Importance of Islamic Honorific.

(Seerat Shahina, )

Honorific, as prefix or suffix, is an honorary title, relative to social status, used in second or third person that conveys, in formal way, esteem, courtesy, or respect for position or rank in addressing or referring to someone. It demonstrates anthropologic development of a culture. In theology, adoration, or exaltation of God, is to glorify His Attributes and His manifestations. In addressing or referring in second or third person, plural is used, instead of singular.

In most revered reference, particularly to a religious personality, expression of prayer marks the salutation, for example, God be pleased with him or her or them. In Arabic, sociolinguistics, play an important role in honorific system, because the speaker’s deferential attitude toward a particular addressee or referent obliges him to invoke respectful behavior.

When writing the name of God (Allah), Muslims often follow it with the Subhanahu wa Ta’ala, or similar words to glorify God when mentioning His name. People often use abbreviation

"SWT," which stands for the Arabic words (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) The literal meaning of Subhanahu is 'Glory be to Him' and Ta'ala means 'He, The Most High, The Most Exalted, The Absolute and Perfect.
Or Saying Allah ‘Azza wa-Jall (AWJ) means "Mighty and the Majestic"; or: "Glorified and Sublime be He"

Belief in Islam forms foundation of human life. All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. It is Muslim`s faith and belief in the absolute and vastest sense that He Alone is worthy of All Honor, All Praise, All Adoration and He Alone is Absolutely Perfect in everything that He does. There is none worthy of worship except Allah. He knows what is in our hearts. Yet we find few people who show gratitude and praise Allah for His blessings, favors and the comfort of His mercies.

Allah Subhanahu says in Holy Quran many times, “Glory to Him.”

“He is High above all that they say! Exalted and Great (beyond measure)! The seven heavens and the earth and all beings therein declare His Glory: there not a thing but celebrates His Praise; and yet ye understand not how they declare His Glory! Verily! He is Oft- Forbearing, Most Forgiving”. 17:43-44, 6:100, 10:18, 16:1, 17:43, 30:40 and 39:67

“To Allah belong all things in heaven and earth: verily Allah is He (that is) free of all wants, Worthy of all Praise. And if all the trees on earth were pens, and the ocean (were ink); with seven oceans behind it to add to its (supply); yet would not the Words of Allah be exhausted: for Allah is Exalted in Power, Full of Wisdom.” 31:26-27

The honorifics for Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) are based on a following Quranic verse:
"Indeed, Allah confers blessings upon the Prophet, and His angels [ask Him to do so].
O you who have believed, ask [Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [Allah to grant him] peace." - Qur'an 33:56
"The Messenger of Allah is remembered with the phrase 'Ṣallallāhu ′alayhe wa sallam' (Translation: ("May Allah send blessings and peace upon him , or abbreviation, PBUH).

Islam uses a number of "conventionally complimentary phrases" sometimes called Islamic honorifics, ‘blessings’, ‘titles’ or even ‘prayers’ or duroo.d The "honorifics" either praise, in the case of Allah), or wish good things (such as "prayers and peace", "Allah be pleased with them"), Peace be upon him for Prophet Muhammad, other prophet or other objects. In Arabic writing (and speaking) they follow the name of the object of the honorific fully spelled out while in English language sources they are sometimes abbreviated ,"Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)"), sometimes spelled out, for example, in mentioning Abi Bakr, (Radi-Allahu anhu: Allah be pleased with him).

(The term durood may be limited to the prophets in Islam, or may go beyond "conventionally complimentary phrases" into short prayers, honorifics for scholars or companions follow the same pattern). Sometimes they appear as spelled out in Arabic, and sometimes appear as a typographic ligature, of Arabic calligraphy.

Unlike conventional honorifics they follow, rather than precede, the name of the individual being noted. (They are distinct from honorifics such as “Hadrat, “the Persian title given to Muhammad, which precedes his name Hadrat Muhammad. or titles for distinguished Muslims such as Mawlana.

The honorifics used after companions” (Aṣ-Ṣaẖābah") of Muhammad in Arabic Raḍiya ’llāhu ‘an-hu (RA) for male companions
(Translation: "May Allah be pleased with him").
Raḍiya ’llāhu ‘an-ha is used for female companions of Prophet Muhammad for example
Hadrat "Khadijah (Raḍiya ’llāhu ‘an-hā)

The honorifics are applied to angels and prophets as Alay-hi`s-salām (Abbreviation: AS), Translation: "Peace be upon Him").

The honorifics are applied to highly revered scholars and Saints, as Raḥmatu ’llāhi ‘alay-hi (RA), Translation: "May Allah's mercy/ blessing be upon him").

Some Muslims preach against the use of abbreviations in honorifics, insisting on the entire phrase to be spelled out. It is recommended that we should write full phrase of praise or greetings as our close concern and gesture, and for the understanding of the people they don’t know the meaning of abbreviations.

Seerat Shahina
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