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Re: Shafi'i fatwa on abbreviating the salat and salam

Q:
What is the shafi'i ruling on writing "saws" or "saw" or any other
such abbreviation instead of the full salat and salam, say in a book,
when the Prophet (salla Llahu 'alayhi wa sallam) is mentioned?

A:
Imam al-Nawawi in Tahdhib al-Asma' wal-Lughat said all this must be
avoided: 
Such supplications are worship and should be written in full,
whether salla Allahu `alayhi wa-Sallam (not "s") or radya Allahu
`anh (not "r") or `alayhi as-Salam (not "`ayn") or "rahimahu Allah" (not "rah").

Likewise English abbreviations and acronyms such as SAW and PBUH, not to
mention symbols such as asterisks! In common
English usage acronyms and abbreviations have always been
considered poor style and representative of a dearth of thought, 
let alone for the loftiest referents and acts such
as worship.

By analogy, abbreviations such as "aa wr wb" instead of 
"as-salamu `alaykum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh" are also makruh.

WAllahu a`lam.


gibril
2008-07-06