Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam
صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ
[Sal-lal-lah-hu A-lay-hi Wa Sal-lam]
Quick Summary:
Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam Meaning:
The meaning of Arabic phrase sallallahu alayhi wa sallam (abbreviation: SAW) is “May Allah honor him and grant him peace” or “peace and blessings of Allah be upon him” (abbreviation: PBUH). This honorific should be used specifically when addressing Prophet Muhammad’s name.
For other Prophets, Alayhis salaam (abbreviation: AS) is often said. The Arabic sallallahu alayhi wa sallam is an honorific reserved for Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).
Pronunciation video
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Terms Islamic
Arabic Text:
Select anywhere on the grey background to copy and paste this Arabic word/phrase.
You can copy/paste the full arabic text (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ) from the top of the page. However, there is a shorthand notation we also provide below for easy reproduction.
ﷺ
Transliteration:
The transliteration of Arabic words helps convert them into their English counterparts, which assists with pronunciation. We may provide several common transliterations for this word.
1. Sallallahu alaihi wasallam
2. Salla allahu alayhi wasallam*
3. Salla llahu alayhi wa-sallam
4. Sallahualiwasalam
5. S.A.W
6. SAAW
7. S.A.W.S
*This is the most common and accurate transliteration of this phrase.
Further Details
“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.”
— Surah Al Ahzab Ayat 56
From this verse of the Quran it makes clear mention that whenever we say the Prophet Muhammad’s name it should be said with one of the following SAW, SAWS, pbuh, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, or the symbol ﷺ.
This is done for one simple reason, respect.
By saying, “sallallahu alayhi wa sallam” after his name doesn’t take much time and is a short prayer you are making on behalf of our beloved Prophet.
The short form Arabic symbol is ﷺ, this makes the articles and post online more user friendly to read. It would be used like, the messenger of Allah (ﷺ) or Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) instead of the Prophet (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ). Although the latter is completely acceptable, it is a matter of preference.
There is some difference of opinion among scholars between the usage of SAW over Sallallahu alaihi wasallam. They argue that the short abbreviation demonstrates laziness and disrespect. When saying the Prophet’s name it should be said in full like any other prayer and we should think about the meaning of the words. If you love the Prophet (ﷺ) you should never be tired of writing it.
Hadith on How To Make Supplication For Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ):
Abu Muhammad Ka’b bin ‘Ujrah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Prophet (ﷺ) came to us and we asked him, “O Messenger of Allah, we already know how to greet you (i.e., say As-salamu ‘alaikum), but how should we supplicate for you?” He (ﷺ) said, “Say: ‘Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin, wa ‘ala ‘ali Muhammadin, kama sallaita ‘ala ‘ali Ibrahima, innaka Hamidum Majid. Allahumma barik ‘ala Muhammadin, wa ‘ala ‘ali Muhammadin, kama barakta ‘ala ‘ali Ibrahima, innaka Hamidum Majid [O Allah, exalt the mention of Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as you exalted the family of Ibrahim. You are Praised and Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You blessed the family of Ibrahim. You are Praised and Glorious.”‘
Riyad As Salihin [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Hadith on salawat (salutation upon the prophet of Islam):
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Whenever someone greets me, Allah returns the soul to my body (in the grave) and I return his greeting.”
Riyad As-Salihin[Abu Dawud].
Example Sentences
Example #1:
Rasulallah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) still had affection for his home of Mecca even when the people in it were mostly kafirs that had just forced him out.
Example #2:
Prophet of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) specially loved Yemen!
Example #3:
When the famous persian poet, Sa'di Shirazi, started writing his famous Rubai in praise of RasulAllah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, he couldn't write a satisfactory fourth and final verse.
Example #4:
Send a lot of Salawaat upon our Noble Prophet, Muhammad SallAllahu Alaihi Wa Alihi Wasallam.
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