"The sword of the Prophet"

[ham]

I think a little context is called for here:

The nearest English sense for the Arabic is

There is no hero like 'Ali
and no sword like Dhul-Faqar

'Ali was a near relative of the Prophet by both blood and marriage.
He was chosen 4th Caliph, or successor to the Prophet, as ruler of Muslims.
But the reason this passage appears so often on Islamic weapons is that 'Ali was known as the greatest Muslim warrior. He is revered for his strength and honor by all Muslims, and the saying is certainly not limited to Shi'a followers alone.
The matter of the cloven tip of this most famous sword, given by the Prophet to 'Ali, has been discussed ad infinitum on this forum over the years. What may not have been addressed however, is the meaning of its name, Dhul Faqar. This has nothing to do with the tip of the blade, rather it means Posessor of Spines. Given the form of most early Arab blades (visible at Topkapi and elsewhere,) this name appears to refer to the central fullering and/or raised ribs visible on many of them.

Sincerely,

Ham