Arabic Lunar Mansions
Twenty-eight lunar stations across the Arab world
Signs: 28 Origin: ~6th c. AD Region: Middle Eastern
The Signs
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Al-Sharatain (الشرطين)
Moon longitude: 0°00′–12°51′ tropical Aries. Al-Sharatain opens the Arabic lunar mansion cycle at the vernal point. The Moon transits this mansion for approximately 24–26 hours every 27.3 days, typically between late March and early April. In the Arabic astronomical tradition, the mansion is determined by the Moon's tropical longitude at the moment of birth.
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Al-Butain (البطين)
Moon longitude: 12°51′–25°43′ tropical Aries. Al-Butain covers the middle and later degrees of Aries. The Moon transits this mansion for approximately 24–26 hours every 27.3 days, typically in early to mid April. Principal stars: Epsilon, Delta, and Rho Arietis — the "little belly" of the Ram constellation.
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Al-Thurayya (الثريا)
Moon longitude: 25°43′ tropical Aries–8°34′ tropical Taurus. Al-Thurayya is anchored by the Pleiades star cluster (M45), one of the most celebrated star groups in human history. The Moon transits this mansion for approximately 24–26 hours every 27.3 days, typically in mid April. The mansion spans the Aries–Taurus boundary.
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Al-Dabarān (الدبران)
Moon longitude: 8°34′–21°26′ tropical Taurus. Al-Dabarān is centred on Aldebaran (Alpha Tauri), the brilliant red eye of the Bull and one of the four Royal Stars of ancient Persian astronomy. The Moon transits this mansion for approximately 24–26 hours every 27.3 days, typically in late April.
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Al-Haq'a (الهقعة)
Moon longitude: 21°26′ tropical Taurus–4°17′ tropical Gemini. Al-Haq'a is anchored by the triangle of stars Lambda (Meissa), Phi1, and Phi2 Orionis — the "white spot" or "circle" at the head of the Orion constellation. The Moon transits this mansion for approximately 24–26 hours every 27.3 days, typically in late April to early May.
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Al-Han'a (الهنعة)
Moon longitude: 4°17′–17°09′ tropical Gemini. Al-Han'a is anchored by Gamma Geminorum (Alhena) and Xi Geminorum. Alhena, the "brand mark" star, is one of the brightest stars in Gemini. The Moon transits this mansion for approximately 24–26 hours every 27.3 days, typically in early to mid May.
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Al-Dhirā' (الذراع)
Moon longitude: 17°09′–30°00′ tropical Gemini. Al-Dhirā' is anchored by Alpha Geminorum (Castor) and Beta Geminorum (Pollux) — the Twin Stars, the most famous pair of stars in the northern sky. The Moon transits this mansion for approximately 24–26 hours every 27.3 days, typically in mid to late May. The mansion marks the outstretched forearm of the celestial Lion in the Arabic asterism tradition.
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Al-Nathra (النثرة)
Moon longitude: 0°00′–12°51′ tropical Cancer. Al-Nathra is centred on the Praesepe star cluster (M44, the Beehive Cluster) in Cancer, along with the two flanking stars Gamma and Delta Cancri (Asellus Borealis and Asellus Australis). The Moon transits this mansion for approximately 24–26 hours every 27.3 days, typically in late May to early June.
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Al-Ṭarf (الطرف)
Moon longitude: 12°51′–25°43′ tropical Cancer. Al-Ṭarf — "The Glance of the Eye" or "The Eye's Tip" — is formed by Kappa Cancri and Lambda Leonis, stars that mark the eyes of the celestial Lion in the Arabic asterism. The Moon transits this mansion for approximately 24–26 hours every 27.3 days, typically in early to mid June.
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Al-Jabha (الجبهة)
Moon longitude: 25°43′ tropical Cancer–8°34′ tropical Leo. Al-Jabha — "The Forehead" — is formed by Zeta Leonis (Adhafera), Gamma Leonis (Algieba), Eta Leonis, and Alpha Leonis (Regulus), marking the broad forehead and chest of the celestial Lion. The Moon transits this mansion for approximately 24–26 hours every 27.3 days, typically in mid June.
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Al-Zubra (الزبرة)
Moon longitude: 8°34′–21°26′ tropical Leo. Al-Zubra — "The Mane" — is formed by Delta Leonis (Zosma) and Theta Leonis (Chertan), the stars of the Lion's flowing mane. The Moon transits this mansion for approximately 24–26 hours every 27.3 days, typically in late June to early July.
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Al-Ṣarfa (الصرفة)
Moon longitude: 21°26′ tropical Leo–4°17′ tropical Virgo. Al-Ṣarfa — "The Changer" or "The Turning Point" — is centred on Beta Leonis (Denebola), the tail of the Lion. It marks the transition from Leo's fixed fire to Virgo's mutable earth. The Moon transits this mansion for approximately 24–26 hours every 27.3 days, typically in mid to late July.
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Al-'Awwā' (العوّاء)
Moon longitude: 4°17′–17°09′ tropical Virgo. Al-'Awwā' — "The Barker" or "The Howler" — is formed by Beta, Eta, Gamma, Delta, and Epsilon Virginis (Zavijava, Zaniah, Porrima, Auva, and Vindemiatrix). The Moon transits this mansion for approximately 24–26 hours every 27.3 days, typically in late July to early August.
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Al-Simāk (السماك)
Moon longitude: 17°09′–30°00′ tropical Virgo. Al-Simāk — "The Unarmed" or "The Lofty One" — is centred on Spica (Alpha Virginis), the brightest star in Virgo and one of the most brilliant stars in the night sky at magnitude 0.97. The Moon transits this mansion for approximately 24–26 hours every 27.3 days, typically in mid August.
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Al-Ghafr (الغفر)
Moon longitude: 0°00′–12°51′ tropical Libra. Al-Ghafr — "The Cover" or "The Veil" — is formed by Iota, Kappa, and Lambda Virginis, three stars at the hem of Virgo's garment transitioning into Libra. The Moon transits this mansion for approximately 24–26 hours every 27.3 days, typically in late August to early September.
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Al-Zubānā (الزبانى)
Moon longitude: 12°51′–25°43′ tropical Libra. Al-Zubānā — "The Claws" or "The Scales" — is anchored by Alpha Librae (Zubenelgenubi, "The Southern Claw") and Beta Librae (Zubeneschamali, "The Northern Claw"), the two brightest stars of Libra. These stars were originally the claws of Scorpio in the ancient Babylonian and Greek constellations. The Moon transits this mansion for approximately 24–26 hours every 27.3 days, typically in early to mid September.
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Al-Iklīl (الإكليل)
Moon longitude: 25°43′ tropical Libra–8°34′ tropical Scorpio. Al-Iklīl — "The Crown" — is formed by Beta, Delta, and Pi Scorpii at the crown of the Scorpion's head. The Moon transits this mansion for approximately 24–26 hours every 27.3 days, typically in mid September. This mansion spans the Libra–Scorpio boundary.
❤️
Al-Qalb (القلب)
Moon longitude: 8°34′–21°26′ tropical Scorpio. Al-Qalb — "The Heart" — is centred on Antares (Alpha Scorpii), the brilliant red supergiant heart of the Scorpion and one of the four Royal Stars of ancient Persian astronomy. The Moon transits this mansion for approximately 24–26 hours every 27.3 days, typically in late September. Antares is one of the largest stars visible to the naked eye.
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Al-Shawla (الشولة)
Moon longitude: 21°26′ tropical Scorpio–4°17′ tropical Sagittarius. Al-Shawla — "The Raised Tail" — is anchored by Lambda Scorpii (Shaula) and Upsilon Scorpii (Lesath), the stinger stars at the tip of the Scorpion's tail. The Moon transits this mansion for approximately 24–26 hours every 27.3 days, typically in early to mid October. Shaula is one of the brightest stars in Scorpius.
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Al-Na'ā'im (النعائم)
Moon longitude: 4°17′–17°09′ tropical Sagittarius. Al-Na'ā'im — "The Ostriches" — is formed by Gamma, Delta, Epsilon, and Eta Sagittarii, stars that Arabic astronomers divided into two groups: the "Drinking Ostriches" approaching the Milky Way and the "Returning Ostriches" leaving it. The Moon transits this mansion for approximately 24–26 hours every 27.3 days, typically in mid to late October.
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Al-Balda (البلدة)
Moon longitude: 17°09′–30°00′ tropical Sagittarius. Al-Balda — "The City" or "The Empty Quarter" — marks a relatively star-sparse region of late Sagittarius, near the area of Pi Sagittarii. The Moon transits this mansion for approximately 24–26 hours every 27.3 days, typically in late October to early November. The "empty" quality of this sky region gave the mansion its contemplative character.
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Al-Sa'd al-Dhābiḥ (سعد الذابح)
Moon longitude: 0°00′–12°51′ tropical Capricorn. Al-Sa'd al-Dhābiḥ — "The Lucky Stars of the Slaughterer" — is anchored by Alpha and Beta Capricorni (Algedi and Dabih). Dabih itself is derived directly from the mansion's name. The Moon transits this mansion for approximately 24–26 hours every 27.3 days, typically in early to mid November. The mansion opens the Sa'd (Lucky) group of four Aquarian-region mansions.
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Al-Sa'd al-Bula' (سعد بلع)
Moon longitude: 12°51′–25°43′ tropical Capricorn. Al-Sa'd al-Bula' — "The Lucky Stars of the Swallower" — is formed by Mu Aquarii, Nu Aquarii, and Epsilon Aquarii. Despite their Aquarius names, these stars fall in mid Capricorn tropically. The Moon transits this mansion for approximately 24–26 hours every 27.3 days, typically in mid to late November.
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Al-Sa'd al-Su'ūd (سعد السعود)
Moon longitude: 25°43′ tropical Capricorn–8°34′ tropical Aquarius. Al-Sa'd al-Su'ūd — "The Luckiest of the Lucky" or "The Most Fortunate" — is anchored by Beta Aquarii (Sadalsuud), which carries the mansion's name directly: Sadalsuud derives from Sa'd al-Su'ūd. The Moon transits this mansion for approximately 24–26 hours every 27.3 days, typically in late November to early December.
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Al-Sa'd al-Akhbiya (سعد الأخبية)
Moon longitude: 8°34′–21°26′ tropical Aquarius. Al-Sa'd al-Akhbiya — "The Lucky Stars of the Hidden" or "The Tent Stars" — is formed by Gamma Aquarii (Sadachbia) and three neighbouring stars forming what Arabic astronomers saw as tents (akhbiya) set up after the rain. The Moon transits this mansion for approximately 24–26 hours every 27.3 days, typically in mid December.
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Al-Fargh al-Awwal (الفرغ الأول)
Moon longitude: 21°26′ tropical Aquarius–4°17′ tropical Pisces. Al-Fargh al-Awwal — "The First Spout" or "The First Emptying" — is anchored by Alpha Pegasi (Markab) and Beta Pegasi (Scheat), the two leading stars of the Great Square of Pegasus. The Moon transits this mansion for approximately 24–26 hours every 27.3 days, typically in late December to early January.
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Al-Fargh al-Thānī (الفرغ الثاني)
Moon longitude: 4°17′–17°09′ tropical Pisces. Al-Fargh al-Thānī — "The Second Spout" — is anchored by Gamma Pegasi (Algenib) and Alpha Andromedae (Alpheratz/Sirrah). These stars form the eastern side of the Great Square of Pegasus. The Moon transits this mansion for approximately 24–26 hours every 27.3 days, typically in mid January.
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Al-Risha (الرشاء)
Moon longitude: 17°09′–30°00′ tropical Pisces. Al-Risha — "The Cord" or "The Rope" — is formed by Beta Andromedae (Mirach) and associated stars, marking the cord that ties together the two fish of the Pisces constellation. The Moon transits this mansion for approximately 24–26 hours every 27.3 days, typically in late January to early February. It is the final mansion of the 28-mansion cycle.
History & Origins
Long before Islam, the Arabs of the desert were expert star-watchers. Their own system was the anwā': the Bedouin tracked particular stars and asterisms as they set just before dawn or rose on the opposite horizon, and read from them the turn of the seasons, the coming of rain and the way across trackless sand. This knowledge was genuinely theirs, practical and old — a calendar of survival written in the night sky.
The framework you see here, though — the twenty-eight manāzil al-qamar, the "mansions of the Moon" — was not originally Arab. Twenty-eight stations mark the Moon's nightly path around the sky, and this scheme reached the Arabs, most likely from India, where it had long existed as the nakshatras. When and by what road it arrived is not known; but the grid of twenty-eight is an import, cousin to the Indian lunar mansions rather than a homegrown invention.
What the Arabs did with it is the interesting part. They fused the borrowed twenty-eight mansions with their own anwā', giving the imported stations the old indigenous star-names and folding them into the practical almanac of the desert year — when to plant, when to move the herds, when the rains would come. By the medieval period the manāzil were fully at home in Arabic science, and later scholars such as al-Būnī wove them deep into talismanic and astrological lore.
So the honest picture is a familiar shape: a real and ancient body of indigenous Arab star-knowledge, the anwā', joined to an adopted framework, the twenty-eight lunar mansions of ultimately Indian descent — and the two grown together so completely that the result is unmistakably Arab. The mansions are a borrowed skeleton; the flesh, the names and the desert wisdom on them are genuinely Arabia's own.