SCHOLARS PERSPECTIVE ON ABBREVIATING SALĀH AND SALĀM UPON THE NOBLE PROPHET (sallallahu alayhi wasallam)

Abbreviating the Salaam Upon the Prophet (sallallāhu alayhi wasallam)

Question: Is it permissible to abbreviate the salām and salāh on the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) in our writings? It is understood that once the reader sees this abbreviation, then it will be read in full.

ANSWER:
Praise be to Allah. Muslims are obliged to send Allah's Salāh [means that one invoke Allah to praise him and mention his high status to the angels (Tafseer Ibn Katheer) and Salām [peace, security] upon Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) when his name is mentioned. Allah has commanded us: "Verily Allah and His angels send salaah on the Prophet. O you who believe! Invoke salaah upon him, as well as a complete salaam!" (Q33[Ahzab]:56)
And the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said: "For each time someone invokes salāh upon me, Allah writes for him ten good rewards because of it." (Saheeh Ibn Hibban) And the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) had described the one who does not send salāh upon him when he is mentioned as "the stingiest of people." (Ibn Abee Ad-Dunyaa) And he exclaimed "Aameen!" to Jibreel's (alayhis salaam) supplication, "May Allah repel the one who hears mention of you and does not invoke any salāh upon you!" (At-Targheeb)

So here is the issue that needs to be clarified: Many people use the abbreviation "SAW" or "PBUH" to fulfil this obligation in their writing. Is this something that fulfils the obligation of sending the salaah and salaam on the Messenger? Let us look now to some of the statement of the scholars regarding this practice.

Sheikh Bakr Aboo Zayd (RAH) said, "The safe practice, the way of true love, (seeking) reward (from Allah), respect and honour for the Prophet of this nation is to send the salaah and salaam upon him when he is mentioned, carrying out the order of Allah and the guidance of his Prophet (salallahu alayhi wasallam). For this reason, written abbreviations or symbols used to represent salaah and salaam upon the Messenger (salallahu alayhi wasallam) are prohibited. Some examples of these are: صعم (Saad-'Ayn-Meem), صلعم (Saad-Lam-'Ayn-Meem), صلم (Saad-Lam-Meem), صليو (Saad-Lam-Yaa'-Waw), and صلع (Saad-Lam-'Ayn). (Mu'jam Al-Manaahee Al-Lafthiyyah (p.188)). These examples are all used in some 'Arabic books. The English equivalents of these abbreviations would be: SAAWS, SAW, PBUH, and the likes.

Avoid Invented Abbreviations

Sheikh 'Abdul-Qaadir Al-Maghribee (RAH) said, "As for SAAD-LAM-'AYN-MEEM (صلعم), it seems as if it was invented in the 9th century after Hijrah. In the explanation of the Alfiyyah of Al-'Iraqee, a book about the sciences of Hadeeth, the author says, "Abbreviations must be avoided, as well as neglecting it." This means that one should stay away from symbols and not abbreviate it by removing some of its letters, rather he should employ it ("sallallahu alayhi wasallam") fully in his speech and writing.

The author, Sheikh Zakariyya Al-Ansaaree (RAH), then mentioned that Imam An-Nawawee related that there is consensus among those who are relied upon that it is legislated to send salāh upon the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) in speech as well as writing. Therefore, it's not from the Sunnah to use symbols or abbreviations in place of it. Then Sheikh Al-Ansaaree mentioned that the first one to use a symbol for it, his hand had been cut off, and Allah's Refuge is sought..." (Mu'jam Al-Manaahee Al-Lafthiyyah (p.188-189)) Ibn Hajar Al-Haythamee (RAH) said, "The word 'Saad-Lam-'Ayn-Meem' (صلعم) is not permissible. Rather, it is binding on us to send that salāh and the salām." (Al-Fataawaa Al-Hadeethiyyah (p.168))

Al-Fayrooza-abaadee (RAH) said, "It is not appropriate to use symbols or abbreviations to refer to salāh and salām, 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 'sallallahu alayhi wasallam.'" (Al-Mu'jam Al-Manaahee Al-Lafthiyyah (p.351)) Ahmad Shaakir (RAH) said, "It is the absurd tradition of some of the later generations that they abbreviate the writing 'sallallahu alayhi wasallam.'" (Musnad Ahmad) Wasee Allah 'Abbaas, may Allah preserve him, said: "It is not permissible to abbreviate the tasleem (greetings) in general in one's writing, just as it is not permissible to abbreviate the salāh and salām on the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). It is also not permissible to abbreviate either of these in one's speech."

And Allah knows best. May the most perfect and complete salāh and salām be upon our beloved Messenger, and upon his noble family and Companions. Aameen

(Answer was compiled and translated by:- Moosa ibn John Richardson)