Journal of Islamic Studies (Jan 1978)
The climate of Najad as illustrated in the sayings of the Arabs and the Modern Studies
Abstract
The Arabs paid a great attention in the past to the observation of climatic elements that had affected their pastoral life. They believed that there was a relation between the climate and the stars. The moon, as it moves easterly, passes through 28 constellations at the rate of one per day, so they called these constellations , Manazel Alqamar , , which means the positions of the moon. Every constellation lasts 13 days between its appearance in the east and its sinking in the west. The Arab called the sinking of constellations into the west (Anwa'a) and they believed that the (Anwa'a) were responsible for rain and other elements of climate. Due to the fact that every constellation sinks on a fixed day and that happens once a year, there is a relationship between the seasons of the year which are associated with climate and the (Anwa'a) The Arabs embodied their observations about the (Anwa'a) in their proverbs and sayings. A close study of these sayings reveals a remarkable similarity in the advance climatic conditions prevailing in the Najd area. It may be said that the 28 (Manazel of Alqamar) are the Micro-seasons of the year for the Arabs of Najd.
