Names and Nicknames in Political and Sectarian Controversie: A Critical Study of Orientalists' View on "Abū Turāb".

"Abū Turāb" is a title or kunya (teknonym) associated with 'Alī b. Abī 'ālib. According to historical accounts, it was initially given by Prophet Muhammad and gained popularity over time. However, this nickname was approached in two distinct ways: 'Alī's opponents used it pejoratively, while his supporters embraced it as a term of praise. This divergence led to debates about the Prophet's intention behind bestowing the name--whether it was meant to be derogatory or commendatory. So, who originally coined this title for 'Alī b. Abī 'ālib? Was it intended as a slight or a compliment? What were the perspectives of 'Alī's advocates and opponents regarding this title? Some orientalists have claimed that Shiites sought to elevate the status of Abū Turāb by fabricating hadiths to portray it as praiseworthy. This article will focus on the orientalists' viewpoints by analyzing historical accounts to demonstrate how the Umayyads used propaganda to vilify 'Alī, including the manipulation of hadiths attributed to the Prophet of Islam. Their aim was to consistently refer to 'Alī by this name to overshadow his many honorable titles. In this article, the lexical meaning of the title will first be examined to determine if it inherently carries a disdainful connotation. Following this, through historical research and analytical text study, I will argue that the Prophet initially used this title without derogatory intent. However, due to Umayyad propaganda, a negative connotation emerged, leading Shiites to avoid using the name. After the decline of the Umayyad dynasty, the title eventually became widespread among both Shiites and Sunnis as a commendatory term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]