View source for Al-Ṯurayyā al-Raʾs wa al-Yadān

{{DISPLAYTITLE:al-Ṯurayyā [the Head and the Two Hands]}}

{{distinguish|[[Al-Thurayya|al-Ṯurayyā, the star cluster]]}}

Authors: {{PAGEAUTHORS}}
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[[File:alturayyaalraswaalyadan.png|thumb|The Arabic constellation ''al-Ṯurayyā'': The Head and the Two Hands (<span dir="rtl">الثُّرَيَّا: الرأس واليدان</span>). CC BY, Khalid Al-Ajaji, 2026.]]

''al-Ṯurayyā: al-Raʾs wa-l-Yadān'' (<span dir="rtl">الثُّرَيَّا: الرأس واليدان</span>), “''al-Ṯurayyā'': The Head and the Two Hands”, is an Arabic constellation extending across parts of [[Cassiopeia]], [[Perseus]], [[Taurus]], and [[Cetus]]. It represents a woman’s head with two outstretched hands and is described by al-Ṣūfī and in primary ''anwāʾ'' sources.

==Concordance, Etymology, History==
The constellation ''al-Ṯurayyā: al-Raʾs wa-l-Yadān'' is recorded in the primary ''anwāʾ'' works of ibn Qutayba, ibn ʿĀṣim al-Ṯaqafī, and al-Marzūqī, as well as in the astronomer al-Ṣūfī’s ''kitāb al-Kawākib''. These sources record fourteen names for its components, which include individual stars, groups of stars, and a nebulous patch.

'''Variants''' Arabic
{| class="wikitable"
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | Arabic Name 
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | Arabic Variants
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''al-Ṯurayyā'' (الثُّرَيَّا) “The Abundance”
|''al-Naǧm'' (النَّجم) “The Star”
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''al-Kaff al-Ǧaḏmāʾ'' (الكَف الجَذْماء) “the Amputated Hand”
|
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''al-Kaff al-Ḫaḍīb'' (الكَف الخَضِيْب) “the Henna-Dyed Hand”
|''Sanām al-Nāqa'' (سَنَام النَّاقَة) “the Camel's Hump”
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''al-Miʿṣam'' (المِعْصَم) “the Wrist”
|''Wašm al-Miʿṣam'' (وَشْم المِعْصَم) “the Wrist Tattoo”
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''al-Ḏirāʿ'' (الذِّرَاع) “the Forearm”
|''al-Sāʿid''  (السَّاعِد) “the Forearm”; ''al-Suwayʿid'' (السُّوَيْعِد) “the Little Forearm”
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''al-Maʾbiḍ'' (المَأْبِض) “the Inner Elbow”
|
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''al-Mirfaq'' (المِرْفَق) “the Elbow”
|
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''Ibrat al-Mirfaq'' (إبْرَةُ المِرْفَق) “the Tip of the Elbow”
|
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''ʿAḍud al-Ṯurayyā'' (عَضُدُ الثُّرَيَّا) “the Upper Arm of al-Ṯurayyā”
|
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''al-Mankib'' (المَنْكِب) “the Shoulder”
|
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''al-ʿĀtiq'' (العَاتِق) “the Upper Shoulder”
|
|}

'''Variants''' Latin / European
{| class="wikitable"
! scope="col" style="width: 20%;" | Name
! scope="col" style="width: 16%;" | Hyde<ref name="hyde"/>
! scope="col" style="width: 16%;" | Ideler<ref name="ideler"/>
! scope="col" style="width: 16%;" | Schjellerup<ref name="Schjellerup"/>
! scope="col" style="width: 16%;" | Allen<ref name="Hinckley"/>
! scope="col" style="width: 16%;" | Kunitzsch<ref name="Kunitzsch1961"/>
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''al-Ṯurayyā''
|''AlThuraiyâ'', p. 5
|''El-thoreja'', p. 146
|''al-tsuraijâ'', pp. 34, 134
|''Al Thurayya'', p. 395
|''aṯ-ṯurayyā'' (no. 306), p. 114
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''al-Kaff al-Ǧaḏmāʾ''
|''Caph AlGjedmâ'', p. 44
|''El-khaf el-dschedsmâ'', p. 207
|''al-kaff al-djadzmâ'', p. 201
|''Al Kaff al Jidhmah'', p. 162
|''al-kaff al-ǧaḏmāʾ'' (no. 137), p. 72
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''al-Kaff al-Ḫaḍīb''
|''Caph AlChadib'', p. 19
|''El-khaf el-chadîb'', p. 81
|''al-kaff al-chadhîb'', p. 83
|''Kaff al Ḣadib'', pp. 143–144
|''al-kaff al-ḫaḍīb'' (no. 136b), p. 72
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''al-Miʿṣam''
|''Mi'sam AlThuraiyâ'', p. 20
|''Miʿsam'', p. 83; ''Miʿsam el-thoreja'', p. 90
|''al-mîsam'', p. 88
|''Miʿṣam al Thurayya'', p. 334
|''al-miʿṣam'' (no. 169), p. 80
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''Wašm al-Miʿṣam''
|
|
|
|
|''wašm al-miʿṣam'' (no. 314), p. 116
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''al-Ḏirāʿ''
|
|
|
|
|''aḏ-ḏirāʿ'' (no. 81), p. 54
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''al-Sāʿid''
|
|
|''al-sâïd'', p. 88
|
|''as-sāʿid'' (no. 258), p. 103
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''al-Suwayʿid''
|
|
|
|
|
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''al-Maʾbiḍ''
|
|
|''al-mâbidh'', p. 88
|
|''al-maʾbiḍ'' (no. 152), p. 75
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''al-Mirfaq''
|
|''Marfic'', p. 85
|''al-marfik'', p. 88
|''Marfak, Mirfak'' (Marfiḳ al Thurayya), p. 331
|''al-mirfaq'' (no. 163), p. 77
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''Ibrat al-Mirfaq''
|
|
|''ibrat al-marfik'', p. 88
|
|''ibrat al-mirfaq'' (no. 133), p. 71
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''ʿAḍud al-Ṯurayyā''
|
|
|''al-adhid'', p. 88
|
|''al-ʿaḍud'' (no. 27), pp. 41–42
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''al-Mankib''
|''Menkib AlThuraiyâ'', p. 20
|''Menkhib'', p. 85
|''al-mankib'', p. 88
|''Menkib, Mankib al Thurayya'', p. 334
|''al-mankib'' (no. 157), p. 76
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''al-ʿĀtiq''
|''Atik AlThuraiyâ'', p. 20
|''Atik'', p. 85; ''Atik el-thoreja'', p. 90
|''al-âtik'', p. 88 (atik al-tsuraija, p. 93)
|''Atik, Al ʽĀtiḳ'', p. 334
|''al-ʿātiq'' (no. 41), p. 44
|}

===Etymology===

{| class="wikitable"
! scope="col" style="width: 16%;" | Name
! scope="col" style="width: 42%;" | English
! scope="col" style="width: 42%;" | Arabic
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''Ṯurayyā''
|In ''Lisān al-ʿArab'', s.v. ''ṯ-r-ā'' (ثرا),<ref name="lisan"/> we read:
<blockquote>
“Ṯarwa means a great number of people or an abundance of wealth.”
</blockquote>

It also states in the same entry:
<blockquote>
“‘So-and-so is ''qarīb al-ṯarā''’ means that his wealth and generosity are readily accessible to others. Ṯarwān means ‘abundant’; hence the masculine personal name Ṯarwān and the feminine personal name Ṯurayyā, the latter being a diminutive of ṯarwā. Al-Ṯurayyā [the Pleiades], among the stars, was so named because of the abundant rainfall associated with its nawʾ. It is also said to have been so named because of the multitude of its stars despite its small apparent size—as though they were numerous in relation to the confined space they occupy. The name is used only in the diminutive form, but here the diminutive serves to magnify.”
</blockquote>
|dir="rtl"|جاء في «لسان العرب»، مادة «ثرا»:
<blockquote>
«الثَّرْوَة: كَثْرَةُ العَدَد مِنَ النَّاسِ وَالْمَالِ.»
</blockquote>

وقال أيضًا في نفس المادة:
<blockquote>
«وَفُلَانٌ قَرِيبُ الثَّرَى أَي الْخَيْرِ. والثَّرْوَانُ: الغَزِير، وَبِهِ سُمِّيَ الرَّجُلُ ثَرْوَان والمرأَة ثُرَيَّا، وَهِيَ تَصْغِيرُ ثَرْوَى. والثُّرَيَّا: مِنَ الْكَوَاكِبِ، سُمِّيَتْ لِغَزَارَةِ نَوْئها، وَقِيلَ: سُمِّيَتْ بِذَلِكَ لِكَثْرَةِ كَوَاكِبِهَا مَعَ صِغَرِ مَرْآتها، فكأَنها كَثِيرَةُ الْعَدَدِ بالإِضافة إِلى ضِيقِ الْمَحَلِّ، لَا يُتَكَلَّمُ بِهِ إِلا مُصَغَّرًا، وَهُوَ تَصْغِيرٌ عَلَى جِهَةِ التَّكْبِيرِ.»
</blockquote>
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''al-Kaff al-Ǧaḏmāʾ''
|In ''Lisān al-ʿArab'', s.v. ''ǧ-ḏ-m'' (جذم),<ref name="lisan"/> we read:
<blockquote>
“Al-ǧaḏm is cutting. … Al-ǧaḏam is the verbal noun of ''al-aǧḏam al-yad'', that is, the one whose fingers have gone from both hands.”
</blockquote>
And s.v. ''k-f-f'' (كفف): “Al-kaff means ‘hand’ and is grammatically feminine.”
|dir="rtl"|جاء في «لسان العرب»، مادة «جذم»:
<blockquote>
«الجَذْم: القَطْع. … والجَذَم: مَصْدَرُ الأَجْذَم اليَدِ، وَهُوَ الَّذِي ذَهَبَتْ أَصابعِ كَفَّيْهِ.»
</blockquote>
ومادة «كفف»: «والكَفُّ: الْيَدُ، أُنثى.»
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''al-Kaff al-Ḫaḍīb''
|In ''Lisān al-ʿArab'', s.v. ''k-f-f'' (كفف) and ''ḫ-ḍ-b'' (خضب),<ref name="lisan"/> we read:
<blockquote>
“Al-kaff means ‘hand’ and is grammatically feminine.” … “Al-kaff al-ḫaḍīb is a star, named by comparison [with a hand dyed with henna].”
</blockquote>
|dir="rtl"|جاء في «لسان العرب»، مادة «كفف»: «والكَفُّ: الْيَدُ، أُنثى.» وفي مادة «خضب»:
<blockquote>
«والكَفُّ الخَضِيبُ: نَجْمٌ عَلَى التَّشْبِيه.»
</blockquote>
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''al-Miʿṣam''
|In ''Lisān al-ʿArab'', s.v. ''ʿ-ṣ-m'' (عصم),<ref name="lisan"/> we read:
<blockquote>
“Al-miʿṣam is the place on the hand where the bracelet is worn. … They sometimes use al-miʿṣam for the hand itself; its dual is ''miʿṣamān''.”
</blockquote>
|dir="rtl"|جاء في «لسان العرب»، مادة «عصم»:
<blockquote>
«والمِعْصَمُ: مَوْضِعُ السِّوارِ مِنَ اليَدِ. … وَرُبَّمَا جَعَلُوا المِعْصَم اليَد، وَهُمَا مِعْصَمانِ.»
</blockquote>
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''Wašm al-Miʿṣam''
|In ''Lisān al-ʿArab'', s.v. ''w-š-m'' (وشم),<ref name="lisan"/> we read:
<blockquote>
“Al-wašm is what a woman makes on her forearm with a needle and then fills with ''nuʾūr'', which is the soot of fat.”
</blockquote>
For ''miʿṣam'' see above.
|dir="rtl"|جاء في «لسان العرب»، مادة «وشم»:
<blockquote>
«الوَشْمُ مَا تَجْعَلُهُ المرأَة عَلَى ذراعِها بالإِبْرَةِ ثُمَّ تَحْشُوه بالنَّؤُور، وَهُوَ دُخان الشَّحْمِ.»
</blockquote>
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''al-Sāʿid''
|In ''Lisān al-ʿArab'', s.v. ''s-ʿ-d'' (سعد),<ref name="lisan"/> we read:
<blockquote>
“Al-sāʿid is the meeting of the two ''zands'' from the elbow to the wrist. … It was called ''sāʿid'' because it helps (''musāʿada'') the hand when it seizes or takes something; the plural is ''sawāʿid''.”
</blockquote>
|dir="rtl"|جاء في «لسان العرب»، مادة «سعد»:
<blockquote>
«وَالسَّاعِدُ: مُلْتَقى الزَّنْدَين مِنْ لَدُنِ المِرْفَق إِلى الرُّسْغ. … سُمِّيَ سَاعِدًا لِمُسَاعَدَتِهِ الْكَفَّ إِذا بَطَشَت شَيْئًا أَو تَنَاوَلَتْهُ، وَجَمْعُ السَّاعِدِ سَواعد.»
</blockquote>
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''al-Suwayʿid''
|Diminutive of ''sāʿid'' (see above, s.v. ''s-ʿ-d'').
|dir="rtl"|تصغير «ساعد» (انظر مادة «سعد»).
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''al-Ḏirāʿ''
|In ''Lisān al-ʿArab'', s.v. ''ḏ-r-ʿ'' (ذرع),<ref name="lisan"/> we read:
<blockquote>
“Al-ḏirāʿ is the part extending from the tip of the elbow to the tip of the middle finger; the word is feminine, though it is sometimes used as masculine.”
</blockquote>
|dir="rtl"|جاء في «لسان العرب»، مادة «ذرع»:
<blockquote>
«الذِّراعُ: مَا بَيْنَ طرَف المِرْفق إِلى طرَفِ الإِصْبَع الوُسْطى، أُنثى وَقَدْ تذكَّر.»
</blockquote>
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''al-Maʾbiḍ''
|In ''Lisān al-ʿArab'', s.v. ''ʾ-b-ḍ'' (أبض),<ref name="lisan"/> we read:
<blockquote>
“It is also said that ''al-maʾbiḍān'' refers to the inner hollows of the knees and elbows.”
</blockquote>
|dir="rtl"|جاء في «لسان العرب»، مادة «أبض»:
<blockquote>
«وَقِيلَ: المأْبِضان بَاطِنَا الرُّكْبَتَيْنِ وَالْمِرْفَقَيْنِ.»
</blockquote>
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''al-Mirfaq''
|In ''Lisān al-ʿArab'', s.v. ''r-f-q'' (رفق),<ref name="lisan"/> we read:
<blockquote>
“Al-mirfaq, also pronounced al-marfiq, is the upper end of the forearm and the lower end of the upper arm in humans and animals.”
</blockquote>
|dir="rtl"|جاء في «لسان العرب»، مادة «رفق»:
<blockquote>
«المِرفَق والمَرفِق مِنَ الإِنسان وَالدَّابَّةِ أَعلى الذِّراع وأَسفلُ العَضُد.»
</blockquote>
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''ʿAḍud al-Ṯurayyā''
|In ''Lisān al-ʿArab'', s.v. ''ʿ-ḍ-d'' (عضد),<ref name="lisan"/> we read:
<blockquote>
“Al-ʿaḍud is what lies between the shoulder and the elbow.”
</blockquote>
|dir="rtl"|جاء في «لسان العرب»، مادة «عضد»:
<blockquote>
«الْعَضُدُ مَا بَيْنَ الكَتِفِ والمِرْفَقِ.»
</blockquote>
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''al-Mankib''
|In ''Lisān al-ʿArab'', s.v. ''n-k-b'' (نكب),<ref name="lisan"/> we read:
<blockquote>
“Al-mankib, in humans and other creatures, is the junction of the head of the shoulder blade and the upper arm; the word is exclusively masculine.”
</blockquote>
|dir="rtl"|جاء في «لسان العرب»، مادة «نكب»:
<blockquote>
«المَنْكِبُ مِنَ الإِنسان وَغَيْرِهِ: مُجْتَمَعُ رأْسِ الكَتِفِ والعَضُدِ، مُذَكَّرٌ لَا غَيْرَ.»
</blockquote>
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''al-ʿĀtiq''
|In ''Tāj al-ʿarūs'', s.v. ''ʿ-t-q'' (عتق),<ref name="zabidi"/> we read:
<blockquote>
“Al-ʿātiq is the place of the cloak on the shoulder (''mankib''); hence the saying ‘a man ''amyal al-ʿātiq''’, when the place of the cloak on him is crooked. Or: what lies between the shoulder and the neck; masculine only, and the two are ''ʿātiqān''.”
</blockquote>
|dir="rtl"|جاء في «تاج العروس»، مادة «عتق»:
<blockquote>
«والعاتِق: موضِع الرِّداءِ من المَنْكِب وَمِنْه قولُهم: رجُلٌ أميَلُ العاتِق: إِذا كَانَ معْوَجَ موضِعِ الرِّداءِ مِنْهُ. أَو مَا بَيْن المَنْكِبِ والعُنُقِ مذكَّرٌ لَا غير، وهُما عاتِقان.»
</blockquote>
|}

=== Sources and Identification ===

==== Ibn Qutayba ====
'''Ibn Qutayba (d. 276 AH / 889 CE)''', Hyderabad edition (1956)<ref name="qutayba"/>, (pp. 32-34): 
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" |English
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" |Arabic
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|Ibn Qutayba said:

<blockquote>
'''''Al-Ṯurayyā''''' has two hands. One is called '''''al-Kaff al-Ǧaḏmāʾ''''' (“the Amputated Hand”)—it lies below ''al-Šaraṭān'', with ''al-Baqar'' (“the Oryxes”) to its right—and consists of scattered stars extending to ''al-Ṯurayyā''.
</blockquote>

He then described ''al-Kaff al-Ḫaḍīb'' (“the Henna-Dyed Hand”), saying:

<blockquote>
The other is called '''''al-Kaff al-Ḫaḍīb'''''. It is the outstretched hand of ''al-Ṯurayyā'': five white stars in the Milky Way, opposite ''al-Ḥūt'' (“the Fish”).
</blockquote>

He then described the line of stars extending between al-Kaff al-Ḫaḍīb and al-Ṯurayyā, saying:
<blockquote>
Following ''al-Kaff al-Ḫaḍīb'' (“the Henna-Dyed Hand”) is '''''al-Miʿṣam''''' (“the Wrist”), which is the wrist of the hand. It is also called '''''Wašm al-Miʿṣam''''' (“the Wrist Tattoo”). It is a patch resembling a patch of cloud. A mark of this kind is sometimes made on the thigh of a she-camel.

Following ''al-Miʿṣam'' is '''''al-Ḏirāʿ''''' (“the Forearm”): three faint stars. Following ''al-Ḏirāʿ'' is '''''al-Maʾbiḍ''''' (“the Inner Elbow”): two stars close together, separated by about a cubit to the eye. Following ''al-Maʾbiḍ'' is '''''al-Mirfaq''''' (“the Elbow”), a white star. Beneath it is a smaller star called '''''Ibrat al-Mirfaq''''' (“the Tip of the Elbow”), while ''al-Šaraṭān'' (“the Two Signs”) lies to the right of ''al-Mirfaq''.

'''''ʿAḍud al-Ṯurayyā''''' (“the Upper Arm of al-Ṯurayyā”) consists of stars arranged in an elongated formation between ''al-Mirfaq'' and ''al-Ṯurayyā'', faint, like the stars of ''al-Ḏirāʿ''. Next is '''''al-Mankib''''' (“the Shoulder”): two stars resembling ''al-Maʾbiḍ''. ''Al-Buṭayn'' (“the Little Belly”) lies to the right of ''al-Mankib''. Next is '''''al-ʿĀtiq''''' (“the Upper Shoulder”), a star that is not bright. Then comes '''''al-Ṯurayyā''''' (“the Pleiades”), which is said to be '''''the head'''''.

Ḏū al-Rumma said, mentioning the hands of al-Ṯurayyā:

<poem>
If only Mayy’s phantom would visit by night a lover so obsessed that he never ceases to think of her, 
while the hands of al-Ṯurayyā droop low in the west!
</poem>

He means the end of the night, when they halted to rest. ''Al-Ṯurayyā'' sets at every hour of the night, but the poet meant a time when its setting occurs at the end of the night. By “the hands of ''al-Ṯurayyā'',” he may have meant these two hands; alternatively, he may have meant its foremost stars, namely ''al-Šaraṭān''.
</blockquote>
|dir="rtl"|قال ابن قتيبة: 

<blockquote>
«للثُّرَيَّا كفان، يقال لإحداهما: '''الكَفُّ الجَذْمَاءُ'''، وهي أسفل من الشَّرَطَيْنِ، وعن يمينها البَقَرُ، وهي كواكب متفرقة تتصل بالثُّرَيَّا.»
</blockquote>

ثم وصف الكف الخضيب قائلًا:

<blockquote>«ويقال للأخرى: '''الكَفُّ الخَضِيبُ'''. وهو '''كَفُّ الثُّرَيَّا المَبْسُوطَةُ'''، خمسة كواكب بيض فـي الـمجرَّة حيال الحُوتِ.»
</blockquote> 

ثم وصف سطر النجوم الممتدة بين الكف الخضيب والثريا قائلًا:

<blockquote>
«وعلى إثر الكَفِّ الخَضِيبِ: '''“المِعْصَمُ”'''. وهو للكَفِّ مِعْصَمٌ. ويُسَمَّى: '''“وَشْمَ المِعْصَمِ”'''. وهو لطخة كلطخة السحاب. وقد يجعل وَشْمًا في فَخِذِ النَّاقَةِ. وعلى إثـر المِعْصَمِ '''“الذِّرَاعُ”'''؛ ثلاثة كواكب خفية. وعلى إثر الذِّرَاعِ، '''المَأبِضُ'''؛ وهما كوكبان متقاربان بينهما في رأى العين نحو ذراع. وعلى إثر المَأبِضِ، '''المِرْفَقُ'''؛ وهو كوكب أبيض. وتحته كوكب أصغر منه يقال له: '''إبْرَةُ المِرْفَقِ'''، والشَّرَطَانِ عن يمين المِرْفَقِ. و'''عَضُدُ الثُّرَيَّا''' كواكب مستطيلة، خفية، ككواكب الذِّرَاعِ بين المِرْفَقِ والثُّرَيَّا. ثم '''المَنْكِبُ'''؛ وهما كوكبان يشبهان المَأبِضَ. والبُطَيْنُ عن يمين المَنْكِبِ. ثم '''العَاتِقُ'''؛ وهو كوكب ليس بالنيِّر. ثم '''الثُّرَيَّا'''، ويقال هي '''الرَّأْسُ'''. قال ذو الرُّمَّةِ يذكر أيدي الثُّرَيَّا:

<poem>
أَلاَ طَرَقَتْ مَيٌّ هَيُومًا بِذِكْرِهَا
وَأَيْدِي الثُّرَيَّا جُنَّحٌ فِي المَغَارِبِ
</poem>

يريد آخر الليل حين عرَّسوا، والثُّرَيَّا تغرب في كل أوقات الليل إلَّا أن الشاعر أراد وقتا يكون غروبها فيه آخر الليل. وقد يجوز أن يكون أراد بأيدي الثُّرَيَّا هاتين الكفين، وأن يكون أراد أوائلها، يعنى الشَّرَطَيْنِ.
»
</blockquote>
|-
|[[File:alturayyaalraswaalyadan.png|thumb|center|The Arabic constellation ''al-Ṯurayyā'': The Head and the Two Hands (<span dir="rtl">الثُّرَيَّا: الرأس واليدان</span>). CC BY, Khalid Al-Ajaji, 2026.]]
|[[File:rimma.png|thumb|none|400px|Ḏū al-Rumma said, mentioning the hands of al-Ṯurayyā:

If only Mayy’s phantom would visit by night a lover so obsessed that he never ceases to think of her,
while the hands of al-Ṯurayyā droop low in the west! CC BY, Khalid Al-Ajaji, 2026.]]
|}

==== Al-Ṣūfī ====
'''Al-Ṣūfī (d. 376 AH / 986 CE)''', ed. al-Ajaji (2021)<ref name="khalid2021sufi"/>, Cetus and Perseus:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" |English
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" |Arabic
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|Al-Ṣūfī described the two hands of al-Ṯurayyā and the line of stars extending to al-Kaff al-Ǧaḏmāʾ (“the Amputated Hand”):

<blockquote>
The Arabs call the stars in the head [of Cetus], from the first to the sixth, '''''al-Kaff al-Ǧaḏmāʾ''''', by which they mean the hand of '''''al-Ṯurayyā'''''. This is because they found two lines of stars extending from ''al-Ṯurayyā''. One runs northwards, passing through most of the stars of the Bearer of the Ghoul’s Head [Perseus] until it reaches the bright stars on the back of ''al-Nāqa'' (“the She-Camel”), which constitute the constellation ''Ḏāt al-Kursī'' (“the Lady of the Chair”) [Cassiopeia]. They likened the bright stars on the She-Camel’s back to henna-dyed fingertips and called this hand '''''al-Kaff al-Ḫaḍīb''''' (“the Henna-Dyed Hand”).

The other line extends southwards from al-Ṯurayyā, passing through the four stars arranged in a row at the point where the Bull [Taurus] is cut off, and ends at these six stars on the head of Cetus. They likened this line and the stars on the head to an amputated hand because of its shortness and because it does not extend as far as the northern line. They likened ''al-Ṯurayyā'' to a '''head between two hands'''.
</blockquote>

He then described the line of stars extending between al-Kaff al-Ḫaḍīb and al-Ṯurayyā, saying:

<blockquote>
The Arabs likened the following line of stars, together with the constellation ''Ḏāt al-Kursī'' [Cassiopeia] on the She-Camel’s back, to an outstretched hand of '''''al-Ṯurayyā''''': the first, nebulous star at the tip of the right hand [of the figure of Perseus]; the second, on his right elbow, together with the third, on his right shoulder; the bright seventh star, on his right side; the ninth and tenth, on the same side; the twenty-third, on his left knee; the twenty-fourth, on his left shank; and the twenty-fifth and twenty-sixth, on his left foot, close to '''''al-Ṯurayyā'''''.

They therefore called the bright stars on the She-Camel’s back '''''al-Kaff''''' (“the Hand”); the nebulous patch at the tip of Perseus’s hand '''''al-Miʿṣam''''' (“the Wrist”); the second star, on the right elbow, together with the third, on the right shoulder, '''''al-Sāʿid''''' (“the Forearm”); the bright seventh star, on the right side, '''''al-Mirfaq''''' (“the Elbow”); the eighth, also on this side, '''''al-Maʾbiḍ''''' (“the Inner Elbow”); the ninth, likewise on this side, '''''Ibrat al-Mirfaq''''' (“the Tip of the Elbow”); the tenth, twenty-second, and twenty-third '''''al-ʿAḍud''''' (“the Upper Arm”); the twenty-fourth, on the left shank, al-Mankib (“the Shoulder”); and the two closely paired stars next to ''al-Ṯurayyā'' '''''al-ʿĀtiq''''' (“the Upper Shoulder”).

Some authors of books on ''anwāʾ'' related that the two bright stars close to ''al-Ṯurayyā'' lie on '''''al-Mankib''''', and that '''''al-ʿĀtiq''''' is a star between ''al-Ṯurayyā'' and these two. This is an error on their part, for between al-Ṯurayyā and these two stars there is no star that could be counted among the six magnitudes. There are some exceedingly faint stars clustered together immediately adjoining al-Ṯurayyā, which can be discerned only with difficulty, but they are not in the position of ''al-ʿĀtiq''—unless the gap between these two stars and ''al-Ṯurayyā'' is itself ''al-ʿĀtiq''.
</blockquote>
|dir="rtl"|قال الصوفي يصف كفي الثريا وسطر النجوم الممتد للكف الجذماء:
<blockquote>
«والعرب تُسمِّي الكواكب التي في الرأس من الأول إلى السادس: '''الكَفَّ الجَذْمَاءَ'''، يريدون به كف '''الثُّرَيَّا'''؛ وذلك أنهم وجدوا سطرين من كواكب يمتدان من عند الثُّرَيَّا: أحدهما نحو الشمال فيمر على أكثر كواكب ممسك رأس الغول حتى ينتهي إلى الكواكب النيِّرة التي على ظهر النَّاقَةِ، وهي كوكبة ذَاتِ الكُرْسِيِّ، فشبهوا النيِّرة التي على ظهر النَّاقَةِ بأنامل مخضوبة، فسموا هذه اليد: '''الكَفَّ الخَضِيبَ'''، والآخر يمتد من عند الثُّرَيَّا نحو الجنوب، فيمر على الأربعة المصطفة التي على موضع القطع من الثَّوْرِ، وينقطع عند هذه الستة على رأس قِيطُسَ، فشبهوا هذا السطر والكواكب التي على الرأس بيد جذماء لقصرها، ولأن امتدادها دون امتداد السطر الشمالي، '''وشبهوا الثُّرَيَّا برأس بين يدين'''.»
</blockquote>

ثم وصف سطر النجوم الممتدة بين الكف الخضيب والثريا قائلًا:
<blockquote>
«والعرب شبّهت السطر الذي عليه الأول السحابي الذي على طرف اليد اليمنى [من صورة بَرْشَاوُشَ] والثاني الذي على مِرْفَقه الأيمن مع الثالث الذي على منكبه الأيمن والسابع النيِّر الذي على الجنب الأيمن، والتاسع والعاشر اللذين في هذا الجنب، والثالث والعشرين الذي على الركبة اليسرى، والرابع والعشرين الذي على الساق اليسرى، والخامس والعشرين والسادس والعشرين اللذين على الرجل اليسرى القريبين من الثُّرَيَّا مع كوكبة ذَاتِ الكُرْسِيِّ التي على ظهر النَّاقَةِ بيَدٍ للثُّرَيَّا ممدودة. فسمّت النيِّرَةَ التي على ظهر النَّاقَةِ: '''الكَّفَ'''، واللطخة السحابية التي على طرف يد بَرْشَاوُشَ: '''المِعْصَمَ'''، والثاني الذي على المِرْفَق الأيمن مع الثالث الذي على المنكب الأيمن: '''السَّاعِدَ'''، والسابع النيِّر الذي على الجنب الأيمن: '''المِرْفَقَ'''، والثامن الذي على هذا الجنب أيضًا: '''المَأبِضَ'''، والتاسع في هذا الجنب أيضًا: '''إبْرَةَ المِرْفَقِ'''، والعاشر والثاني والعشرين والثالث والعشرين: '''العَضُدَ'''، والرابع والعشرين الذي على الساق اليسرى: '''المَنْكِبَ'''، والاثنين المتقارنين اللذين يليان الثُّرَيَّا: '''العَاتِقَ'''.

وحكى قوم من مؤلفي كتب الأنواء أن النيِّرين القريبين من الثُّرَيَّا هما على المَنْكِبِ، وأن العَاتِقَ هو كوكب بين الثُّرَيَّا وبين هذين الاثنين، وذلك غلط منهم لأنه ليس بين الثُّرَيَّا وبين هذين الكوكبين كوكب يجوز أن يُعَد من الأقدار الستة. وهناك كواكب مجتمعة خفية جدا ملاصقة للثُّرَيَّا لا يدركها البصر إلا بجهد، وليست في موضع العَاتِقِ إلا أن تكون الفرجة التي بين هذين الاثنين وبين الثُّرَيَّا العَاتِقَ.»
</blockquote>
|}

==== Ibn ʿĀṣim al-Ṯaqafī ====
'''Ibn ʿĀṣim al-Ṯaqafī (d. 403 AH / 1013 CE)''', ed. al-Qaysī and al-Dulaymī (1996)<ref name="thaqafi"/> (p. 83) 
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" |English
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" |Arabic
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|Ibn ʿĀṣim al-Ṯaqafī said:

<blockquote>
When you face '''''al-Ṯurayyā''''', you see a line of stars to your right and left, extending northwards from it in a curve until it reaches ''al-Kaff al-Ḫaḍīb'' (“the Henna-Dyed Hand”). '''''Al-Kaff al-Ḫaḍīb''''' consists of <span style="color: darkred;">five</span><ref name="thaqafi-restoration"/> irregularly arranged stars. This line is called '''''Yad al-Ṯurayyā al-Yumnā al-Mabsūṭa''''' (“the Outstretched Right Hand of al-Ṯurayyā”). In this representation, it resembles a human hand extended upwards, not held entirely upright but bent somewhat. ''Al-Ṯurayyā'' has another hand of the same form, extended southwards, called '''''al-Kaff al-Ǧaḏmāʾ''''' (“the Amputated Hand”) because it is short and does not extend far. They say that ''al-Ṯurayyā'' is '''''the head between the two hands'''''.

In its right hand—the complete one—are stars that are the brightest within it. Among them is '''''al-ʿĀtiq''''' (“the Upper Shoulder”), the closest to ''al-Ṯurayyā''; then '''''al-Mankib''''' (“the Shoulder”); then '''''al-Mirfaq''''' (“the Elbow”). Beneath ''al-Mirfaq'' is a small star called '''''Ibrat <span style="color: darkred;">al-Mirfaq</span>'''''<ref name="thaqafi-restoration"/> (“the Tip of the Elbow”), positioned like the corresponding part of a human elbow. There, too, is '''''al-Maʾbiḍ''''' (“the Inner Elbow”), resembling the inner bend of a human elbow. The portion between ''al-Mirfaq'' and ''al-Mankib'' is called '''''ʿAḍud al-Ṯurayyā''''' (“the Upper Arm of al-Ṯurayyā”).

Beyond ''al-Mirfaq'' is '''''al-Miʿṣam''''' (“the Wrist”), which resembles a patch of cloud. The portion between ''al-Mirfaq'' and ''al-Miʿṣam'' is called '''''al-Sāʿid''''' (“the Forearm”); the diminutive form '''''al-Suwayʿid''''' (“the Little Forearm”) is also used. Then, beyond ''al-Miʿṣam'', comes '''''al-Kaff''''' (“the Hand”), namely ''al-Kaff al-Ḫaḍīb'', which, as I told you earlier, consists of five irregularly arranged stars.
</blockquote>
|dir="rtl"|قال ابن عاصم الثقفي
<blockquote>
«وإذا استقبلت '''الثريا''' نظرت إلى سطر من كواكب عن يمينك ويسارك قد امتدت من لدنها في الشمال على انعطاف حتى اتصلت بالكَفِّ الخَضِيبِ، والكَفُّ الخَضِيبُ كواكب <span style="color: darkred;">خمسة</span><ref name="thaqafi-restoration"/> مـختلفة النظم، ويُسَمَّى هذا السطر: '''يَدَ الثُّرَيَّا اليُمْنَى المَبْسُوطَةَ'''، كأنها في التمثيل يد الإنسان قد مدَّها صعدًا ولم ينصبها كل النصب، ولكن عطفها بعض العطف، ولها يدٌ أخرى على هذه الصفة ممدودة نحو الجنوب تسمى: '''الكَفَّ الجَذْماءَ'''، لقصرها وأنه لا امتداد لها، ويقولون: '''الثُّرَيَّا الرأس فيما بين اليدين'''. وفي يدها اليمني - وهي التامة - كواكب، وهي أنور ما فيها، فمنها: '''العَاتِقُ'''، وهو أقربها إلى الثُّرَيَّا، ثم '''المَنْكِبُ''' بعده، ثم '''المِرْفَقُ'''، وتحت المِرْفَقِ كوكب صغير يقال له: '''إبْرَةُ <span style="color: darkred;">المِرْفَقِ</span>'''<ref name="thaqafi-restoration"/> بمنزلة مرفق الإنسان، وهناك أيضًا: '''المَأْبِضُ'''، مثل مأبض الإنسان، ويقال لما بين المِرْفَقِ والمَنْكِبِ: '''عَضُدُ الثُّرَيَّا'''، وبعد المِرْفَقِ '''المِعْصَمُ'''، وهو كاللطخة من السحاب، ويقال لما بين المِرْفَقِ والمِعْصَمِ: '''السَّاعِدُ'''، ويصغر أيضا فيقال: '''السُّوَيْعِدُ'''، ثم '''الكَفُّ''' بعد المِعْصَمِ، وهي '''الكَفُّ الخَضِيبُ''' التي أعلمتك قبل أنها خمسة كواكب مختلفة النظم.»
</blockquote>
|}

==== Al-Marzūqī ====
'''Al-Marzūqī (d. 421 AH / 1030 CE)''', ed. al-Dulaymī (2002)<ref name="marzuqi"/>, (vol. 2, p. 344): 
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" |English
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" |Arabic
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|Al-Marzūqī said:

<blockquote>
There is a line of stars extending northwards in a curve <span style="color: darkred;">[until it reaches ''al-Kaff al-Ḫaḍīb'' (“the Henna-Dyed Hand”). '''''Al-Kaff al-Ḫaḍīb''''' consists of five irregularly arranged stars. This line is called '''''Yad al-Ṯurayyā al-Yumnā al-Mabsūṭa''''' (“the Outstretched Right Hand of al-Ṯurayyā”). It has another hand of the same form, extended southwards,]</span><ref name="marzuqi-restoration"/> called '''''al-Kaff al-Ǧaḏmāʾ''''' (“the Amputated Hand”) because of its shortness. They call '''''al-Ṯurayyā''''' '''the head between the two hands'''. In the right hand are stars that are its brightest, <span style="color: darkred;">among them</span><ref name="marzuqi-restoration"/> '''''al-ʿĀtiq''''' (“the Upper Shoulder”), which is the closest to ''al-Ṯurayyā''; then '''''al-Mankib''''' (“the Shoulder”); then '''''al-Mirfaq''''' (“the Elbow”)<span style="color: darkred;">[; and beneath ''al-Mirfaq'' is]</span><ref name="marzuqi-restoration"/> a small star called '''''Ibrat al-Mirfaq''''' (“the Tip of the Elbow”). There, too, is '''''al-Maʾbiḍ''''' (“the Inner Elbow”).

In the human body, ''ibrat al-mirfaq'' is the end of the forearm bone from which the cubit is measured. The other extremity, which bends when you draw your forearm towards you, is called ''al-qabīḥ''. As the poet said:

<poem>
Where the ''ibra'' meets the ''qabīḥ''.
</poem>

The inner hollow between them, into which the forearm folds, is called ''al-maʾbiḍ''; the same term is also used for the corresponding part of the knee. <span style="color: darkred;">[The portion between ''al-Mirfaq'' and ''al-Mankib'' is called '''''ʿAḍud al-Ṯurayyā''''' (“the Upper Arm of al-Ṯurayyā”). Beyond ''al-Mirfaq'' is '''''al-Miʿṣam''''' (“the Wrist”), which resembles a patch of cloud.]</span><ref name="marzuqi-restoration"/>  The portion between ''al-Mirfaq'' and ''al-Miʿṣam'' is called '''''al-Sāʿid''''' (“the Forearm”); the diminutive form '''''al-Suwayʿid''''' (“the Little Forearm”) is also used. Then, beyond ''al-Miʿṣam'', comes '''''al-Kaff''''' (“the Hand”), namely '''''al-Kaff al-Ḫaḍīb''''', the hand of ''al-Ṯurayyā''.
</blockquote>

|dir="rtl"|قال المرزوقي:
<blockquote>
«وهناك سطرٌ من كواكب امتدّت في الشَّمال على انعطاف <span style="color: darkred;">[حتى اتصلت بالكَفِّ الخَضِيبِ، والكَفُّ الخَضِيبُ كواكب خمسة مختلفة النظم، ويُسَمَّى هذا السطر: '''يَدَ الثُّرَيَّا اليُمْنَى المَبْسُوطَةَ'''، ولها يدٌ أخرى على هذه الصفة ممدودة نحو الجنوب]</span><ref name="marzuqi-restoration"/> تُسَمَّى: '''الكَفَّ الجَذْمَاءَ''' لقصرها، ويقولون '''للثُّرَيَّا: الرّأس فيما بين اليدين'''، وفي اليمنى كواكب هي أنورها، <span style="color: darkred;">فمنها</span><ref name="marzuqi-restoration"/> '''العَاتِقُ''' وهو أقربها إلى الثُّرَيَّا، ثم '''المَنْكِبُ''' بعده، ثم '''المِرْفَقُ'''<span style="color: darkred;">[، وتحت المِرْفَقِ]</span><ref name="marzuqi-restoration"/> كويكب صغير يقال له: '''إبْرَةُ المِرْفَقِ'''، وهنالك أيضًا: '''المَأْبِضُ'''. فأما إبْرَةُ المِرْفَقِ من الإنسان فهو طرف عظم السَّاعد وهو الذي يذرع منه الذراع والطرف الآخر الذي يُثْنَى إذا قبضت ذراعك إليك يقال له: القبيح، قال: 
حَيْثُ تَلاقِي الإبْرَةُ القَبِيحَا 
ويقال لباطنهما الذي ينثني عليه الساعد: المَأْبِضُ، وكذلك هو في الركبة، <span style="color: darkred;">[ويقال لما بين المرفق والمنكب: '''عضد الثريا'''، وبعد المرفق '''المعصم'''، وهو كاللطخة من السحاب،]</span><ref name="marzuqi-restoration"/> ويقال لما بين المِرْفَقِ والمِعْصَمِ: '''السَّاعِدُ'''، ويُصَغَّرُ أيضًا، فيقال: '''السُّوَيْعِدُ'''. ثم الكَفُّ بعد المِعْصَمِ، وهي '''الكَفُّ الخَضِيبُ'''، كَفُّ الثُّرَيَّا.»
</blockquote>
|}

==== Star identifications ====
The identifications based on the ''anwāʾ'' descriptions are proposed by Khalid al-Ajaji. Those based on al-Ṣūfī’s description follow the commentary in al-Ajaji’s edition of al-Ṣūfī’s ''Kitāb al-Kawākib'' (2021), in the sections on Cetus and Perseus.<ref name="khalid2021sufi"/>

{| class="wikitable"
! scope="col" style="width: 20%;" | Name
! scope="col" style="width: 30%;" | Description in ''anwāʾ'' sources
! scope="col" style="width: 25%;" | Identification from ''anwāʾ'' descriptions
! scope="col" style="width: 25%;" | Identification from al-Ṣūfī’s description
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''Ṯurayyā''
|Well known
|Pleiades
|Pleiades
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''al-Kaff al-Ǧaḏmāʾ''
|A group of scattered stars extending to ''al-Ṯurayyā'', lying below ''al-Šaraṭān'', with ''al-Baqar'' to its right; see the discussion below.
|λ, α, γ, δ, ξ<sup>2</sup>, μ Cet with ο, ξ, 4, 5 Tau as the connection to al-Ṯurayyā.
|same
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''al-Kaff al-Ḫaḍīb''
|Five white stars in the Milky Way, opposite ''al-Ḥūt'' (“the Fish”).
|β, α, γ, δ, ε Cas
|same
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''al-Miʿṣam'', ''Wašm al-Miʿṣam''
|It is a patch resembling a patch of cloud
|Double Cluster NGC 869 and NGC 884
|same
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''al-Ḏirāʿ'', ''al-Sāʿid'', ''al-Suwayʿid''
|Three faint stars following ''al-Miʿṣam''.
|ι, γ, η Per
|γ, η Per
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''al-Maʾbiḍ''
|Two stars close together, separated by about a cubit to the eye, following ''al-Ḏirāʿ''.
|σ, ψ Per
|σ Per
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''al-Mirfaq''
|A white star.
|α Per
|α Per
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''Ibrat al-Mirfaq''
|A small star beneath ''al-Mirfaq''.
|δ Per
|φ Per
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''ʿAḍud al-Ṯurayyā''
|Consists of stars arranged in an elongated formation between ''al-Mirfaq'' and ''al-Ṯurayyā'', faint, like the stars of ''al-Ḏirāʿ''.
|ν, ε, ξ Per
|δ, ν, ε Per
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''al-Mankib''
|Two stars resembling ''al-Maʾbiḍ''.
|ο, ζ Per
|ξ Per or ο, ζ Per
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|''al-ʿĀtiq''
|A star that is not bright, next to ''al-Ṯurayyā''.
|HR 1188
|ο, ζ Per or a gap between these stars and the Pleiades.
|}

===Discussion===
The following passages describe the positions of ''al-Kaff al-Ǧaḏmāʾ'' and ''al-Baqar'' and their relationship to ''al-Ṯurayyā'':

{| class="wikitable"
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | English
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | Arabic
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| Ibn Qutayba said:<ref name="qutayba"/>
<blockquote>
''Al-Ṯurayyā'' has two hands. One is called ''al-Kaff al-Ǧaḏmāʾ'' (“the Amputated Hand”). It lies below ''al-Šaraṭān'', and to its right is ''al-Baqar'' (“the Oryxes”); they are scattered stars extending to ''al-Ṯurayyā''.
</blockquote>
| dir="rtl" | قال ابن قتيبة، رحمه الله:
<blockquote>
«للثُّرَيَّا كفان، يقال لإحداهما: الكَفُّ الجَذْمَاءُ، وهي أسفل من الشَّرَطَيْنِ، وعن يمينها البَقَرُ، وهي كواكب متفرقة تتصل بالثُّرَيَّا.»
</blockquote>
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| He also said:<ref name="qutayba"/>
<blockquote>
Opposite ''al-Dabarān'' are stars called ''al-Baqar''.
</blockquote>
| dir="rtl" | وقال أيضًا:
<blockquote>
«وحذاء الدَّبَرَانِ كواكب، يقال لها: البَقَرُ.»
</blockquote>
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| Al-Marzūqī said:<ref name="marzuqi"/>
<blockquote>
And [ibn al-Aʿrābī] said: To the right of ''al-Kaff al-Ǧaḏmāʾ'' is ''al-Baqar'', below ''al-Kaff al-Ǧaḏmāʾ'' and connected to ''al-Ṯurayyā''.
</blockquote>
| dir="rtl" | وقال المرزوقي، رحمه الله:
<blockquote>
«وقال [ابن الأعرابي]: عن يمين الكَفِّ الجَذْمَاءِ البَقَرُ، أسفل من الكَفِّ الجَذْمَاءِ متّصلة بالثُّرَيَّا.»
</blockquote>
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| Al-Ṯaqafī said:<ref name="thaqafi"/>
<blockquote>
As for ''al-Kaff al-Ǧaḏmāʾ'', it lies below ''al-Šaraṭān''. To its right are scattered stars called ''al-Baqar'', extending to ''al-Ṯurayyā''.
</blockquote>
| dir="rtl" | وقال الثقفي:
<blockquote>
«فأما الكف الجذماء فهي أسفل من الشرطين، وعن يمينها كواكب متفرقة يقال لها: البقر تتصل بالثريا.»
</blockquote>
|}

Ibn Qutayba’s description leaves some uncertainty about the referent of its final clause, “they are scattered stars extending to ''al-Ṯurayyā''.” This description may refer either to ''al-Baqar'', the nearer antecedent, or to ''al-Kaff al-Ǧaḏmāʾ'', the principal subject of the passage. In the latter reading, the references to ''al-Šaraṭān'' and ''al-Baqar'' describe the position of the hand, after which the final clause returns to the hand itself. His separate statement that stars called ''al-Baqar'' lie opposite ''al-Dabarān'' provides a further positional description to consider.<ref name="qutayba"/>

The corresponding passages in al-Ṯaqafī and al-Marzūqī must also be considered. Al-Ṯaqafī’s wording more directly attaches the connection to ''al-Baqar'', which he describes as scattered stars to the right of ''al-Kaff al-Ǧaḏmāʾ''.<ref name="thaqafi"/> Al-Marzūqī, quoting ibn al-Aʿrābī, likewise places ''al-Baqar'' to the right of and below ''al-Kaff al-Ǧaḏmāʾ'', describing them as connected to ''al-Ṯurayyā''.<ref name="marzuqi"/> These passages prevent the final clause in ibn Qutayba’s account from being assigned unequivocally to the hand itself.

Nevertheless, the descriptions of the complete figure provide grounds for understanding ''al-Kaff al-Ǧaḏmāʾ'' as connected to ''al-Ṯurayyā''. Al-Ṯaqafī describes a northern line of stars extending from ''al-Ṯurayyā'' to ''al-Kaff al-Ḫaḍīb'', followed by another hand “of the same form,” extending southwards and called ''al-Kaff al-Ǧaḏmāʾ''.<ref name="thaqafi"/> Al-Ṣūfī is more explicit: the southern line extends from ''al-Ṯurayyā'', passes through the four stars at the truncated end of Taurus, and terminates at the six stars on the head of Cetus. He states that this line and the stars on the head together were likened to an amputated hand because their extension is shorter than that of the northern line.<ref name="khalid2021sufi"/> Thus, in his account, the southern hand comprises both the terminal group and the line connecting it to ''al-Ṯurayyā''.

The interpretation adopted here also takes account of the figure’s coherence. The designation “a hand of ''al-Ṯurayyā''” is more readily understood if the hand is linked to the central figure, rather than treated as an isolated group. In the reconstruction presented here, no separate group in this region provides an alternative connection to ''al-Ṯurayyā''. This supports the reconstruction, although it does not establish the grammatical referent of the final clause in ibn Qutayba’s sentence.

Al-Ṯaqafī’s wording should also be assessed in light of his stated editorial method. Although he frequently draws on ibn Qutayba, he does not always reproduce his wording verbatim. In his preface, he describes his work as bringing together what his predecessors had dispersed, making accessible what they had left remote, abridging what they had treated at length, and treating fully what they had neglected.<ref name="thaqafi"/> This declared method allows for compilation, condensation, and reformulation. His version may therefore preserve an interpretation of the earlier description rather than its exact wording; the preface alone, however, does not establish that this particular passage was reformulated.

The two readings imply competing identifications of the same connecting line. In the reconstruction presented here, only one line of stars in this region provides the connection to ''al-Ṯurayyā'': it must belong either to ''al-Kaff al-Ǧaḏmāʾ'' or to ''al-Baqar''. The descriptions cannot therefore be reconciled simply by treating both groups as independently connected to ''al-Ṯurayyā''.

The interpretation adopted here assigns this line to ''al-Kaff al-Ǧaḏmāʾ''. This follows al-Ṣūfī’s explicit description of the southern line and the stars on the head of Cetus as together forming the amputated hand.<ref name="khalid2021sufi"/> It also accords with al-Ṯaqafī’s description of a southern hand extending from the central figure, parallel in conception to the northern hand.<ref name="thaqafi"/> On this reading, ibn Qutayba’s final clause describes ''al-Kaff al-Ǧaḏmāʾ'', while the references to ''al-Šaraṭān'' and ''al-Baqar'' locate it in the sky.<ref name="qutayba"/> The passages that instead attach the connection to ''al-Baqar'' preserve a competing account, rather than an additional connection.

==IAU Working Group Star Names==
In 2026, the following names were proposed for stars belonging to the historical constellation ''al-Ṯurayyā'':
* “AlSaid” from ''al-Sāʿid'', or “AlSuwayid” from ''al-Suwayʿid'' for ι Per, with τ Per as an alternative.
* “AlMabid” from ''al-Maʾbiḍ'' for σ Per, with ψ Per as an alternative.
* “Aladud” from ''ʿAḍud al-Ṯurayyā'' for ν Per.

WGSN decided in ... 202x to name ... ...

== Weblinks ==

== Reference ==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name="lisan"><span dir="rtl">لسان العرب، ابن منظور (توفي 711 هـ)</span><br />
Ibn Manẓūr (d. 711 AH / c. 1312 CE). ''Lisān al-ʿArab''.</ref>

<ref name="zabidi"><span dir="rtl">محمد مرتضى الزبيدي (توفي 1205 هـ)، تاج العروس من جواهر القاموس.</span><br />
Al-Zabīdī, Muḥammad Murtaḍā (d. 1205 AH / 1790 CE), ''Tāj al-ʿarūs min jawāhir al-qāmūs''.</ref>

<ref name="khalid2021sufi"><span dir="rtl">كتاب الكواكب لأبي الحسين عبد الرحمن بن عمر الرازي المعروف بالصوفي (291-376)، تحقيق خالد بن عبد الله العجاجي.</span><br />
Al-Ṣūfī, Abū al-Ḥusayn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān b. ʿUmar (d. 986 CE). ''Book of the Stars''. Critical edition with commentary by Khalid al-Ajaji. Digital edition, 2021. [https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1s6JXzftwjMQ5rgZoGE3718EtBLBZtjzr Digital edition].</ref>

<ref name="qutayba"><span dir="rtl">أبو محمد عبد الله بن مسلم ابن قتيبة الدينوري المتوفى سنة 276هـ - 889م، كتاب الأنواء في مواسم العرب، دائرة المعارف العثمانية، حيدر أباد، الهند، 1375 هـ - 1956م.</span><br />
Ibn Qutayba al-Dīnawarī, Abū Muḥammad ʿAbd Allāh b. Muslim (d. 276 AH / 889 CE). ''Kitāb al-anwāʾ fī mawāsim al-ʿArab''. Hyderabad, India: Dāʾirat al-Maʿārif al-ʿUthmāniyya, 1375 AH / 1956 CE.</ref>

<ref name="marzuqi"><span dir="rtl">الإمام أبو علي أحمد بن محمد بن الحسن المرزوقي (توفي سنة 421 هـ)، الأزمنة والأمكنة، تحقيق د. محمد نايف الدليمي، عالم الكتب، بيروت، لبنان، 1422 هـ.</span><br />
Al-Marzūqī, Abū ʿAlī Aḥmad b. Muḥammad b. al-Ḥasan (d. 1030 CE). ''Al-Azmina wa-al-amkina'' (“Times and Places”). Edited by Muḥammad Nāyif al-Dulaymī. Beirut: ʿĀlam al-Kutub, 1422 AH / 2002 CE.</ref>

<ref name="thaqafi"><span dir="rtl">عبد الله بن حسين بن عاصم الثقفي (توفي 403 هـ)، الأنواء والأزمنة، تحقيق: د. نوري حمودي القيسي، د. محمد نايف الدليمي، دار الجيل، بيروت، لبنان، 1416 هـ.</span><br />
Ibn ʿĀṣim al-Ṯaqafī, ʿAbd Allāh b. Ḥusayn (d. 403 AH / c. 1013 CE). ''Al-Anwāʾ wa-al-azmina''. Edited by Nūrī Ḥammūdī al-Qaysī and Muḥammad Nāyif al-Dulaymī. Beirut: Dār al-Jīl, 1416 AH / 1996 CE.</ref>

<ref name="Kunitzsch1961">Kunitzsch, Paul. ''Untersuchungen zur Sternnomenklatur der Araber''. Wiesbaden: Otto Harrassowitz, 1961.</ref>

<ref name="ideler">Ideler, Ludwig. ''Untersuchungen über den Ursprung und die Bedeutung der Sternnamen''. Berlin, 1809.</ref>

<ref name="hyde">Hyde, Thomas. ''Tabulæ Long[itudinis] ac Lat[itudinis] Stellarum Fixarum''. Oxford: Henry Hall, 1665.</ref>

<ref name="Schjellerup">Al-Ṣūfī, ʿAbd al-Raḥmān b. ʿUmar (903–986 CE). ''Description des étoiles fixes''. Translated with notes by H. C. F. C. Schjellerup. St. Pétersbourg: Commissionnaires de l’Académie Impériale des sciences, 1874.</ref>

<ref name="Hinckley">Allen, Richard Hinckley. ''Star Names — Their Lore and Meaning''. Dover edition, 1963.</ref>

<ref name="thaqafi-restoration">Dark red text marks corrections to corrupt readings in the printed edition of al-Ṯaqafī’s text. The edition reads ''ḫafiyya'' (خفية, “faint”) in place of ''ḫamsa'' (خمسة, “five”). The reading ''ḫamsa'' is supported by the later wording of the same passage and by al-Marzūqī’s account; moreover, the stars in question are bright, not faint. The edition also reads ''Ibrat al-Mankib'' (إبرة المنكب, “the Tip of the Shoulder”) in place of ''Ibrat al-Mirfaq'' (إبرة المرفق, “the Tip of the Elbow”).</ref>

<ref name="marzuqi-restoration">Al-Marzūqī, ''Al-Azmina wa-al-amkina'', ed. al-Dulaymī, vol. 2, p. 344. Text in square brackets is missing from the printed edition and has been supplied from the corresponding passage in ibn ʿĀṣim al-Ṯaqafī’s text. The other text marked in dark red corrects the printed reading ''fīhā'' (فيها, “in it”) to ''fa-minhā'' (فمنها, “among them”), following ibn ʿĀṣim al-Ṯaqafī.</ref>

}}
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