Islamic honorifics

Towards the end of the prayer after At-Tashahhud, Muslims should say As-Salaah 'alaa an-Nabiyy (Sending Prayers on the Prophet).

Allāhumma ṣalli ′alā Muḥammad wa ′alā āli Muhammad - Kamā ṣallayta ′alā Ibraaheem, wa ′alā āli Ibraaheem, innaka Ḥameedum-Majeed. Allāhumma bārik ′alā Muḥammad wa ′alā āli Muhammad - Kamā bārikta ′alā Ibraaheem, wa ′alā āli Ibraaheem, innaka Ḥameedum-Majeed.

O Allāh! send prayers on Muhammad and on the family of Muhammad, as You sent prayers on Ibrāheem and on the family of Ibrāheem; You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory. O Allāh! send blessings on Muhammad and on the family of Muhammad, as You sent blessings on Ibrāheem and on the family of Ibrāheem; You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory.

Strictly speaking, it is incorrect to describe this or any of the following phrases as 'honorifics', since the latter are titles (as in the Persian form Hadrat-i Muhammad, where the honorific precedes the name). There seems to be no precise English word for the terms discussed here, but ṣalawāt could translate as 'blessings' or even 'prayers'. Although, it is an invocation to Allāh for the person or persons mentioned (i,e. "May Allāh bestow His mercy upon him").

′Alayhiṣ-Ṣalātu was-Salām

Meaning: “Upon him be prayers and peace”
Arabic: “عليه الصلاة والسلام”
Example: "The Messenger of Allāh (′Alayhiṣ-Ṣalātu was-Salām) ..."

′Alayhi wa ′alā Ālihi aṣ-Ṣalāt was-Salām

Meaning: “Upon him and his family be prayers and peace”
Arabic: “عليه وعلى آله الصلاة والسلام”
Example: "The Messenger of Allāh (′Alayhi wa ′alā Ālihi aṣ-Ṣalātu was-Salām) ..."

Ṣallallāhu ′alayhe wa sallam

Meaning: '“May Allāh send blessings and peace upon him”
Arabic: “صلى الله عليه وسلم”
Example: "The Messenger of Allāh (Ṣallallāhu ′alayhe wa sallam) ..."

Note: It is important to write out the invocation in full and it is correct to say it verbally as well. Abbreviations such as "SAW" or "PBUH" should not be used.

Ṣallallāhu ′alayhe wa ′ālihi wa Ṣaḥbihi wa sallam

Meaning: May Allāh send blessings and peace upon him, his family, and his companions.
Arabic: “صلى الله عليه وآله وصحبه وسلم”
Example: "The Messenger of Allāh (Ṣallallāhu ′alayhe wa ′ālihi wa Ṣaḥbihi wa sallam) ..."

Ṣallallāhu ′alayhe wa ālihi wa sallam

Meaning: May Allāh send blessings and peace upon him and his family
Arabic: “صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم”
Example: "The Messenger of Allāh (Ṣallallāhu ′alayhe wa ālihi wa sallam) ..."

′Alayhis-Salām

Meaning: Peace be upon him.
Arabic: “عليه السلام”
Example: "Nooḥ (′Alayhis-Salām) ..."

′Alayhimus-Salām

Meaning: “Peace be upon them.”
Arabic: “عليهم السلام”
Example: "The Prophets (′Alayhimus-Salām) ..."

Radiyallāhu ′Anhu

Meaning: “May Allāh be pleased with him.”
Arabic: “رضي الله عنه”
Example: "Al-‘Abbās (Radiyallāhu ′Anhu) ..."

Radiyallāhu ′Anhā

Meaning: “May Allāh be pleased with her.”
Arabic: “رضي الله عنها”
Example: "Khadeejah (Radiyallāhu ′Anhā) ..."

Radiyallāhu ′Anhum

Meaning: May Allāh be pleased with them.
Arabic: “رضي الله عنهم”
Example: "Aṣ-Ṣaẖābah (Radiyallāhu ′Anhum) ..."

The three above are used a lot for the Companions of the Prophet Muḥammad (ṣallallāhu ′alayhe wa sallam), otherwise known as “Aṣ-Ṣaẖābah”.

Raḥimahullāh

Meaning: May Allāh bestow His mercy on him.
Arabic: “رحمه الله”
Example: "Shaikh Al-Albānī (Raḥimahullāh) ..."

See also

• Peace be upon him (Islam)
• Subhanahu wa ta'ala

References