helps, and Allah knows best.
السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
“If one holds the opinion that it is obligatory to send salutations upon the Prophet when his name is mentioned, does this obligation apply strictly to his name, or does it also extend to when he is referred to by titles such as ‘The Messenger,’ ‘The Messenger of Allah,’ ‘The Prophet,’ ‘The Prophet of Allah,’ or ‘He صلى الله عليه وسلم’?”
وعليكم السلام ورحمة الله وبركاته
Yes, or al-Muzammil, or al-Maahee, or al-‘Aaqib, or any of his names, or any reference to him with a pronoun or any other normal speech wherein you know the one being referred to is Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace. This is in general, so if he is mentioned three times in a passage, and the salaat is sent upon him once, do go overboard and say that salaat must be sent upon him three times. Simply: He was mentioned, salaat and salaam were sent. That is sufficient, do not go overboard in the religion.