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Islamic Honorifics and Abbreviations

A simple guide to SWT, ﷺ/SAW, AS and RA—what the phrases mean, and what comes from scripture versus modern editorial shorthand.

Important distinction: Abbreviations such as SWT, SAW, PBUH, AS and RA are modern writing conventions. The abbreviations themselves are not Qur’anic text.

SWT — Subḥānahu wa Taʿālā

Arabic: سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى
Meaning: Glorified and Exalted is He.

Writers often place “SWT” after the name of Allah as a reminder of glorification. Qur’anic passages contain the underlying language of glorifying and exalting Allah, but the Latin letters “SWT” are simply an editorial abbreviation.

ﷺ / SAW — Ṣallallāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam

Meaning: May Allah send blessings and peace upon him.

Qur’an 33:56 commands believers to send blessings and peace upon the Prophet ﷺ. Writing the full Arabic symbol ﷺ or the words themselves is clearer than treating “SAW” as part of his name.

Qur’an 33:56

AS — ʿAlayhis-salām

Meaning: Peace be upon him. This is commonly used after the names of prophets and, by convention, other honoured figures such as angels.

RA — Raḍiyallāhu ʿanhu / ʿanhā / ʿanhum

Meaning: May Allah be pleased with him / her / them. It is commonly used for the Companions.

A good website convention

Step by Step Salah will prefer readable honorifics such as Allah, the Prophet ﷺ, and full forms where context benefits from them. Abbreviations can still appear in older learning material, but they will not be described as scripture in themselves.