❖ Source: Extracted from Aḥkām wa Masā’il: Kitāb wa Sunnat kī Roshni Mein by Shaykh Mubashshir Ahmad Rabbānī
When mentioning the Prophet ﷺ, should we write the full phrase "صلى الله عليه وسلم", or is it sufficient to write abbreviations like "صلعم"?
The method of the Imāms of Ḥadīth in the books of Aḥādīth and Sunan is to write and pronounce the complete wording “صلى الله عليه وسلم”.
Using abbreviations such as “صلعم” or other shorthand forms was never the practice of the noble ḥadīth scholars.
There are authentic narrations indicating that the Prophet ﷺ himself would say “صلى الله عليه وسلم” even for previous Prophets, such as ʿĪsā عليه السلام.
For example:
"يَنْزِلُ فِيكُمْ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ"
“ʿĪsā ibn Maryam صلى الله عليه وسلم will descend among you…”
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Book of Īmān, ḥadīth 155
Similarly, in Musnad al-Bazzār:
The Prophet ﷺ, while speaking about the descent of ʿĪsā عليه السلام, said “صلى الله عليه وسلم”
Kashf al-Astār 4/142, ḥadīth 3396
Also, in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (ḥadīth 1159/182), “صلى الله عليه وسلم” is mentioned with Dāwūd عليه السلام.
“The student of ḥadīth should preserve and consistently write the full prayer and salutation upon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He should not tire from repeating it every time.
Failing to do so results in a great deprivation.”
Muqaddimah Ibn al-Ṣalāḥ with al-Zarkashī’s notes 1/35, al-Muqniʿ fī ʿUlūm al-Ḥadīth 1/352
He further elaborated:
“There are two errors in writing the ṣalawāt:
① Writing it incomplete using abbreviations like two or three letters.
② Writing it deficient in meaning, such as omitting ‘وسلم’ from ‘صلى الله عليه وسلم’.”
al-Taqyīd wal-Īḍāḥ 1/680–681
“It should be written in full: صلى الله عليه وسلم — clearly and completely.
Do not abbreviate, and do not suffice with just 'عليه السلام'.”
Ikhtiṣār ʿUlūm al-Ḥadīth, p. 131
“At every mention of the Prophet ﷺ, write صلى الله عليه وسلم in full.
Do not use symbolic abbreviations, and do not omit any part of it.”
Qawāʿid al-Taḥdīth, p. 237
Even regarding the Companions and the righteous, full phrases should be written:
“For Companions, write رضي الله عنهم, and for scholars and the pious, write رحمة الله عليه.
If their names appear in transmitted narrations, this practice becomes even more emphasized.”
al-Muqniʿ 1/353
“When mentioning a Companion, write رضي الله عنه.
If he is the son of a Companion, write رضي الله عنهما.
Likewise, invoke رحمة الله عليه for all scholars and righteous people.
Even if these phrases do not appear in the source you’re quoting, still write them—because this is duʿāʾ, not part of the actual narration.”
He continues:
“Do not grow weary of repeating these invocations. Whoever is negligent in this is deprived of tremendous reward.”
Qawāʿid al-Ḥadīth, p. 237
Citing Imām al-Nawawī:
"It is makrūh (disliked) to write صلعم or صلم instead of writing the full phrase: صلى الله عليه وسلم."
al-Shad al-Fayyāḥ, p. 232
✔ The best and most rewarding practice is to write in full:
صلى الله عليه وسلم
رضي الله عنه
رحمة الله عليه
Abbreviations like صلعم, صلم, or similar should be avoided.
This is the consensus and practice of leading scholars and ḥadīth experts across generations.
❖ Question:
When mentioning the Prophet ﷺ, should we write the full phrase "صلى الله عليه وسلم", or is it sufficient to write abbreviations like "صلعم"?
❖ Answer:
The method of the Imāms of Ḥadīth in the books of Aḥādīth and Sunan is to write and pronounce the complete wording “صلى الله عليه وسلم”.
Using abbreviations such as “صلعم” or other shorthand forms was never the practice of the noble ḥadīth scholars.
❖ Evidence from the Sunnah:
There are authentic narrations indicating that the Prophet ﷺ himself would say “صلى الله عليه وسلم” even for previous Prophets, such as ʿĪsā عليه السلام.
For example:
"يَنْزِلُ فِيكُمْ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ"
“ʿĪsā ibn Maryam صلى الله عليه وسلم will descend among you…”
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Book of Īmān, ḥadīth 155Similarly, in Musnad al-Bazzār:
The Prophet ﷺ, while speaking about the descent of ʿĪsā عليه السلام, said “صلى الله عليه وسلم”
Kashf al-Astār 4/142, ḥadīth 3396Also, in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (ḥadīth 1159/182), “صلى الله عليه وسلم” is mentioned with Dāwūd عليه السلام.
❖ Statements of the Scholars:
✦ Imām Ibn al-Ṣalāḥ رحمه الله:
“The student of ḥadīth should preserve and consistently write the full prayer and salutation upon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He should not tire from repeating it every time.
Failing to do so results in a great deprivation.”
Muqaddimah Ibn al-Ṣalāḥ with al-Zarkashī’s notes 1/35, al-Muqniʿ fī ʿUlūm al-Ḥadīth 1/352He further elaborated:
“There are two errors in writing the ṣalawāt:
① Writing it incomplete using abbreviations like two or three letters.
② Writing it deficient in meaning, such as omitting ‘وسلم’ from ‘صلى الله عليه وسلم’.”
al-Taqyīd wal-Īḍāḥ 1/680–681✦ Imām Ibn Kathīr رحمه الله:
“It should be written in full: صلى الله عليه وسلم — clearly and completely.
Do not abbreviate, and do not suffice with just 'عليه السلام'.”
Ikhtiṣār ʿUlūm al-Ḥadīth, p. 131✦ Imām al-Nawawī رحمه الله:
“At every mention of the Prophet ﷺ, write صلى الله عليه وسلم in full.
Do not use symbolic abbreviations, and do not omit any part of it.”
Qawāʿid al-Taḥdīth, p. 237Even regarding the Companions and the righteous, full phrases should be written:
✦ Imām Ibn al-Mulaqqin رحمه الله:
“For Companions, write رضي الله عنهم, and for scholars and the pious, write رحمة الله عليه.
If their names appear in transmitted narrations, this practice becomes even more emphasized.”
al-Muqniʿ 1/353✦ Imām al-Nawawī رحمه الله:
“When mentioning a Companion, write رضي الله عنه.
If he is the son of a Companion, write رضي الله عنهما.
Likewise, invoke رحمة الله عليه for all scholars and righteous people.
Even if these phrases do not appear in the source you’re quoting, still write them—because this is duʿāʾ, not part of the actual narration.”
He continues:
“Do not grow weary of repeating these invocations. Whoever is negligent in this is deprived of tremendous reward.”
Qawāʿid al-Ḥadīth, p. 237✦ ʿAllāmah Burhān al-Dīn Ibrāhīm al-Abnāsī:
Citing Imām al-Nawawī:
"It is makrūh (disliked) to write صلعم or صلم instead of writing the full phrase: صلى الله عليه وسلم."
al-Shad al-Fayyāḥ, p. 232
Conclusion:
✔ The best and most rewarding practice is to write in full:
صلى الله عليه وسلم
رضي الله عنه
رحمة الله عليه
Abbreviations like صلعم, صلم, or similar should be avoided.This is the consensus and practice of leading scholars and ḥadīth experts across generations.
