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🇪🇬 Egypt /Environment & Climate

A Celestial Event Signals the Start of Saudi Arabia’s Safar Season

From Al-Masry Al-Youm · () Arabic

Translated from Arabic and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • The Moon passed in conjunction with the Pleiades over Saudi Arabia on Sept. 3, an event known in Arab folklore as “Qiran 21.”
  • Traditional observers regard the conjunction as marking the start of the roughly four-week Safar season, when nights gradually lengthen and temperatures begin to moderate.
  • Astronomer Mohammed Enad Al-Hazimi said the period also coincides with some fruit ripening and seasonal bird migration, while noting the distinction between folklore and scientific explanations.

The Moon’s conjunction with the Pleiades has marked the opening of Saudi Arabia’s Safar season in the Arab folk calendar. Known as “Qiran 21,” the event took place on Sept. 3, 2026, and has long served as a traditional sign of changing seasons, planting times and weather conditions.

Mohammed Enad Al-Hazimi, a member of an astronomy club, said “Qiran 21” begins the Safar season, which lasts about four weeks. During this period, nighttime gradually becomes longer while daylight decreases, leading toward the autumnal equinox.

Arab tradition describes the shift with the saying, “September, keep moving and do not rest.” The phrase refers to the easing of intense heat and improving conditions, especially at night. Bedouin communities associated the arrival of Safar with cooler ground after dark and began preparing for more moderate seasons.

Qiran 21 represents the beginning of the Safar season in folk tradition.

· Mohammed Enad Al-HazimiHe described the traditional significance of the Moon and Pleiades conjunction.

The period also brings a contrast between hot days and milder nights. It coincides with the ripening of fruits such as pomegranates, as well as the movement of migratory birds and some birds of prey on seasonal journeys. Bedouin communities and farmers have traditionally watched the transition closely as they prepared for the later drop in temperatures. Al-Hazimi also pointed to “Qiran 19” as another stage in the seasonal sequence, ahead of the Wasm season.

The conjunction of the Moon and Pleiades has attracted Arab attention since ancient times because people linked stars and lunar mansions to weather, agriculture and herding. That tradition remains popular among those interested in folk astronomy, although its cultural meanings differ from the scientific interpretation of astronomical and climate phenomena.

September, keep moving and do not rest.

· Traditional sayingThe saying describes the easing of summer heat as Safar begins.
About this summary

Originally published by Al-Masry Al-Youm in Arabic. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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