22/05/2026
The setting of the star (or disappearance of the star) is a traditional Arabic term that specifically refers to the period when the Pleiades star cluster (Al-Thurayya) disappears below the western horizon after sunset, particularly during late spring and early summer. This period is known as “Al-Kinnah” (approximately from April 29 to June 7), during which temperatures rise significantly, illnesses become more common, water levels decrease, and seasonal conditions change.
Information about the disappearance of the Pleiades (Al-Thurayya):
* Timing: Its disappearance begins at sunset in late April and continues for about 40 days.
* Climatic significance: It marks the transition between spring and summer and signals the onset of increasing heat.
* Bedouin tradition: Bedouins associate this period with the spread of illnesses (known as “Al-Dashbah” or “Ghayb Najm” – “the star’s disappearance”), a time characterized by reduced activity and stagnation.
* Position in the sky: Before disappearing completely, the Pleiades can be seen hanging low toward the northwestern horizon.
* This period is also called “Khafūq Al-Thurayya” (the fading or setting of the Pleiades), and it is considered an important calendrical and seasonal reference period among Arabs in the Arabian Peninsula and the Levant.
