The Translation for al-Kawkab in Hadith from al-Ṣaḥīḥayn: An Analysis

Abstract

The word al-kawkab (plural; al-kawākib) is among the celestial objects mentioned in the prophetic hadith. However, the practice of simply construing the word from the text as ‘the planet’ may lead to anachronism. To fill such a gap in defining the word al-kawkab in hadith, this study explores the meaning of the word, which has a deep-rooted association with the Arabic culture dated back to the 7th century CE. Through a qualitative design, this study employs the use of thematic analysis to explore the meaning of the words al-kawkab or al-kawākib in al-Ṣaḥīḥayn (the two Authentic Books of Hadith). First, the Malay translations of the words in available scholarly publications are identified because they are reliable for predominantly Muslim readers in Malaysia. In grasping the intricate contents and facts underlying the hadith on al-kawkab, this study relies on the references in hadith, astronomy, language, history, Quranic exegesis, and pre-Islamic poetries. Ultimately, this study finds that the scholarly publications that contribute to defining al-kawkab in hadith, do not provide proper translation. Upon delving into the details of the word in al-Ṣaḥīḥayn, this study learns that al-kawkab constitutes of six meanings. Predictably, the usage of the word in hadith indicates that the Ancient Arabs considered al-kawkab could mean several types of luminous celestial objects and does not necessarily mean ‘planet’ as per modern-day comprehension. Hence, this study recommends the correct translation of the word al-kawkab or al-kawākib in hadith, which fulfills the exact meaning derived from the occasion of each narration.