“Peace be upon him” is an honorific used by Muslims to show respect for prophets and other respected figures. It is known as salawat and is a form of prayer. Saying salawat is believed to eliminate sins and bring blessings. It is used for all prophets, and some Muslims believe it is acceptable to shorten it for some. The purpose is to encourage veneration for important figures of Islam.
The phrase “Peace be upon him” is used by Muslims as a sign of respect and veneration for Muslim prophets and other respected figures. The use of this honorific is specifically mentioned in the Quran and also in other supporting texts used by Muslims, such as the Hadith. Non-Muslims are not expected to say this phrase when speaking of Muslim prophets, although they certainly can.
The use of this honorific is known as salawat or saying salah. Salah means “prayer” and all devout Muslims should integrate daily prayer into their religious practice. By saying salawat for someone, Muslims pray for the individual being discussed. You may see salawat abbreviated in text as PBUH or SAW, although some Muslims frown on this practice when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is in question.
According to the Quran, God says salah for the prophet and asks the angels to do the same. The Quran goes on to importune pious Muslims to say salah for the prophet when they see him and discuss him. The Prophet Muhammad himself (Peace be upon him) adds that Muslims should always say salah for him, and that by praying for the Prophet, Muslims will be blessed. Each time salawat is uttered, it is supposed to eliminate some of the sins of the person uttering it, and some Muslims believe that the more times someone says salawat in their life, the closer they will come to the prophet in heaven.
A number of figures are recognized as prophets by Muslims, including many biblical prophets. The salawat formula is the same for everyone, although some Muslims believe it is acceptable to shorten the salawat for some of these prophets. Islamic scholars have yet to pronounce definitively on the issue of shortening the salah, although the evidence in the Hadith seems to support the idea that salah should not be shortened.
Like many religious honorifics, the use of “Peace be upon him” is intended to remind people of a prophet’s special place in the practice of Islam and to encourage veneration for important figures of Islam. Some people also say salawat for the dead as a sign of respect, especially when talking to their family members.
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