Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam in Arabic, Meaning, Symbol, and Benefits

In Islam, there are several phrases and expressions that hold great significance and importance. One such phrase is “Sallallahu alaihi Wasallam,” which is used after mentioning the name of Prophet Muhammad.

But what exactly does “Sallallahu alayhi Wasallam” mean? Why is it so important in the Islamic faith? In this blog, we will explore the meaning of this phrase, its significance, and how it is used by Muslims around the world.

Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam in Arabic

In Arabic, this phrase is written as,

صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ

Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam Symbol (Short Form)

ﷺ

The short form Arabic symbol is written as 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).

Transliteration/ Common Spellings

There are common spellings or abbreviations used when writing this phrase, some of them are:

• Sallallahu alayhi wasallam
• Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam
• Salla allahu alayhi wasallam
• Salla llahu alayhi wa-sallam
• S.A.W
• SAAW
• S.A.W.S

Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam Meaning in English

The meaning of Sallallahu alayhi wasallam in English is peace and blessings of Allah be upon him or May Allah honor him and grant him peace or May Allaah send blessings and peace upon him. It is the shortest salat which is recited whenever the Muslim hear the name of Prophet Muhammad or when mentioning the Prophet’s name.

It is prescribed is to write “salla Allaahu ‘alayhi wa salaam (May Allaah send blessings and peace upon him)” in full, and not to write it in abbreviated form, such as writing (S) or (SAWS) etc.

Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

As it is prescribed to send blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) in prayer when saying the tashahhud,

and it is prescribed when giving khutbahs, saying du’aa’ and praying for forgiveness, and after the adhaan, and when entering and exiting the mosque, and when mentioning him in other circumstances,

so it is more important to do so when writing his name in a book, letter, article and so on.

So it is prescribed to write the blessing in full so as to fulfil the command that Allaah has given to us, and so that the reader will remember to say the blessing when he reads it.

So we should not write the blessing on the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) in short form such as writing (S) or (SAWS) etc, or other forms that some writers use, because that is going against the command of Allaah in His Book, where

He says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Send your Salaah on (ask Allaah to bless) him (Muhammad), and (you should) greet (salute) him with the Islamic way of greeting (salutation, i.e. As‑Salaamu ‘Alaykum)” [al-Ahzaab 33:56]

And that (writing it in abbreviated form) does not serve that purpose and is devoid of the virtue of writing “salla Allaahu ‘alayhi wa salaam (May Allaah send blessings and peace upon him)” in full.

Moreover the reader may not take notice of it and may not understand what is meant by it. It should also be noted that the symbol used for it is regarded as disapproved by the scholars, who warned against it.

• SUGGESTED READING: Ya Hayyu Ya Qayyum Bi Rahmatika Astaghees Full Dua in Arabic And Meaning

Why Do We Say Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam?

Sending blessings upon the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) is one of the best and noblest acts of worship by means of which one may draw closer to Allah.

Allah, may He be exalted, has enjoined that upon His believing slaves.

The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) also urged us to do that and explained that it brings a multiple reward and that it is a means of attaining forgiveness of sins and having one’s needs met.

The virtue of sending blessings upon the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) does not benefit the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) only; rather it also benefits the one who sends blessings on him.

The rights of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) are the greatest rights after those of Allah.

Through him, Allah saved many people from the depths of darkness and brought them into the light.

It is one of the rights of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) over his ummah that they should send a lot of blessings upon him in response to that favour and in fulfilment of some of his rights (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him).

So blessings and peace of Allah be upon him, constantly, until the Day of Judgement, so long as night and day follow one another. Blessings and peace of Allah be upon him so long as righteous people remember him.

May Allah help us and you to make the most of acts of obedience, and protect us from the evil of our own selves, for He is Most Munificent, Most Generous.

Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam Images