What is Anwa? And how does it relate to weather forecasting over time?

Arab Weather - The nature of Bedouin life, based on wandering and following places where rain falls in search of grass and pasture, forced the ancient Arabs to master some sciences, especially those related to weather and meteorology. The scorching heat of the sun during the day forced them to travel at night, which is known as "sirri" . During their night journeys across deserts and wildernesses, they relied on the moon and stars to determine their paths and avoid getting lost, as these skills were necessary to protect their caravans and camels from perishing in the midst of the similar sands that extend to the horizon.

Book of the history of meteorology among the Arabs

The book “History of Meteorology Among the Arabs” by Dr. Ahmed Attia, published by the Egyptian General Book Authority, revolves around this aspect of knowledge. The book deals with the history of meteorology among the Arabs, reviewing its development and its close connection to astronomy, especially with regard to predicting rain and wind. In his presentation, the researcher goes beyond the direct meaning of meteorology as a sub-science of astronomy, and provides a deeper analysis of this scientific heritage.

Definitions of weather in linguistic dictionaries

Arabic dictionaries have dealt with the term “Anwa” with multiple interpretations. For example, Al-Sahib Ibn Abbad, in his book “Al-Muheet fi Al-Lughah,” defined the Anwa as the falling of a star at dawn. As for Al-Jawhari, in “Al-Sahah Taj Al-Lughah,” he focused on the mansions of the moon and their connection to the Anwa. These definitions show that the science of Anwa was linked to the science of Hadith and language more than it was to astronomy, which may reflect the late development of astronomy among Muslims.

• Ancient Scientists and Meteorology

The book touched on the contributions of ancient astronomers such as Abu Ishaq al-Fazari and Abu Ma’shar al-Balkhi in developing the science of meteorology. According to the orientalist Carlo Nellino, these scholars mentioned winds and rains and their relationship to the movement of the stars, which indicates the presence of an echo of this science in the writings of early Muslim astronomers.

• Meteorology in Arab heritage

The book “Al-Anwa fi Mawasim Al-Arab” by Ibn Qutaybah Al-Dinawari is considered one of the oldest books that dealt with the science of meteorology, as it linked the movement of the planets to the change in weather conditions. In this book, Ibn Qutaybah explains how the Arabs relied on abstract vision to track the moon’s phases and their effects on the weather, which reflects the extent of their advanced knowledge in this field.

Although many ancient writings on meteorology have not reached us, what has been documented reveals the importance of this science in the lives of the ancient Arabs. Weather forecasting by observing the stars and winds was essential to their survival, and remains an important part of the Arab scientific heritage.

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