Using the Letters SAW When Writing Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam

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Fatwa ID: 04916 

 

Answered by: Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

 

Question

 

Using the letters SAW when writing Rasulullah sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam?

 

 

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

 

Answer

 

Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala mentions in the Holy Quran:” Surely Allah and His angels send blessings to the prophet. O those who believe do pray Allah to bless him, and send your salaam to him in abundance.” (Surah Al Ahzab v.56)

 

The real purpose of the verse was to obligate the Muslims to send salaah and salaam upon the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam.

 

Sayyidna Abu Hurrairah Radiyallahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullah sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said: “whosoever sends one salaam (durood shareef) upon me Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala will send ten mercies upon him” (Sahih Muslim, Abu Dawud, and Ibn HIbban. Extracted from Fazaail Durood Shareef p18).

 

When someone mentions the name of Rasulullah Salalahu Alaihi Wasallam, or hears someone mentioning it, reciting the words of sending Salaah( the noble durood) becomes Waajib (obligatory) on him or her. If this blessed mention is made repeatedly in a single sitting, reciting Salaah (durood) only once will discharge the obligation, but the desirable (mustahab) thing is to recite the noble durood every time he mentions or hears the noble Durood Shareef.

 

With regards to your question, the way it is Waajib to say salaah and salaam vocally at the time one makes his blessed mention verbally, similarly, it is also Waajib to write salaah and salaam with the pen when one uses it at the time of writing. In this case, there are people who would abbreviate its words and get away by writing ‘SAW’. This is not enough. One should write the full salaah and salaam. (that is sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). (Maariful Quran p.232 v.7)

 

 

Only Allah Knows Best

Written by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

 

 

 

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