Can I write 'AS' or 'pbuh' instead of the full words in messages?

Sending blessings on the Prophet ﷺ

Muslims say "sallallahu alayhi wa sallam" (peace and blessings be upon him) after the Prophet's ﷺ name. This comes from the Quran:

The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever sends blessings on him once, Allah blesses him ten times (Sahih Muslim 408). Writing "SAW" or "pbuh" is a shortcut, and many scholars feel it misses this reward and can look careless toward the Prophet ﷺ. Still, it isn't a sin.

Good alternatives

• The ﷺ symbol: a single character that spells out the full Arabic phrase. Many people find it an easy middle ground.
• Full English: "peace and blessings be upon him."
• Say it too: whatever you type, say the blessing with your tongue when you write or read his name.

What about "AS" and "Salam"?

"AS" is used for two things: "as-salamu alaykum" (peace be upon you) and "alayhis salam" (peace be upon him), said after other prophets like Musa or Isa. That alone can cause confusion.

For greetings, the reward grows with the words. The Prophet ﷺ said that "As-salamu alaykum" earns ten rewards, adding "wa rahmatullah" earns twenty, and adding "wa barakatuh" earns thirty (Sunan Abi Dawud 5195). Typing it in full costs you a second and multiplies your reward.

When someone greets you, the Quran says: "And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet [in return] with one better than it or [at least] return it [in a like manner]" (Quran 4:86). If someone texts you "AS," a full "Wa alaykum as-salam" is a lovely reply. See Can I say "Assalamu alaikum" if I'm not Muslim?