Why is Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas also known as Abu Mazen? I have seen this mentioned repeatedly, without explanation.
The Taipei Times has an explanation as to the name here
“…Abbas also has what is called in Arabic a kunya, a nickname that most often refers specifically to one’s offspring. Abbas’ kunya begins with Abu (which means “father,” akin to the Aramaic abba) and ends with Mazen, which was the name of his eldest son, who died last year. Mohammed Sawaie, professor of Arabic at the University of Virginia, tells me that the name suggests muzn, which can mean “white cloud” or “water,” both happy sights in an arid area. It may also call to mind the name of an ancient Arab tribe known for its bravery, the Banu Mazin…”
This question was asked and answered about a week ago, so I’ll close this thread and direct further comment to the earlier one: http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=185769
bibliophage
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