sallallahu

Sallallahu is an Arabic verb form used in a devotional phrase meaning “may Allah send blessings.” In the common invocation sallallahu alayhi wasallam, the verb is followed by the attached pronoun hu, referring to the Prophet Muhammad, with alayhi meaning “upon him” and wasallam meaning “and peace.” The full formula expresses a blessing or supplication upon Muhammad.

The phrase is a standard element in Islamic usage when mentioning the Prophet Muhammad. It is part of the broader practice of sending blessings, known as salawat, and is widely employed in spoken discourse, written texts, sermons, and devotional recitation. When rendered into English, it is often translated as “peace be upon him” or abbreviated as PBUH (peace be upon him).

Variants and transliteration differ in vowels and in the inclusion or omission of the conjunction wa. Common forms include sallallahu alayhi wasallam or sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, with alternative spellings reflecting regional pronunciation. The essential idea remains the same: invoking blessings upon Muhammad.

Linguistically, sallallahu represents the verb form used with Allah as the intended recipient of the blessing and with the pronoun hu marking the Prophet. The expression is used across many Muslim traditions, though the exact usage and emphasis can vary by community.

In practice, sallallahu alayhi wasallam is part of a broader etiquette of honor toward the Prophet, reflecting reverence and reverential speech in Islamic culture.