'Alayhi al-Salam: Difference between revisions

When two Imams or prophets are mentioned, the dual form of the phrase is used: 'alayhima al-salam (peace be upon them both),<ref>Anwarī, ''Farhang-i buzurg-i sukhan'', under the word 'Alayhima al-salam.</ref> and when more than two are mentioned, the plural form is used: 'alayhim al-salam (peace be upon them).<ref>Anwarī, ''Farhang-i buzurg-i sukhan'', under the word 'Alayhim al-salam.</ref> Other than alayh al-salam, there are other phrases, which [[Shi'as]] use after mentioning the Imams (a), such as salam Allah 'alayh (God’s peace be upon him), salawat Allah 'alayh (God’s greetings be to him),<ref>Nizām Aʿraj, ''Sharh al-nazzām'', note, p. 25.</ref> 'alayh al-salat wa-l-salam (greeting and peace be upon him),<ref>Anwarī, ''Farhang-i buzurg-i sukhan'', under the word 'Alayh al-salat wa-l-salam.</ref> as well as more embellished phrases such as: 'alayh afdal al-salat wa-l-salam (the greatest greeting and peace be upon him) and 'alayh alaf al-tahiyya wa-l-thana (thousands of salutations and praises be upon him).<ref>Anwarī, ''Farhang-i buzurg-i sukhan'', under the word 'Alayh alaf al-tahiyya wa-l-thana.</ref>

[[Sunni Muslims]] honor prophets<ref>See: Zamakhsharī, ''al-kashshāf'', vol. 1, p. 61 and 129; Fakhr al-Rāzī, ''Mafātīḥ al-ghayb (al-Tafsīr al-Kabīr)'', vol. 1, p. 136.</ref> and some angels<ref>See: Zamakhsharī, ''al-kashshāf'', vol. 1, p. 350; Fakhr al-Rāzī, ''Mafātīḥ al-ghayb (al-Tafsīr al-Kabīr)'', vol. 1, p. 83 and vol. 22, p. 171.</ref> by using 'alayh al-salam, but in the case of Shiite Imams (a), they use the same phrase they use for Sahaba: "radi Allah 'anh" (may God be pleased with him).<ref>See: Suyūṭī, ''Al-Durr al-manthūr'', p. 524; </ref> For Imam 'Ali (a), they also use the phrase "karram Allah wajhah" (may God honor his face).<ref>Ibn Kathīr, ''Tafsīr'', vol. 3, p. 524; Ibn Ḥajar al-Haytamī, <nowiki>''</nowiki>al-fatāwā l-ḥadīthiyya<nowiki>''</nowiki>, vol. 1, p. 41. </ref> Moreover, in Sunni books, the phrase 'alayh al-salam is often used after mentioning Imam 'Ali (a).<ref>Mūjāhid b. Jabr, <nowiki>''</nowiki>Tafsīr Mūjāhid<nowiki>''</nowiki>, p. 684; Thaʿlabī, <nowiki>''</nowiki>al-Kashf wa l-bayān ʿan tafsīr al-Qurʾān<nowiki>''</nowiki>, vol. 1, p. 136.</ref> Ibn al-Kathir, a Sunni historiographer and Quranic exegete,<ref>Ibn Kathīr, <nowiki>''</nowiki>Tafsīr al-Qurʾān al-ʿaẓīm<nowiki>''</nowiki>, vol. 6, p. 478</ref> and Muhammad Salih al-Munajjid, a [[Salafi]] scholar,<ref>al-Munajjid, <nowiki>''</nowiki>Mawqiʿ al-Islām suʾāl wa jawāb<nowiki>''</nowiki>, vol. 9, p. 101.</ref> believe that in these cases 'alayh al-salam was used after Imam 'Ali’s (a) name not by the authors, but by transcribers.

==Abbreviated Forms==

The phrases 'alayh al-salam and salam Allah 'alayha are respectively abbreviated as (a) and (s).<ref>See: Subḥānī Tabrīzī, ''Āʾīn-i wahhābiyat'', p. 274; Mazāhirī, ''Mazhar-i ḥaqq'', p.46.</ref> Some scholars believe that it is a common mistake, and in fact, disrespectful, to write the abbreviated forms of these phrases.<ref>[https://iqna.ir/fa/news/3619225/%D8%A2%DB%8C%D8%A7-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D9%86%D9%88%D8%B4%D8%AA%D9%87-%D9%87%D8%A7-%D9%86%D9%88%D8%B4%D8%AA%D9%86%D8%B5-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%AC%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B5%D9%84%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D9%87-%D8%B9%D9%84%DB%8C%D9%87-%D9%88-%D8 Is it correct to write (s) instead of (salla Allah 'alayh wa-alih) in the writings? (Persian)]</ref> To the contrary, [[Muhammad Kazim Kazimi]], a Shiite author and poet, holds that the abbreviated form is better than repetition of the phrase in its full form, because this keeps the text succinct and uniform, and on the other hand, it reminds the reader of the author’s respect of the prophet (s) or Imam (a) in question. Kazemi believes that honoring prominent religious figures with the familiar Arabic phrases tends to turn them into platitudes.<ref>[https://www.khabaronline.ir/news/270266/%D8%AF%D9%84%DB%8C%D9%84-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%87-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%B9%D9%84%D8%A7%DB%8C%D9%85-%D8%A7%D8%AE%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%B8%DB%8C%D9%85-%D9% The reason for using abbreviations for honoring imams. (Persian)]</ref>

[[fa:علیه‌السلام]]

[[ar:عليه‌ السلام]]

[[id:‘Alaihissalam]]