The Prophet of Islam came into this earthly realm from a station of exalted rank, wearing the garb of dust, to irrigate and cultivate the world. Though the heavens were created from the radiance of his light, he entered the lowest plane of existence to spread the divine lights throughout this world.
The Master, Ali—peace be upon him—is Abu Turab, and his followers are the dust of his presence: dust that, in his company, becomes trees, fragrance, flowers, nectar and heavenly honey.
The Master is Abu Turab: that is, he is the one who transforms and elevates dust to the heavens and beyond. At his blessed glance, dust becomes alchemy. Under his guardianship, the earthly human being is transformed into a heavenly and transcendent one.
Given the wealth of material already presented, I shall be content with this brief account. That exalted being, who held precedence in rank, station and eminence in the creation of the universe, is regarded as the sovereign of the Most Beautiful Divine Names and the spirit and life of the divine treasures and trusts. In the worlds before this earthly one, he presided over and guided the angels and the great prophets, and was their supreme teacher. As the greatest of God’s creations, his presence in this world was solely for its cultivation. His station is such that the light of his descendant is considered his light—that is, they are the Meshkat-e Noor of God. This very light was veiled in dust so that the dust itself might be transformed into the Light of Lights.
عن سلیمان بن مهران عن عبایه بن ربعی قال: قلت لعبد الله بن العباس لم کنى رسول الله ص علیا ع أبا تراب قال لأنه صاحب الأرض و حجه الله على أهلها بعده و به بقاؤها و إلیه سکونها و لقد سمعت رسول الله ص یقول إذا کان یوم القیامه و رأى الکافر ما أعد الله تبارک و تعالى لشیعه علی من الثواب و الزلفى و الکرامه قال یا لیتنی کنت ترابا «1» أی یا لیتنی کنت من شیعه علی و ذلک قول الله عز و جل و یقول الکافر یا لیتنی کنت ترابا
معانی الأخبار، النص، ص: 120
Abayah ibn Rab‘i relates: I asked Abdullah ibn Abbas, “Why did the Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him, give Ali, peace be upon him, the epithet Abu Turab?” He replied, “Because he is the master and possessor of the earth, and God’s proof to its inhabitants after the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. The earth endures through him, and finds its repose through his presence. I heard the Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him, say: ‘On the Day of Resurrection, when the unbeliever sees the rewards, nearness and honour that God, Blessed and Exalted, has prepared for Ali’s followers, he will say: “Would that I were dust”’—that is, ‘Would that I had been one of Ali’s followers.’ This is the meaning of God’s words, Mighty and Majestic: ‘And the unbeliever will say, “Would that I were dust.”’”
Ma‘ani al-Akhbar / translated by Mohammadi, vol. 1, p. 279