Sha’b means ‘Valley’ so Sha'b Abi Talib means the Valley of Abu Talib which belonged to him. When Quraish decided to martyr the Holy Prophet so Abu Talib asked his clan to take Muhammad
in his Sha’b for his protection. Quraysh wrote Al-Saheefa Al-Muqata'a (الصحیفۃ المقاطعۃ) i.e., an edict regarding Banu Hashim which stated that no Qurayshi Tribesmen/Women will marry with Banu Hashim and nobody will do trade with them nor meet with them.