It is narrated about Sayyiduna Sahl bin Sa’d (may Allah be pleased with him) that a man came to him and said: That such-and-such person, meaning the governor of Madinah Munawwarah, has called you so that you may speak ill of Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) from the pulpit. Sayyiduna Sahl (may Allah be pleased with him) asked: What should I say? He said: You should call him Abu Turab. So Sayyiduna Sahl (may Allah be pleased with him) laughed and said: By Allah! This name was given to Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) by the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and this name was the most beloved to Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him). Once, Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) came to Sayyidah Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her), then he left (the house), then the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) came to Sayyidah Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her) and said: Where is your cousin? She replied: He is sleeping in the mosque. So the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) went there and found him in such a state that his cloak had slipped from his side (and there was dust on his body). So the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) began to wipe the dust from his back and said: O Abu Turab, get up.

(Sayyiduna Sahl [may Allah be pleased with him] said:) By Allah! There was no name more beloved to Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) than this; the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had given him this name.