Hardly any time passed when the prophet (a.

Hardly any time passed when the prophet (a.s) too arrived there, and seeing `Ali’s dusty clothes he said, “O Abū-Turab, in what condition are you!” From that day, `Ali’s kunyah became Abū-Turab. `Allamah Halabi has written: “In the battle of al-`Ashirah the Prophet (a.s) had given to `Ali (a.s) the kunyah of Abū-Turab when he found him and `Ammar ibn Yasir sleeping and `Ali (a.s) was covered in dust”[1] In the beginning this kunyah was suggested for `Ali only. Prior to him, none had this kunyah.

Therefore, Shaykh Aluddin writes: “For the first time ever, `Ali ibn Abi-Talib (a.s) was addressed with the kunyah of Abū-Turab.”[2] Al-Bukhari has included this incident in his Sahih that the Prophet (a.s) once came to the residence of Fatimah al-Zahra’ (a.s) and not finding `Ali (a.s) at home he enquired about him. Fatimah (a.s) said that they had some difference of opinion and that in a state of anger he went out.

The Prophet (a.s) asked one person to go and look for `Ali (a.s).The person noticed `Ali (a.s) lying on the floor of the mosque. He returned and informed his whereabouts to the Prophet (a.s). The Prophet (a.s) then went to the mosque and noticed `Ali (a.s) covered all over in dust. He dusted his clothes and said, “Get up, Abū-Turab!” After this event he was known with the kunyah of Abū-Turab.

This narration, when compared with the earlier tradition sounds different and is not plausible according to the norms of Dirayah. The reason for the non-plausibility is that during the entire married life of Fatimah and Al (a.s) there is no instance of ever being any differences between them. Their lives have been examples of most cordial marital relationship.

From the tradition where `Ammar ibn Yasir was also there, it appears that the Prophet (a.s) had suggested the kunyah of Abū-Turab in Jumada II, 2 A.H., because the Battle of al-`Ashirah was fought in that period. Fatimah al-Zahra’ (a.s) was married to `Ali (a.s) on the first of Dhul-Hijjah 2 A.H. that is, six months after the [1] Vol 2, Page 142 [2] Muhā¤arāt al-Awā’il, Page 123 proposal of this kunyah.

In that event, there is no chance of any difference of opinion between the two and the need to go away from home in anger. Because at that time, Lady Fatimah was not married to `Ali (a.s). It appears that the tradition has been concocted to please the Umayyad rulers who used to address `Ali (a.s) with this kunyah while they carried out their campaign of vilification against him.