alayhi

Alayhi is an Arabic expression meaning “upon him.” In Arabic it is written as عَلَيْهِ and is used as part of a reverential formula attached to the names of prophets and other revered figures in Islamic culture. It functions as a marker of respect and blessing rather than as part of the person’s name.

The phrase commonly appears in longer expressions that convey blessings or peace. The most familiar form is sallallahu alayhi wasallam (صلى الله عليه وسلم), meaning “May God praise him and grant him peace,” which is traditionally appended after the name of the Prophet Muhammad. Another widely used form is alayhi as-salam (عليه السلام), meaning “peace be upon him,” used after the names of prophets such as Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses), and Isa (Jesus). In some contexts, a feminine form exists as alayha (عليها), such as alayha as-salam in reference to female figures, though usage varies.

In practice, alayhi functions as an honorific rather than a part of the person’s title. It appears in religious texts, hadith literature, biographies, and translations to signal respect. It can also be combined with other phrases, such as rahimahullahu (may God have mercy on him) for deceased individuals. While translators may render these expressions in English as “peace be upon him” or similar phrases, the original Arabic emphasizes reverence for the named figure.