Question:
What is the ruling on returning salaam through mobile messaging by using abbreviated wording for example the word “السلام” (as-salaam) or by using letters which indicate to the meaning of salaam for example: “س ع”?
Answer:
This second one is not allowed because As-salaam is a religious sign from the religious signs of Allah ﷻ and it is a great act of worship.
So, when giving salaam to someone “س ع” are not be used and likewise when sending salutations upon the prophet “صل عم” nor “ص” are not to be used, All of this is not permissible.
These are great acts of worship and the individual who is uttering them is rewarded, as for As-salaam then the reward is between 10 to 20 to 30 and as for sending salutations upon the prophet ﷺ :
مَنْ صَلَّى عَلَىَّ وَاحِدَةً صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ عَشْرًا
Whoever sends salutations upon me once then Allah will send salutations upon him 10 times
[Narrated by An-Nasaaie]
And likewise:
البخيل من ذكرت عنده، فلم يصلِ علي
The stingy one is the one who I am remembered in his presence and he does not send salutations on me
[Narrated by at-Tirmithi]
So you are not considered as one who has sent salutations upon the prophet ﷺ by saying “صل عم” or by saying “ص”.
You are stingy. This is not appropriate to say “صل عم” or “ص” or “س ع” all of this and Allah knows best is from mockery and the individual may reach to that level of mockery by way of it and him having a lack of showing greatness to the likes of this Islamic ritual, the ritual of salaam and sending salutations upon the prophet ﷺ.
And this has not been known from the salaf that they used to use these type of abbreviations.
So whoever says to you “س ع” then do not reply to this and whoever says to you “سلام عليك” (salaam alayk) then it is waajib to reply him even if it is through the mobile phone, even if it is through messaging then you must reply to this salaam according to some of the people of knowledge, for verily it is waajib to reply even if it’s through mobile messaging or other than that and likewise if it is said to you “السلام ” (As-salaam) then it is upon you to reply to him because this wording has another part to it which has been deleted to make it shorter and it is estimated to mean: “السلام عليكم” (as-salaam alaykum). (as in known in the Arabic grammar)
..فَقَالُوا سَلَامًا ۖ قَالَ سَلَامٌ قَوْمٌ مُنْكَرُونَ
When they came in to him, and said, “Salam, (peace be upon you)!” He answered; “Salam, (peace be upon you),” and said: “You are a people unknown to me,”
[Surat Adh-Dhariyat 25]
So the angels sufficed by saying “As-salaam” only.
And abbreviating and sufficing with “السلام” can either be by:
?Entering alif and laam on to it: “السلام”
?or without using alif and laam: “سلام”
Either way whoever uses any one of these two, then you must reply to their salaam due to there being a wording which has been deleted for shortening and it is estimated to mean:
“السلام عليكم ”
As for the one the says “س ع” then do not reply to his salaam and do not pay any attention to his salaam and advise him that it is not appropriate to use this type of abbreviation for as-salaam and the person will not be rewarded for using it and perhaps he may even be sinful.
Answered by: Shaykh Abu Bilaal Al-Hadhramy – may Allah preserve him
Source: https://t.me/abubilalhami/2978
Answered on: 7th Rabee’ul Awwol 1441
Translated by: Abu Huthayfah Saamy Al-hindy