Islamic honorifics
laudatory religious phrases in Islam
Islamic honorifics are Arabic phrases, abbreviations, and titles that mostly appear as prefixes before or suffixes after the names of people who have had a special mission from Allah in the Islamic world or have done important work towards these missions. In Islamic writings, these honorific prefixes and suffixes come before and after the names of all the prophets and messengers (the last of whom is Muhammad), the Imams (the Twelve Imams in Shia Islam), the infallibles in Shia Islam, and the prominent individuals (tabi'un) who followed them. In the Islamic world, giving these respectful prefixes and suffixes is a tradition.
Among the most important honorific prefixes used are Hadhrat (حَضرَت, lit. 'a special person in the sight of God, a person who has a special mission from God, holiness, sainthood, excellency, majesty'). and Imam (اِمام, lit. 'a person who has a special position with God, a person who receives religious guidance from God to convey to people, an Islamic leadership position, leader, fugleman, headman, pontiff, primate').
Among the most important honorific suffixes used are صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْه (lit. 'May God's blessings and peace be upon him') and صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِه (lit. 'May God's blessings and peace be upon him and his household'), which these two suffix phrases used specifically for the Islamic prophet Muhammad in Islamic world, its abbreviation is also given in parentheses as ص in Arabic and "PBUH" in English after the name of Muhammad. And the two suffix phrases عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَام (lit. 'Peace be upon him') and عَلَيْهَا ٱلسَّلَام (lit. 'Peace be upon her') are used when the name of each of the fourteen infallibles saints is mentioned or written in Islamic world and the most especially in the Shia Islam world, its abbreviation is also given in parentheses as ع in Arabic and "AS" in English after the name of the fourteen infallibles. And also the two suffix phrases رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ (lit. 'God be pleased with him') and رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا (lit. 'God be pleased with her') are used when the name of each of the companions of Muhammad is mentioned or written in Islamic world and the most especially in the Sunni Islam world, its abbreviation is also given in parentheses as ر in Arabic and "RA" in English after the name of the companions of Muhammad.
These glorifying expressions are also used for God Himself and His angels. Generally, for His angels, the phrase عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَام (lit. 'Peace be upon him') is commonly used, and for God, usually His perfection attributes are used, such as the suffix جَلَّ جَلَالُهُ (lit. 'The most exalted').
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