It has been suggested that Peace be upon him be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since April 2021.
Islam uses a number of "conventionally complimentary phrases" or durood, sometimes called Islamic honorifics, ‘blessings’, ‘titles’ or even ‘prayers’.[1] The "honorifics" either praise (e.g. "Subhanahu wa-ta’ala", in the case of Allah), or wish good things (such as "prayers and peace", "Allāh be pleased with them") for Muhammad, another prophet or other objects of the honorific. In Arabic writing (and speaking) they follow the name of the object of the honorific fully spelled out (fully enunciated), while in English language sources they are sometimes abbreviated, ("Allah (swt)" or "Muhammad (pbuh)"), sometimes spelled out ("Abdurrahman ibn Abi Bakr, Radi-Allahu anhu"),[2] sometimes appear spelled out in Arabic,[3] and sometimes appear as a typographic ligature of Arabic calligraphy.[4]
Unlike conventional honorifics they follow, rather than precede, the name of the individual being noted. (They are distinct from honorifics such as "Hadrat-i Muhammad", the Persian title given Muhammad, which precedes his name,[1] or titles for distinguished Muslims such as Mawlānā or Sheikh.) (The term durood may be limited to the prophets in Islam, or go beyond "conventionally complimentary phrases" into short prayers,[5][6] honorifics for scholars or companions follow the same pattern as durood but are not prayers.)
Some Muslims preach against the use of abbreviations in honorifics, insisting on the entire phrase spelled out, quoting a hadith in support of this.[7][8]
Ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhu wa-sallam written in Arabic
calligraphy
Scriptural basis
The honorifics for Muhammad are based on a Quranic verse according to one source:
"Indeed, Allah confers blessing upon the Prophet, and His angels [ask Him to do so]. O you who have believed, ask [Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [Allah to grant him] peace."
- Qur'an 33:56[citation needed]
A hadith narrated by Abu Hurayrah states: The Messenger of Allah said:
"Whoever sends one salah (prayer) upon me, Allah will send ten upon him."
Applied to Muhammad and his family
"Blessings of Allah be upon him and his family and peace" (as a more famous phrase by
Shia Muslims)
These are also called Darood Shareef.
| Arabic
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Transliteration
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Translation
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Used in an example (honorific simplified in form)
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| عليه الصلاة والسلام
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‘alay-hi ’ṣ-ṣalātu wa’s-salām
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"Upon him be prayers and peace"
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"The Messenger of Allāh (′alayhi as-salātu was-salām) ..."
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| عليه وعلى آله الصلاة والسلام
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‘alay-hi wa-‘ala āali-hi ’ṣ-ṣalātu wa’s-salām
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"Upon him and on his family be prayers and peace"[8]
|
"The Messenger of Allāh (′alayhi wa-′ala 'ālihi aṣ-ṣalāt was-salām) ..."
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- ‘Alay-hi ’ṣ-ṣalātu wa’s-salām (Arabic:عليه الصلاة والسلام)
- Translation: "Upon him be prayers and peace"
- Example: "The Messenger of Allāh (′Alayhiṣ-Ṣalātu was-Salām) ..."
- ‘Alay-hi wa-āali-hi ’ṣ-ṣalātu wa’s-salām (Arabic:عليه وعلى آله الصلاة والسلام)
- Translation:"Upon him and on his family be prayers and peace"[8]
- Example: "The Messenger of Allāh (′Alayhe wa ′alā Ālehiṣ-Ṣalāt was-Salām) ..."
- Ṣalla-(A)llāhu ‘alay-hi wa-sallam (Arabic: صَلّى اللهُ عليهِ وسلّم)
- Translation:"May Allāh send blessings and peace upon him"[8]
- Example: "The Messenger of Allāh (Ṣallallāhu ′alayhe wa sallam) ..."
- Abbreviations: "SAW" or "PBUH" (some believe these should not be used).
- Ṣalla-(A)llāhu ‘alay-hi wa-āali-hi wa-ṣaḥabi-hi wa-sallam (Arabic: "صلى الله عليه وآله وصحبه وسلم")
- Translation: May Allāh send blessings and peace upon him, his family, and his companions.
- Example: "The Messenger of Allāh (Ṣallallāhu ′alayhe wa ′ālehe wa Ṣaḥbehe wa sallam) ..."
- Ṣalla-(A)llāhu ‘alay-hi wa-āali-hi wa-sallam (Arabic: "صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم")
- Translation: May Allāh send blessings and peace upon him and his family
- Example: "The Messenger of Allāh (Ṣallallāhu ′alayhe wa ālehe wa sallam) ..."
Applied to angels and prophets
Applies to the archangels (Jibril, Mikhail, etc ) as well as any other Islamic prophets preceding Muhammad (Isa as, Musa as, Ibrahim as etc).
- ‘Alay-hi ’s-salām (Arabic: عليه السلام)
- Translation: "Peace be upon Him"
- Abbreviation: "AS"[1]
- Alaihissalatu Wassalam
- Translation: "On Him are the blessings and the peace of Allah"
- Abbreviation: "ASW"
Applied to companions or enemies of Muhammad
Used after companions ("Aṣ-Ṣaẖābah") of Muḥammad
- Raḍiya ’llāhu ‘an-hu (Arabic: "رضي الله عنه")
- Translation: "May Allāh be pleased with him"
- Abbreviation: "RA"
- Example: "al-‘Abbās (Raḍiya ’llāhu ‘an-hu) ..."
- Raḍiya ’llāhu ‘an-hā (Arabic: "رضي الله عنها")
- Translation: "May Allāh be pleased with her"
- Example: "Khadījah (Raḍiya ’llāhu ‘an-hā) ..."
- Raḍiya ’llāhu ‘an-hum (Arabic: "رضي الله عنهم")
- Translation: "May Allāh be pleased with them"
- Example: "aṣ-Ṣaḥābah (Raḍiya ’llāhu ‘an-hum) ..."
Used after enemies (Arabic: العَدُوّ, al-‘aduww) of Muḥammad
- La'anatu ’llahi ‘alay-hi (Arabic: "لعنهّ الله عليه")
- Translation: "May Allāh damn him"
- Example: "Abū Lahab (La'anatu ’llahi ‘alay-hi)..."
Applied to scholars and saints
Applies to highly revered scholars and men thought to be of high spiritual rank.
- Raḥmatu ’llāhi ‘alay-hi (Arabic: "رَحْمَةُ الله عليه") / Raḥima-hu ’llāh (Arabic: "رَحِمَهُ الله")
- Translation: "May Allah's mercy/ blessing be upon him"
- Example: "Abū Hanīfah (Raḥmatu ’llāhi ‘alay-hi) ..."
- Raḥmatu ’llāhi ‘alay-hi (Arabic: "رَحْمَةُ الله عليها") / Raḥima-hā ’llāh (Arabic: "رَحِمَها الله")
- Translation: "May Allah's mercy/ blessing be upon her"
- Example: "Fatima al-Fihri (Raḥmatu ’llāhi ‘alay-hi) ..."
- Raḥmatu ’llāhi ‘alay-him (Arabic: "رَحْمَةُ الله عليهم")
- Translation: "May Allah's mercy/ blessing be upon them"
