Islamic honorifics

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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 God in Islamic world or have done important work towards these missions.^[1] In Islamic writings, these honorific prefixes and suffixes come before and after the names of all the prophets (of whom there are 124,000 in Islam, the last of whom is the Prophet of Islam Muhammad^[2][3]), the Imams (the twelve Imams in the Shia school of thought^[4]), specially the infallibles in Shia Islam^[5] and the prominent individuals who followed them.^{[6][7][8][9][10]} In the Islamic world, giving these respectful prefixes and suffixes is a tradition.^[9]

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').^{[11][12][13][14]} 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')^{[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]}

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 the Prophet Muhammad.^{[25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34]} And the two suffix phrases «عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَام» (lit. 'Peace be upon him', for male persons) and «عَلَيْهَا ٱلسَّلَام» (lit. 'Peace be upon her', for female persons) 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,^[35] its abbreviation is also given in parentheses as «ع» in Arabic and "AS" in English after the name of the fourteen infallibles.^{[36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46]} And also the two suffix phrases «رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ» (lit. 'God be pleased with him', for male persons) and «رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا» (lit. 'God be pleased with her', for female persons) are used when the name of each of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad is mentioned or written in Islamic world and the most especially in the Sunni Islam world,^[47] its abbreviation is also given in parentheses as «ر» in Arabic and "RA" in English after the name of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad.^{[48][49][50][51][52][53][54]}

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').^[55][56][57]

Islam uses a number of conventionally complimentary phrases wishing-well or praising religiously-esteemed figures including God (Allah), Muhammad (Messenger of God),^[58] Muhammad's companions (sahaba), family (Ahl al-Bayt), other Islamic prophets and messengers, angels, and revered persons. In Twelver Shi'ism, honorifics are used with the Twelve Imams.^[59]

Also, Islamic honorifics are referred to as Salawāt (صَلَوات, lit. 'Blessings of God') in the shape of «اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَی مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّد» (lit. 'O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad')^[60] and also in Shia Islam in the shape of «اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَی مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّد و عَجِّل فَرَجَهُم» (lit. 'O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad and hasten their relief'),^[61] in Arabic too, which their meaning is equal to the phrase «خداوندا بر محمد و خاندانش رحمت فرست و فرجشان را نزدیک بفرما» (lit. 'O God, bless Muhammad and the Progeny of Muhammad, and hasten their alleviation') in Persian language^[62] which meaning requesting «درود» (lit. 'Peace') from God for Muhammad and his household in Urdu language too.^[63]