Zodiacal Light (Left) and Milky Way Galaxy (Right). Credit Caroline Halderman on EarthSky

I don't know why the image do not show in my post.

Hope this link will work.

https//photos.app.goo.gl/Bwi3NVEYjAx5XbXd8

or directly access to original site here

https//earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/zodiacal-light-false-dusk-how-to-see-explanation/

When the best time to see Zodiacal Light ? and when start Ramadhan fasting ?

Zodiacal Light is a huge softly radiant pyramid of white light with its base near the horizon that stands
almost straight up in the dark sky. It is very faint, often outshined and rendered invisible by moonlight (Full Moon) or light pollution.

The zodiacal light is most visible around the Equinoxes. That’s because the light follows the ecliptic, or pathway of the sun, moon and planets. And the ecliptic makes its most extreme angles with the horizon around the equinoxes. It makes its steepest angle on spring evenings (autumn mornings). It makes its narrowest angle on autumn evenings (spring mornings).

For the same reason, because it follows the ecliptic, the zodiacal light is often visible from Earth’s tropical latitudes. That’s because the ecliptic – pathway of the sun and moon – hits the horizon at a steep angle from this part of the world all year long.

No matter where you live on Earth, look for the zodiacal light in the east direction before dawn around the time of your autumn equinox. Look for it in the west direction after sunset around the time of your spring equinox.

Of course, spring and autumn fall in different months for Earth’s Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
So if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere look for the zodiacal light before dawn from about late August through early November. In those same months, if you’re in the Southern Hemisphere, look for the light in the evening.
Likewise, if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere, look for the evening zodiacal light from late February through early May. During those months, from the Southern Hemisphere, look for the light in the morning.

In summarize, Different Lattitude location will be different best time to see.

In the Northern Hemisphere Zodiacal Light is best seen,
in Spring time just after Dusk Twilight after sunset and
in Autumn time just before Dawn Twilight before sunrise,

In the Southern Hemisphere Zodiacal Light is best seen,
in Spring time just before Dawn Twilight before sunrise and
in Autumn time just after Dusk Twilight after sunset,

Please see below link if you want to see zodiacal light calendar for year 2023,
https//cosmicreflections.skythisweek.info/2023/02/

From that calendar you can see Zodiacal Light will be seen from 13th September to 26th September, zodiacal light will be disappear during before Full Moon (29th September).

I will do fasting for Ten days starting from 17th September (beginning of Crescent Moon) until 26th September. Luckily Equinox (Laylatul Qadr) will happened on Saturday, 23th September.

What is Zodiacal Light ?

There are millions of objects orbiting the sun. These include planets, dwarf planets, asteroids, and comets. But there are millions more objects, much smaller than these, ranging downward in size to tiny grains of interplanetary matter, the size of sand grains or even smaller. These are too small to be visible as discrete points of light, but like the faint stars in the Milky Way, their combined light causes a faint glow in the night sky. Since these tiny objects cluster along the ecliptic, the path of the sun and planets across the sky, which the ancients called the zodiac, we call this glow the Zodiacal light.

I found there are no detail explanation of this phenomena in General Astronomy books, only few books discuss this, one of them is “A Survey of Radial Velocities in the Zodiacal Dust Cloud” by Brian May, famous guitarist of the Queen, he wrote this book in 2006 for Phd thesis long time after his career in music.

https//lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AIL4fc_xn8hiS_6qdBz2MVOHfT0a7QT9W2iwXfrIeJ0TWkdjzMapIq2BG0FN7G_ioNNGpERZR-bdGauhJ7H5lo4uglb40dcE_o-9pd7C9f-IV7APLb2P1RhDfXW5G9w3J_IXoZgsTlXO5DqntwGhInh0_F4XvU875HO7Iej9Ti2HuqaYRCL2yoJtCBdlBRoR9nqMxhRN90Wg93g0jDTDrfKh4Lh3Y1ounfXM3eiyoDeK77_PUSXgWpDVzL2qM5qtClPFqOXiZDlyVeZGVhXX8h88G92Z6M7BW5t2Gq5AZdSCv9Ul6vLCUSo3DoFzv-SFrrSKDRK_tHLZcSTwNZgy8jocXsTIedxdMbhZ5eyb4DqiQt0KET6wGdkS_4NmuNfHlvhXObmhd4EX1Tu2vBOM0itcSSu536eKTZrcBjnxXFtgxp9tfmlxU0NA8kxetGqcB0CSKWCUbarM5Lki5SUpJFO1wqoa71C2TunG0tBqTr9ka8sBVV6-8nRhIHIpN2bihdUGCy4siEFHEHfNVPfIrtgQu_qphr1VsRh4XkB7EG7Op-kpoqlApP1F7lNda4aKn2FamrIRrB5jxbvrOe6n_GVcMb5vJhv47ibeLVupmLGZgo_N08QyeSKn3oDE5Imt5-_MFQDuuKE3dkKvzizyrRSL9AsglhQAAQDNq3BwXHhudJkBYY0HNQxmFRbg9BUTJ6khcYK5NpZP2pKaLZif3XLsNMM_Mb3zEWppF7Hsgp_w1Ha-wfDsQ4lCLRDJPODdKDhps60NO9hS-K_GdZh6QXH3VPbpm2PVhT-RyBI6liFPH3xOLOIOE7DXfsFPzjBbiXMnAr7B2lqYbdDZwVTpZ2o7hsZT7Jj_U-aj9mNxjYV6rHUHYV0Ue76DFpTmkoNtC7IZC3GUUPySbl9s1VaZYL3uRSMIAO5SLTAq5jtNS4NXyHeTQu1WNJD-Idm696bgb6nMdAzMOI7IDIkeJ4dK4uo_OIAceENEGSc7aVT6hFm98FLeLR4_QgkyGInEYb_Uwy25IdYXww=w800-h588-s-no?authuser=0
Zodiacal Light (Left) and Milky Way Galaxy (Right). Credit Caroline Halderman on EarthSky

Zodiacal Light = Sahoor Time

In Islam, Hadith described zodiacal light in reference to the timing of the daily prayers, calling it the "false dawn"( الفجر الكاذب al-fajr al-kādhib) in which the Prophet Muhammad describes the difference between it (false dawn), and the light of the first band of horizontal light before sunrise, the "true dawn"
(الفجر الصادق al-fajr al-shadiq). According to the vast majority of Muslim scholars, astronomical twilight (the sun is -18 degree below the horizon) is considered the true dawn, but it is not correct. According to few articles, observations found that zodiacal light appear when the sun between -19 to -14 degree below horizon, then Fajr Shadiq follow to appear when the sun is -12 degree below horizon.

In Qur’an, Zodiacal Light time is called as Sahar (Q.S. 5434) and As-har (Q.S. 317 and 511, why Qur’an calling it like that? Possibly it’s word root same as 'Sihr' means to bewitch, magic, or illusion. Zodiacal light also called by False Dawn because sometimes it is illusion that people thought it is True Down. Interestingly, Hans Wehr in his book Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic, Sahr/Ashar also means Lungs, maybe because the Zodiacal light look like Human Lungs.
Muslim in Ramadhan recognize this time as Sahoor time, which is the time to have a light meal shortly before Fajar (as starting Fasting).

When I was child, I was curious why fasting starting from Imsak (me in Indonesia, it starting ten minutes before Fajr), What is the sign in the Sky for determine that time? During Prophet Muhammad life time, there was no clock watch to know when sahoor time or fajr start. The only way to know is looking at the sky. Jews starting fasting from Sunset until tomorrow Sunset again, so no problem with the timing sign. Qur’an in AlBaqarah 187 said that fasting starting from True Fajr until Night (not sunset), Fajr is easily known when the sky color starting bright, but muslim should eating sahoor before Fajr rise, the only sign is Zodiacal Light (Sahr/As-har time) at Prophet life time.

Again, interestingly Zodiacal light not always seen everyday for all day year round, for me this proof that Fasting Ramadhan always perform in September crescent moon in the Prophet Muhammad life time as I will discuss later.

Kephal in Greek means "head".

I always refer to Bible if found Qur'an mention person name.
For Dzul Kifli, I think nowhere on the Bible.
Kephale which mentioned on Greek version of Bible is greek word for Head as you mention, but no refer to any special person.

Btw, I am from Indonesia, in Bahasa the english word of Head is also Kepala, it is from Hindu Sanskrit because before Islam Indonesia religion is Hindu.

And it is interesting argument to be discussed that the Greek Mythology and Monotheist Religion was come from Hindu.
I will show some findings from "The Bible in India" book by Louis Jacolliot that many Greek Mythology similar with Hindu

Hercules. — In Sanscrit, Hara-kala hero of battles— an epithet commonly given to Siva, God of battles and of Hindoo poetry.
Theseus. — In Sanscrit, Tha-saha, the associate, companion of Siva.
AEacus. — A Judge in Hell, in Greek mythology; in Sanscrit, Aha-ka a severe judge, adjective of qualification, ordinarily attached to the name of Yama — the Hindoo Judge of Hell.
Ariadne. — The unhappy princess abandoned by Theseus, and who had committed the fault of giving herself up to the enemy of her family. ln Sanscrit, Ari-ana— seduced by an enemy.
RhaDamanthus. — Another Judgein Hell, in mythology; in Sanscrit,Radha-manta — who chastises crime.
Andromeda. — Sacrificed to Neptune, and succored by Perseus. In Sanscrit, Andha-ra-medha — sacrificed to the passion of the Water God.
Persius. — In Sanscrit, Para-saha— timely succor,
Centaur - Mythologic, half man, half horse. In Sanscrit, Ken-tiira -Man-horse.

and many more you can find in the book.

Also Abraham and Sarah (his wife) similar with Brahma and Saras-vati (Brahma wife).

I see that Qur'an talks only about events (and people living) in Middle East and Egypt.

Agree, but to be more specific Ayat Makkiyyah (Makkah revelation) talk about Egypt (Mishr), Syria/Lebanon, and Petra/Nabataean Kingdom
Hijaz (recently Makkah) and Yaman never mention. Btw, I still find facts about Sheeba which mention in Makkah Revelation, probably it is not in Yaman, but if actually in Yaman maybe because it is related with Solomon (Jerusalem).

Petra is mentioned as er-Raqeem in surah Kehf. Jordanians removed inscription Raqeem at the entrance of Petra some 50 years ago.

I have already had few books about Petra, this year plan to go there but God give me Liposarcoma cancer, so I postpone until my health back.

Mezulari, welcome to the forum, btw.

handshake Please be apologized for skipping myself to not Introduce self first,
actually I already joined to free-minds forum long long time ago, but I missed my account due to my computer broken.

I see all of qiraa'et as made by Persians to try to make changes in the Qur'an.

I think since Prophet died, there are already found different qira'at reading such that during Utsman bin Affan all others mushhaf burned and destroyed.

Maybe I wasn't clear, because I don't agree that Hijr means "intelligence". I see it as "prevention" and what is said is that this prevention is not destined, but it is caused by people's actions, as actions of 'Ad, Themood and pharaoh.

Yes, I catch your message that you did not translate Hijr as 'intelligence',
but I still not convince about the true meaning of Hijr on that ayat,

Hijr is connected with word dzi ذِيْ حِجْرٍ , it is similar with ayat 2185 and 3848 about someone who mentioned by Dzal Kifli وَاِسْمٰعِيْلَ وَاِدْرِيْسَ وَذَا الْكِفْلِۗ كُلٌّ مِّنَ الصّٰبِرِيْنَ
Some are of the opinion that Dzu al-Kifl could be Ezekiel, but some said Dzu al-Kifl has also been identified with Gautama Buddha.
The meaning of Dzu al-Kifl is still debated, but, according to one view, it can mean "the man from Kapil (Kapilavastu, the city where the Buddha spent thirty years of his life).
I prefer with the last opinion, then similar with that Dzu Hijr mean people from Hijr (stone, rock, petra).

Thanks @Aladin for your reply,

regarding ayat 901 I don't want to discuss much,
because if you read Mu'jam Qira'at book which discuss different reading of qur'an manuscript,
you can see that Laa Uqsimu in 901 or 751 or 5675 many mufassirun read by La-uqsimu لَاقْسِمُ so the meaning is not "No, I swear" or "I don't swear" but "Indeed, I swear" with Lam Ta'kid not Laa Nahyy.

But I still need more explanation to convince me regarding the translation of Hijr in ayat 895 with Intelligence.

Salam Alaykum,

Firstly I want to mention some background premises that Ramadhan fasting is in September

1. Ramadhan is 9th month of Solar Calendar not Lunar Calendar, it is not in Summer or Winter but starting from the cloud of rain season happened in the end of Summer season and in the beginning of Autumn season as defined in Lisanul Arab Dictionary by Ibn Manzhur. It was BIG Mistake from Traditionalist to change calendar from Solar to Lunar, because it is always shifted every year, it is funny to say this month is Rabi’ awwal (First Spring season) except you live in Australia, LOL.

2. Laylatul Qadr in English means “Balance of the Night” or astronomically it is same time with Equinox, Equinox descends from aequus, the Latin word for "equal", and nox, the Latin word for "night"—a fitting history for a word that describes days of the year when the daytime and nighttime are equal in length. In Hadith said Laylatul Qadr usually on last 10 days of Ramadhan (20..21..22..23..), Equinox also happens on September 22, 23, or 24 in most years.

3. Fasting start from Crescent Moon not Full Moon as some of Qur’anist in this forum think or New Moon as nowadays Jews, I think Jews mistakenly change the Rosh Chodesh definition from Crescent Moon to New Moon which cannot be easily witnessed every month in the past time except if there was Eclipse happen. And in this thread, I will show support evidence for this assumption on next.

Salam ‘Alaykum,

Dear all,
I want to ask about the meaning of HIJR in sura 89 Al Fajr verse 5
هَلْ فِيْ ذٰلِكَ قَسَمٌ لِّذِيْ حِجْرٍ
Most translation in tafseer books of the Hijr is Intelligence including the Qur’an Reformist Translation by Brothers Edip Yuksel and Layth.

But my logic cannot understand well what is the meaning and purpose of Intelligence on that ayat.
So, I checked Arabic Dictionary, the main translation of Ha-Ja-Ra is Forbidden/Restriction and Stone/to petrify,
The meaning of Hijr as “intelligence” I think because it’s already stated by almost all classic tafseer books, for example in Lane Lexicon after explaining the main meaning of Ha-Ja-Ra then he said …. Understanding, intelligence, intellect, mind, or reason (S, A, Msb,K so in the Kur lxxxix. 4 (S, Bd thus called because it forbids that which it does not behoove one to do. (Bd.) One says, (see above ayat).
See, always refer to the ayat and I think the conclusion of the meaning of Hijr by “forbids that which it does not behoove one to do” still make me confuse.
And when I checked to Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic by Hans Wehr, I did not find the meaning of Hijr by “intelligence”.

In my opinion the meaning of Hijr on that ayat is Stone or Rock, so the the meaning of ayat could be…
“In this is an oath for the one who occupy/habitant the Hijr (Stone/Rock)”
Who is the occupant of Hijr ? you can read on the following verses
896 Did you not see what your Lord did to Aad?
897 Iram, with the great columns
898 The one which was like no other in the land
899 And Thamud who carved the rocks in the valley

This also mentioned in Sura Al-Hijr verse 1580-82 …
1580 The dwellers of the Hijr rejected the messengers.
1581 We gave them Our signs, but they turned away from them.
1582 They used to sculpt from the mountains dwellings that were secure/hidden. (Balad Amin)

If my translation correct then I have conclusion that there is connection between this ayat (1582) with ayat (953),
951 By the fig and the olive
952 and The mount of Sinai.
953 and This secure/hidden land. (Balad Amin = Hijr)

Back to Ayat 895, surah Al-Fajr (surah #89) and surah Al-Balad (surah #90) is very close connection in structure and content, let’s see Ayat 895 and 901-2,
901 I swear by this land
902 And you (Muhammad) locate at this land.
both are mentioned by qasam (oath/swear) of the land,
if my opinion is correct then Muhamad is stay in Al-Hijr,
where is Hijr ??? Hijr in English is Stone/Rock, Petra (Greek) in English also Stone/Rock.

Please advice.
Thanks.