Written by: Abu Saeed
The use of abbreviations like "ص", "صعم", "صلم", "صلیو", "صلع", and "صلعم" in place of "صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم" contradicts divine commandments and the methodology of the pious predecessors. This practice is not only improper and innovated but also against the etiquette of respect. Such abbreviations are so inappropriate that only an ignorant person would resort to them.
Hafiz Sakhawi (رحمہ اللہ) writes:
"O writer! Avoid abbreviating the prayer and peace upon the Messenger of Allah (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) in your writing by using just a few letters, such as 'ص', 'صم', or 'صلعم'. This reduces the form of the prayer, as is done by many ignorant non-Arabs and most students. They write 'ص', 'صم', 'صلعم', etc., instead of 'صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم'. This practice is contrary to what is preferred due to the lack of completeness in writing."
[Fath al-Mughith bi Sharh Alfiya al-Hadith, Vol 3, pp. 71-72]
Allama Abu Yahya Zakariya Ansari (رحمہ اللہ) (d. 926 AH) writes:
"It is recommended to pronounce and write the prayer and peace upon all the Prophets and angels, as Imam Nawawi (رحمہ اللہ) has narrated from the consensus of reliable scholars."
[Fath al-Baqi bi Sharh Alfiya al-Iraqi, Vol 2, p. 44]
Allama Ibn Hajar Haytami (909-974 AH) writes:
"Similarly, after mentioning the name of the Messenger of Allah (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم), one should write 'صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم'. This has been the habit of both the predecessors and the successors. However, abbreviating the prayer, such as 'صلعم', is the habit of those deprived (of blessings)."
[Al-Fatawa al-Hadithiya, Vol 1, p. 164]
Allama Tayyibi (رحمہ اللہ) writes:
"Sending blessings upon the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) is an expression of reverence and honor for him. Whoever honors the Messenger of Allah (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم), Allah will elevate his status in this world and the hereafter. Whoever fails to honor him, Allah will disgrace him. The meaning is that it is unlikely for a rational person, particularly a believer with firm faith, to refrain from uttering a few words with his tongue, through which he can attain ten blessings from Allah, an elevation of ten ranks, and the forgiveness of ten sins. Yet, if he does not seize this opportunity and the blessing is missed, he deserves to be humiliated by Allah, to be covered in disgrace and poverty, and to return with the wrath of Allah upon him. This is similar to the habit of most writers who abbreviate the prayer and peace upon the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم)."
[Sharh al-Mishkat, Vol 2, p. 131]
Mufti Muhammad Shafi Deobandi (رحمہ اللہ), quoting Ashraf Ali Thanvi (رحمہ اللہ), writes:
"He (Ashraf Ali Thanvi) said that reciting the Durood Sharif after the blessed name of the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) is obligatory. If someone only writes the abbreviation 'صلعم' with a pen and does not recite the Durood and Salaam verbally, I believe the obligation is not fulfilled. There were some scholars present in the gathering who disagreed, arguing that nowadays the term 'صلعم' has come to fully represent the entire Durood, and thus it seems sufficient. He (Ashraf Ali Thanvi) replied: 'I am not convinced by this reasoning. The truth is that any attempt to abbreviate in matters related to the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم), who is a benefactor to all of creation, is beyond comprehension. If the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) were to deal with us using abbreviations, where would we stand?'
I, the compiler (Mufti Muhammad Shafi), submit that if there was ever a need for abbreviation, it was most needed by the hadith scholars, who mentioned the blessed name of the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) on almost every line. However, if you observe the books of the hadith scholars, you will see that they have written the full Durood and Salaam every time they mentioned the blessed name and did not prefer to abbreviate."
[Majalis Hakim al-Ummah, p. 241]
Allama Anwar Shah Kashmiri Deobandi (رحمہ اللہ) says:
"Be aware that the word 'صلعم', used in place of 'صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم', is unacceptable."
[Al-Ma'arif al-Shadhi, Vol 1, p. 110]
Muhammad Zakariya Tablighi Deobandi (رحمہ اللہ) writes:
"When writing the blessed name, also write the prayer and peace, i.e., write the full 'صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم'. Do not be negligent in this. Do not suffice with just 'ؑ' or 'صلعم'."
[Tablighi Nisab, p. 769]
Muhammad Amjad Ali Barelvi (رحمہ اللہ) writes:
"Nowadays, most people write 'صلعم', 'عم', 'ص', 'ؑ', instead of the full Durood Sharif. This is prohibited and strictly haram."
[Bahar-e-Shariat, Part 3, p. 87]
Note:
This part of Bahar-e-Shariat is verified by "Ala Hazrat Barelvi."
The use of abbreviations like "ص", "صعم", "صلم", "صلیو", "صلع", and "صلعم" in place of "صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم" contradicts divine commandments and the methodology of the pious predecessors. This practice is not only improper and innovated but also against the etiquette of respect. Such abbreviations are so inappropriate that only an ignorant person would resort to them.
Hafiz Sakhawi (رحمہ اللہ) writes:
"O writer! Avoid abbreviating the prayer and peace upon the Messenger of Allah (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) in your writing by using just a few letters, such as 'ص', 'صم', or 'صلعم'. This reduces the form of the prayer, as is done by many ignorant non-Arabs and most students. They write 'ص', 'صم', 'صلعم', etc., instead of 'صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم'. This practice is contrary to what is preferred due to the lack of completeness in writing."
[Fath al-Mughith bi Sharh Alfiya al-Hadith, Vol 3, pp. 71-72]
Allama Abu Yahya Zakariya Ansari (رحمہ اللہ) (d. 926 AH) writes:
"It is recommended to pronounce and write the prayer and peace upon all the Prophets and angels, as Imam Nawawi (رحمہ اللہ) has narrated from the consensus of reliable scholars."
[Fath al-Baqi bi Sharh Alfiya al-Iraqi, Vol 2, p. 44]
Allama Ibn Hajar Haytami (909-974 AH) writes:
"Similarly, after mentioning the name of the Messenger of Allah (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم), one should write 'صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم'. This has been the habit of both the predecessors and the successors. However, abbreviating the prayer, such as 'صلعم', is the habit of those deprived (of blessings)."
[Al-Fatawa al-Hadithiya, Vol 1, p. 164]
Allama Tayyibi (رحمہ اللہ) writes:
"Sending blessings upon the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) is an expression of reverence and honor for him. Whoever honors the Messenger of Allah (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم), Allah will elevate his status in this world and the hereafter. Whoever fails to honor him, Allah will disgrace him. The meaning is that it is unlikely for a rational person, particularly a believer with firm faith, to refrain from uttering a few words with his tongue, through which he can attain ten blessings from Allah, an elevation of ten ranks, and the forgiveness of ten sins. Yet, if he does not seize this opportunity and the blessing is missed, he deserves to be humiliated by Allah, to be covered in disgrace and poverty, and to return with the wrath of Allah upon him. This is similar to the habit of most writers who abbreviate the prayer and peace upon the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم)."
[Sharh al-Mishkat, Vol 2, p. 131]
Mufti Muhammad Shafi Deobandi (رحمہ اللہ), quoting Ashraf Ali Thanvi (رحمہ اللہ), writes:
"He (Ashraf Ali Thanvi) said that reciting the Durood Sharif after the blessed name of the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) is obligatory. If someone only writes the abbreviation 'صلعم' with a pen and does not recite the Durood and Salaam verbally, I believe the obligation is not fulfilled. There were some scholars present in the gathering who disagreed, arguing that nowadays the term 'صلعم' has come to fully represent the entire Durood, and thus it seems sufficient. He (Ashraf Ali Thanvi) replied: 'I am not convinced by this reasoning. The truth is that any attempt to abbreviate in matters related to the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم), who is a benefactor to all of creation, is beyond comprehension. If the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) were to deal with us using abbreviations, where would we stand?'
I, the compiler (Mufti Muhammad Shafi), submit that if there was ever a need for abbreviation, it was most needed by the hadith scholars, who mentioned the blessed name of the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) on almost every line. However, if you observe the books of the hadith scholars, you will see that they have written the full Durood and Salaam every time they mentioned the blessed name and did not prefer to abbreviate."
[Majalis Hakim al-Ummah, p. 241]
Allama Anwar Shah Kashmiri Deobandi (رحمہ اللہ) says:
"Be aware that the word 'صلعم', used in place of 'صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم', is unacceptable."
[Al-Ma'arif al-Shadhi, Vol 1, p. 110]
Muhammad Zakariya Tablighi Deobandi (رحمہ اللہ) writes:
"When writing the blessed name, also write the prayer and peace, i.e., write the full 'صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم'. Do not be negligent in this. Do not suffice with just 'ؑ' or 'صلعم'."
[Tablighi Nisab, p. 769]
Muhammad Amjad Ali Barelvi (رحمہ اللہ) writes:
"Nowadays, most people write 'صلعم', 'عم', 'ص', 'ؑ', instead of the full Durood Sharif. This is prohibited and strictly haram."
[Bahar-e-Shariat, Part 3, p. 87]
Note:
This part of Bahar-e-Shariat is verified by "Ala Hazrat Barelvi."