A Critical Review of the Accounts on the Agnomen "Abū-torāb"

Abū-torāb is one of Imam Ali's honorary agnomens used by the holy Prophet at the Battle of Zāt al-Ashīra, addressing Imam Ali. Apart from that battle, in some other occasions also, Imam Ali was addressed by the holy Prophet in this way. Imam Ali's interest in this agnomen betrays its being eulogistic; however, there are some accounts suggesting that the holy Prophet used this agnomen as an insult to Imam Ali. The present paper is seeking to make a critical review of these accounts through their related texts and authorities.