ভূমিকা
Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Biography of Imam `alĪ Ibn AbĪ-tĀlib Name, Appellation and Filial Appellation Abū-Talib named him Zayd after his ancestor, Qasi ibn Kalab. Fatimah bint Asad named him Haydar after her father Asad. Asad and Haydar both the words mean a tiger.
Therefore, in the battle of Khaybar, while reciting the martial poetry combating with Marhab, he said, “I am that whose mother has named him Hayder!” The Prophet (a.s), under divine inspiration called him with the name of `Ali (a.s). There is another opinion that Abū-Talib himself gave him the name of `Ali (a.s). As a proof, they present the following couplet of Abū-Talib: “I have given him the name of `Ali that eminence and success always follow him.
Respectability is the only wealth that remains forever.” This name, literally meaning greatness and high status, proved most appropriate for `Ali (a.s). Although the Umayyads tried their level best to play down his name and the kunyah, they could not succeed in doing it. Therefore, Abū-Na`im al-Isfahani writes in Hilyat al-Awliya’ that the son of `Abdullah ibn `Abbas was `Ali and kunyah Abul-Hasan.
One day `Ali ibn `Abdullah went to Abd al Malik who said that he could not tolerate his name and kunyah. He did not change his name but changed his kunyah to Abū-Muhammad! With this bent of mind, for centuries no Muslim ruler by the name `Ali was there. But today, in the Muslim population anywhere, after Muhammad, the most popular name is `Ali. Despite centuries of suppression and oppression, the name (`Ali) spread all over the world with the spread of Islam!
He has several titles that signify his various qualities. The most popular are al-Murtada, al-Wasi and Amir al-Mu’minin. His first kunyah is Abul-Hasan. Another well-known kunyah is Abū-Turab. Generally, Arabs keep the kunyah on the name of the first son. For instance, Abū-Talib adopted the kunyah as Abū-Talib when his first son Talib was born. `Abd al-Muttalib had his kunyah based on the name of his first-born son as Abū-Harith.
The second kunyah of `Ali (a.s) was on the suggestion of the Prophet (a.s). It is written in Sirat Ibn- Husham that during the battle of al-`Ashirah, `Ali (a.s) and `Ammar ibn Yasir went towards the lake of Banū-Mudlaj and lay down under the shade of a tree on green grass.