KhalidAlAjaji: Ceeated page for Arab asterism al-Mirfaq

2026-11-03T15:52:54Z

Ceeated page for Arab asterism al-Mirfaq

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:al-Mirfaq}}

{{See also|Al-Ṯurayyā_al-Raʾs_wa_al-Yadān}}

Authors: {{PAGEAUTHORS}}
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[[File:almirfaq.png|thumb|The Arabic asterism ''al-Mirfaq'' (المِرْفَق), ‘the Elbow’. CC BY, Khalid Al-Ajaji, 2026.]]

''al-Mirfaq'' (المِرْفَق), ‘the Elbow’, is the elbow of the northern, outstretched hand of the larger Arabic constellation ''al-Ṯurayyā'', represented by α Per in Perseus.<ref name="qutayba"/><ref name="khalid2021sufi"/>

==Concordance, Etymology, History==
''al-Mirfaq'' is recorded in the accounts of the larger figure in the ''anwāʾ'' works of Ibn Qutayba, Ibn ʿĀṣim al-Ṯaqafī, and al-Marzūqī, and in al-Ṣūfī’s ''Kitāb al-kawākib''. The passages below retain their surrounding anatomical context.

'''Variants''' Latin / European

* ''ibrat al-marfik'', Schjellerup (1874)<ref name="Schjellerup"/> (p. 88).
* ''ibrat al-mirfaq'', Kunitzsch (1961)<ref name="Kunitzsch1961"/> ((no. 133), p. 71).

===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;"
|''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>
|}

=== 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;"
|dir="ltr"|<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'''''. […]
</blockquote>
|dir="rtl"|<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'''. […]»
</blockquote>
|}

==== Al-Ṣūfī ====
'''Al-Ṣūfī (d. 376 AH / 986 CE)''', ed. Khalid Al-Ajaji (2021)<ref name="khalid2021sufi"/>, Perseus:
{| class="wikitable"
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | English
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | Arabic
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|dir="ltr"|<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"|<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;"
|dir="ltr"|<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 five<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 al-Mirfaq'''''<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"|<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 خمسة<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 المِرْفَقِ'''<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;"
|dir="ltr"|<blockquote>
There is a line of stars extending northwards in a curve [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,]<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, among them<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”)[; and beneath ''al-Mirfaq'' is]<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. [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.]<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"|<blockquote>
«وهناك سطرٌ من كواكب امتدّت في الشَّمال على انعطاف [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]<ref name="marzuqi-restoration"/> تُسَمَّى: '''الكَفَّ الجَذْمَاءَ''' لقصرها، ويقولون '''للثُّرَيَّا: الرّأس فيما بين اليدين'''، وفي اليمنى كواكب هي أنورها، فمنها<ref name="marzuqi-restoration"/> '''العَاتِقُ''' وهو أقربها إلى الثُّرَيَّا، ثم '''المَنْكِبُ''' بعده، ثم '''المِرْفَقُ'''[، وتحت المِرْفَقِ]<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، [ويقال لما بين المرفق والمنكب: '''عضد الثريا'''، وبعد المرفق '''المعصم'''، وهو كاللطخة من السحاب،]<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 from the ''anwāʾ'' descriptions are proposed by Khalid Al-Ajaji. Those from al-Ṣūfī’s account follow the commentary in his 2021 edition of ''Kitāb al-kawākib'', in the section on Perseus. The comparison retains the differences recorded in the parent article.<ref name="khalid2021sufi"/>

{| class="wikitable"
! Name
! Description in ''anwāʾ'' sources
! Identification from ''anwāʾ'' descriptions
! Identification from al-Ṣūfī’s description
|- 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
|}

===Discussion===
The identification of ''al-Mirfaq'' as α Per agrees in both reconstructions. The associated ''Ibrat al-Mirfaq'' is distinct: the supplied comparison identifies it as δ Per from the ''anwāʾ'' descriptions but as φ Per from al-Ṣūfī’s description.<ref name="qutayba"/><ref name="khalid2021sufi"/>

== Weblinks ==

== Reference ==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name="qutayba">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. 
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-ʿUṯmāniyya, 1375 AH / 1956 CE.</ref>

<ref name="khalid2021sufi">كتاب الكواكب لأبي الحسين عبد الرحمن بن عمر الرازي المعروف بالصوفي (291-376)، تحقيق خالد بن عبد الله العجاجي. 
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="ideler">Ideler, Ludwig. ''Untersuchungen über den Ursprung und die Bedeutung der Sternnamen''. Berlin, 1809.</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="Kunitzsch1961">Kunitzsch, Paul. ''Untersuchungen zur Sternnomenklatur der Araber''. Wiesbaden: Otto Harrassowitz, 1961.</ref>

<ref name="lisan">لسان العرب، ابن منظور (توفي 711 هـ) 
Ibn Manẓūr (d. 711 AH / c. 1312 CE). ''Lisān al-ʿArab''.</ref>

<ref name="thaqafi">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. 
Ibn ʿĀṣim al-Ṯaqafī, ʿAbd Allāh b. Ḥusayn (d. 403 AH / c. 1013 CE). ''Al-Anwāʾ wa-l-azmina''. Edited by Nūrī Ḥammūdī al-Qaysī and Muḥammad Nāyif al-Dulaymī. Beirut: Dār al-Ǧīl, 1416 AH / 1996 CE.</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">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. 
Al-Marzūqī, Abū ʿAlī Aḥmad b. Muḥammad b. al-Ḥasan (d. 1030 CE). ''Al-Azmina wa-l-amkina'' (“Times and Places”). Edited by Muḥammad Nāyif al-Dulaymī. Beirut: ʿĀlam al-Kutub, 1422 AH / 2002 CE.</ref>

<ref name="marzuqi-restoration">Al-Marzūqī, ''Al-Azmina wa-l-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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Al-Mirfaq - Revision history

KhalidAlAjaji: Ceeated page for Arab asterism al-Mirfaq