Is it Appropriate to Use Abbreviations Like “SAW” & “SWT” ?

Answered by Mufti Muhammad ibn Adam

Question

Is it suitable to use abbreviations like “SAW” and “SWT”? Also, is the sunna to write out these laudatory expressions in written form, or does the sunna refer to using them when speaking about the prophets, scholars, etc.?

Answer

Imam Nawawi, the great muhaddith and Shafi’i faqih (Allah have mercy on him) states in his introduction to the commentary of Sahih Muslim:

“It is praiseworthy (mustahabb) for a person writing Hadith that…..at the mentioning of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), he writes “Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam” in full and not merely using abbreviations, and neither sufficing on one of the two, i.e. Salat & Salam.” [Nawawi, Sharh Sahih Muslim, 1.39]

Thus, when one writes the name of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), one should avoid using abbreviations such as SAW or something similar. It is inappropriate and disrespectful to do so. The love for the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) requires that one never tires, both verbally or in writing, from sending blessings and salutations upon him (Allah bless & and grant him eternal peace).

Qadi Iyad al-Maliki (Allah have mercy on him) mentions a Hadith wherein the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: “Whosoever sends blessings upon me in a book, the angels seek forgiveness for him until my name remains in that book.” [Tabarani, Al-Mu‘jam al-Awsat, with a weak chain of transmission; See: Qadi Iyad, al-Shifa’]

Hence, although the requirement would be fulfilled if one verbally sent blessings and salutations upon the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace), but when one writes the name of the beloved of Allah, one should also send blessings upon him in writing.

And Allah knows best

Muhammad ibn Adam
Darul Iftaa
Leicester , UK