Abha 2 Safar 1448 H corresponding to July 16, 2026 SPA The entry of the star 'Alab' on the sixteenth of July each year marks the beginning of the autumn season in the climatic and agricultural heritage of the Asir region, and coincides with Nou' al-Hanna'. It is considered one of the most prominent seasons associated with rains, agriculture, and climatic changes, and for generations it has formed a natural calendar used by residents to organize their agricultural work. Researcher Dr. Abdullah Ali Al-Musa explained that the star 'Alab' is accompanied in many years by dust originating from the Tihama lowlands, locally known as 'Ghasma Alab', and often coincides with the deepening of the Indian monsoon low over the southwestern highlands, which helps create conditions for cumulonimbus cloud formation and summer rainfall. He added that 'Alab' is the name given by the people of Asir to the star Sirius (Canis Majoris), while in the Najd region it is known as 'Al-Marzam', noting that its appearance is seen in the Asir region a few days before its appearance in Najd, reflecting the different timings of star risings depending on geographical location. He pointed out that in the past, residents used the star 'Alab' to organize their agricultural work, as it represents the time to start planting wheat (al-buni), which some Asir locals call 'al-kharfi' after the autumn season, while others call it 'al-qiyad'. During this period, barley planting also begins, and corn growth intensifies. He touched on the residents' documentation of the star through proverbs passed down through generations, such as their saying: 'Alab either khalab or lahab', meaning it is either a rainy season or an extremely hot one, which reflects the residents' experience in monitoring weather changes and linking them to agricultural seasons. He drew attention to the fact that this season is also associated with the appearance of some natural phenomena recorded in popular heritage, including the emergence of some insects, increased appearance of some reptiles, and the departure of young crows from their nests. // End // 20:15 Mecca Time 0173