Writing abbreviations like '(saw)' for ṣalawāt

Question

Why do some people say the writing the short form of the following words is not good?

Words: Sallallahu alaihiwasallam ( saw ) , raliallahu anha/anhu ( ral) etc

— Huda Fathima, Srilanka, colombo

Answer

Writing abbreviations of durūd and salām has been declared impermissible by the learned scholars of the Ahl al-Sunnah. The law of kufr has been applied to those who do this with the intention of belittling the ‘Ambiyā’ عليهم السلام. If one does this out of mere laziness, then the law of kufr is not applied to them, but it is an action which leads to significant loss of blessings.

Sayyidī ‘A`lā Ḥaḍrat states,

علامہ سید طحطاوی حاشیہ در مختار میں فرماتے ہیں فتاویٰ تاتارخانیہ سے منقول من كتب عليه السلام بالهمزة والميم يكفر، لانه تخفيف الانبياء وتخفيف الانبياء كفر

“`Allāmah Sayyid Ṭaḥṭāwi states in the marginalia of Al-Durr al-Mukhtār that in Fatāwa Tātār Khāniyah it is mentioned, ‘Whoever writes ‘عليه السلام’ with the letters hamzah and mīm (meaning one who abbreviates) becomes an infidel as it is belittling the ‘Ambiyā’ and the belittlement of the ‘Ambiyā’ is infidelity.’” [Fatāwā Africa]

Sayyidī ‘A`lā Ḥaḍrat later states,

شک نہیں کہ گر معاذ اللہ قصداً استخفاف شان ہو تو قطعاً کفر ہے حکم مذکور اسی صورت کیلئے ہے یہ لوگ صرف کسل کاہلی نادانی جاہلی سے ایسا کرتے ہیں تو اس حکم کو مستحق نہیں مگر بے برکتی بے دولتی کم بختی زبون قسمتی میں شک نہیں

“There is no doubt that if one, Allāh forbid, purposely belittles the status [of the ‘Ambiyā’] then it is definitely infidelity. The ruling [of infidelity] applies to that situation. The people who do it out of mere laziness, indolence, foolishness, and ignorance are not deserving of that ruling. However, there is no doubt in the lack of blessings and prosperity, misfortune, and ill fate [for such individuals].”

Another crucial point highlighted by Sayyidī ‘A`lā Ḥaḍrat is that,

امام جلال الدین سیوطی رحمة اللہ تعالی فرماتے ہیں پہلا وہ شخص جس نے درود شریف کا ایسا اختصار کیا اس کا ہاتھ کاٹا گیا

“Imām Jalāl al-Dīn al-Suyūṭi says, ‘The first person who wrote abbreviations of durūd had his hands cut off.’” [Fatāwā Africa]

Faqīrah Sayyidah Bināyah al-Qādirīyah · (may she be forgiven) · Ramaḍān 11, 1445 AH

Verified by Muftī Zāhid Ḥussain al-Qādirī