BİRİNCİ FEN · İKİNCİ BÂB · ONUNCU FASIL · İkinci Madde
Second Article
It describes the characteristics and preferences of the Moon according to the signs of the zodiac.
O esteemed one! It is known that astronomers have determined that the Moon exhibits a different influence in each sign of the zodiac and have written this down in calendars. We previously composed a metrical poem on this very subject in Turkish. It seems appropriate now to include that meter here.
Meter:
1- In Your Name, O God, O Source of Safety
We begin with the attributes of the Moon.
2- Praise be to God, abundant blessings and salutations
To the Prophet, his family, and his companions, perpetually.
3- Afterwards, declare the truth, my lord,
This is what the astronomers say.
4- Upon four elements, nine spheres revolve,
Covering each other with layers dense. [55/b]
5- Therefore, its total mass becomes equal,
The center of the earth, a point of attraction.
6- That midpoint is the center of the universe, indeed,
A hidden point from every direction.
7- The greatest sphere which encompasses all things,
Is like an atlas cup filled with stars.
8- From every direction, it surpasses and is higher,
Completing one revolution each day with a ray [of light].
9- Continuously within twenty-four hours,
It completes its revolution from east to west.
10- And within it are the other spheres as well,
Which it turns along with itself, from east to west.
11- Night and day, every rising and setting,
Occurs through its revolution upon the axis of the world.
12- In the celestial sphere there are twelve signs known,
Each one in the zodiac has thirty degrees.
13- It is magnificent in its position,
From the axis of the world to the Cedy pole.
14- From west to east it turns slowly,
Taking a degree in seventy years.
15- From west to east, Saturn also proceeds,
Completing the twelve signs in thirty years.
16- Jupiter also proceeds from west to east,
Completing one revolution in twelve years.
17- Mars also revolves from west to east,
Progressing through a circuit in one year and eleven months.
18- The celestial sphere’s pole is complete directly below it,
The Sun with its sphere perpetually revolves.
19- From west to east the Sun also proceeds,
Completing the twelve signs of the zodiac each year.
20- Each year the sphere of Venus completes a revolution,
Proceeding from west to east, like Utarid.
21- The entire assembly is under the dominion of the Moon’s revolution,
Rotating with its own sphere in haste.
22- From west to east the Moon also revolves,
Its circuit takes twenty-eight days.
23- The celestial sphere is divided into twelve parts,
Like a watermelon with twelve slices.
24- Each part has the name of a sign,
And when the day is in each house, it becomes a season.
25- For Aries, Taurus, and Gemini are spring,
The seasons of Cancer, Leo, and Virgo follow.
26- The season of Libra, Scorpio, and Sagittarius,
And winter is the signs of Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces.
27- These twelve signs are twelve months perpetually,
The Roman month is known to be complete with thirty days.
28- Without making a transformation of the day,
The Roman month begins ten days earlier than it should.
29- In spring: April, May, and June,
Summer: July and August, burning like fire.
30- And autumn: September and October,
Winter: December and February are complete.
31- For each month, which sign the day passes through,
Each month transforms the day on what date.
32- The month of April is the beginning of spring,
Its days are thirty in number, bright with daylight.
33- On the eleventh day, the Sun makes its transformation,
And proceeds for thirty days through the sign of Aries.
34- The beginning of the sign of Aries is Nowruz [Persian New Year],
Then, together that shadow becomes the first day.
35- The month of May is the middle of spring,
Its days are thirty in number, O eloquent one.
36- On the ninth day, the Sun also makes its transformation,
And proceeds for thirty-one days through the sign of Taurus.
37- The month of June is the end of spring,
With thirty-one nights and days.
38- On the eleventh day, the Sun makes its transformation,
And proceeds for thirty-one days through the sign of Gemini.
39- The month of July is the beginning of summer, O human being,
And on the thirteenth day it turns [the year].
40- On the eleventh day, the Sun also makes its transformation,
Passing through the sign of Cancer for thirty-one days.
41- The month of August is the middle of summer, O generous one,
Its days are complete in number, thirty-one.
42- On the twelfth day, the day makes its transformation,
And cuts through thirty-one days of the sign of Leo.
43- The month of August is the end of summer, at that time,
Its days are complete in number, thirty-one.
44- On the thirteenth day, the Sun makes its transformation,
Passing through the sign of Virgo for thirty-one days.
45- The month of September is the beginning of autumn, O refined one,
Its days are thirty in number.
46- On the twelfth day, the Sun makes its transformation,
And proceeds for thirty days through the sign of Libra.
47- If the day arrives at the beginning of the sign of Libra,
That night is together with that day.
48- The month of October is the middle of autumn,
Its days are thirty-one in number.
49- On the twelfth day, the Sun makes its transformation,
And proceeds for thirty days from the sign of Scorpio.
50- The month of November is the end of autumn, at that time,
That month is complete with its appearance.
51- On the eleventh day, the Sun also makes its transformation,
Passing through the sign of Sagittarius for thirty days.
52- The month of December is the beginning of winter,
And it has thirty-one days, O youth.
53- On the eleventh day, the day arrives at the sign of Capricorn,
The first quarter [of the year] becomes that day.
54- The day turns and takes away from the night,
It remains for thirty days within the sign of Capricorn.
55- The middle of December is winter,
And its number is thirty-one days.
56- On the ninth day, the day proceeds to the sign of Aquarius,
And cuts through that sign in thirty days.
57- But the end of winter is February, a short month,
Count thirty-eight and twenty-eight days [of the quarter].
58- The fourth year becomes one day with four quarters,
Therefore, February becomes twenty-nine.
59- On the ninth day, the day proceeds to the sign of Pisces,
And observes that sign in thirty days.
60- When the day is in the sign of Aries, it becomes brilliant,
The year is complete and Nowruz returns again.
61- The beginning of the solar year is March,
And extract the Roman months.
62- The word "abjad" has become seven letters,
Each one is specific to a month as a container.
63- March: Aleph, April: Beh, May: Jeem,
June: Alif, July: Vaw, August: Heh, September: Dael.
64- October: Zay, November: Beh, December: Waw, January: Sheen.
65- Preserve "abjad" and its reverse "hevvez beced,"
Hez, Hevzah, Ced, Huw, with Ad.
66- For these twenty-eight letters enter,
Each year one becomes a market letter.
67- But there are one hundred sixty-two in the year’s date,
In the word "abjad" Dal is in March.
68- The next year that market goes to Heh,
And perpetually revolves with this order.
69- If April and Muharram were in the same year,
A year would be confused and a year marked.
70- For thirty-three years are thirty-three Marches,
And it finds forty-four with Muharram.
71- If you desire the beginning of the Roman month,
Gather its letter with the market letter afterwards.
72- The week begins with the day of Sunday,
Begin numbering from this assembly.
73- From two weeks, find the ultimate day.
The perils be upon God’s name, we begin to relate the movements of the Moon.
Praise be to God, blessings and peace upon His Messenger, and upon his companions, his family, and his people.
Truth declares: O my youth! My words are according to the astronomer's account.
Four elements are upon it; this sphere turns, encompassing one another; they are in layers with difference.
Spheres enclosing each other, like an onion. The earth draws all dense bodies toward it, as a magnet.
Such is the center of the world: the earth. It is dense from every direction, its essence unseen.
The great sphere which encompasses everything and surrounds it; like a glass atlas, containing stars within.
It has four sides that are bounded and above all things; turning and shining thus, completing a cycle once in a day.
Once in twenty-four hours, it continuously completes its revolution from east to west.
It carries the spheres which surround it, turning them together with its eastern and western sides.
By night and day, by rising and setting, is its movement upon the pole of the world.
You know the twelve signs, on the eighth sphere. Divide each one into three equal parts, upon the equator.
And the sphere, with fixed stars, attains splendor. Also, upon a separate pole, far from the equator.
It turns slowly from west to east. It traverses only one degree in seventy years.
Saturn also goes from west to east, thus. It passes through the twelve signs in thirty years.
Jupiter likewise; it goes from west to east. This too completes a cycle in a year.
Mars also goes from west to east. Its cycle is completed in a year and eleven months.
Directly opposite the eighth sphere, the Sun always revolves with its sphere within it.
The Sun also goes from west to east, passing through only the twelve signs once a year.
Venus also completes a revolution once a year, going from west to east; likewise Utarit.
Beneath all of these is the Moon’s sphere, revolving swiftly upon its own sphere alone.
The Moon also revolves from west to east and completes its cycle in twenty-eight days.
The eighth sphere is divided into twelve parts which are like slices of a cut melon.
Each slice is known by the name of a sign. When the Sun passes three slices, it becomes a season.
Springtime is in Aries, Taurus, and Gemini. Summer is in Cancer, Leo, and Virgo.
Autumn is with Libra, Scorpio, and Sagittarius. Winter is with Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces.
The twelve signs always make up twelve months. Know the Roman months, each draws thirty days.
In the first of the Roman months, before entering a sign, the day is ten days prior to when the Roman months begin.
Springtime: March, April, and May. Summer months: June, July, and August.
Autumn: September and two Teşrin (October/November). Winter: Two Kanun (December/January) and one February.
Know in which month the Sun enters which sign; know how the course of the day changes on each day; be watchful.
March, which is the beginning of spring, its days are thirty-one, its nights are thirty-one.
On the eleventh day, the Sun changes its sign. It remains in Aries for thirty days.
The first day of Aries is called Nevruz (New Year). Day and night are counted together on Nevruz.
April, which is the middle of spring, O valiant one! Its days are also thirty; take heed.
On the tenth day, the Sun changes its sign. It remains in Taurus for thirty-one days.
37. Know that May is the last month of spring. It has thirty-one days, with its night and day.
38. On its eleventh day, the Sun changes signs. It enters the Gemini constellation and remains there for thirty-one days.
39. Know that June is the beginning of summer, O human! It lasts for thirty days and turns on the thirteenth.
40. On its eleventh day, the Sun changes signs and enters the Cancer constellation, remaining there for thirty-one days.
41. O person of striving effort! July is the middle of summer. Its night and day last for thirty-one days.
42. On its twelfth day, the Sun changes signs. It enters the Leo constellation and remains there for thirty-one days.
43. When August arrives, it is the end of summer; its number of days and nights is immediately thirty-one.
44. On this month's twelfth day, the Sun changes signs and enters the Virgo constellation, remaining there for thirty-one days.
45. Know that September is counted as the first month of autumn. O refined one! Its days and nights reach thirty.
46. On its twelfth day, the Sun changes signs and enters the Libra constellation, remaining there for thirty days.
47. When the day arrives at the beginning of Libra, night and day become equal at that time.
48. The month of Teşrîn-i Evvel is precisely the middle of autumn. Its days reach thirty-one.
49. On its twelfth day, the Sun changes signs and enters the Scorpio constellation for thirty days.
50. Know that Teşrîn-i Sânî is the end of autumn. This month also completes itself in thirty days and nights.
51. On the eleventh day, the Sun changes signs and enters the Sagittarius constellation, remaining there for thirty days.
52. The season of winter begins with Kanûn-ı Evvel. It lasts for thirty-one days and thirty-one nights, O young one!
53. On the eleventh day, the Sun arrives at the Capricorn constellation. The first day of Rebi‘ is known as that day.
54. The day turns; nights begin to lengthen. The Sun remains in the Capricorn constellation for thirty days.
55. The middle begins with Kanûn-ı Sânî in winter. Its count is thirty-one days and nights.
56. On this month's tenth day, the day goes to the Aquarius constellation. It passes through that sign in only thirty days.
57. Know that the end of winter is February, a small month. Count it for three years, twenty-eight days and six hours.
58. In the fourth year, those quarters amount to one day. That year, February draws twenty-nine days.
59. On the ninth day of February, the day enters the Pisces constellation. It remains there for thirty days and nights.
60. When it arrives at the Aries constellation, the Sun shines brightly. The year is now complete and the day reaches Nevrûz.
61. The beginning of the solar year is March, know this. According to this, calculate the Rûmî months.
62. "Abjad Hawwaz" is the sum of seven letters. Each corresponds to a month, as if it were an envelope.
63. Take “he” for March, “alif” for April, and “jim” for May. “Vav” is June, “hamza” is July, and August is "dal."
64. "Zâ" is September, the two Teşrins are "bâ" and "hâ." The two Kanûns are "zâ" and "jim," and February is again "vav."
65. Memorize these in this way: “abjad” and “zevâbid,” “hevvez,” “beced.” “Hiz” is within this; “hevza” is “ced,” and “huve” is a name for them.
66. Kiri is counted, one of the twenty-eight letters. Each year it rises to Sunday, and so comes forth.
67. Know that the year is now (one thousand) six hundred sixteen. In March, Sunday is the "dal" in the word “eced.”
68. The next year this Sunday will pass to “he.” Years always revolve according to this order.
69. If March coincides with Muharrem in a year; one year is subtracted from the Rûmî reckoning; it becomes a leap year [513] at that time.
70. According to this arrangement, the month of March remains for thirty-three years. In the thirty-fourth year, it will coincide with Muharrem.
71. If you want to find the first of the Rûmî months; find the letters of that year and add them to the letter for Sunday.
72. First place Sunday at the beginning of the week; then count upon that the sum of the total.
73. Look, which day does the second week end? The beginning of the month also falls on that day, know this.
74. In the Hijri calendar, it is known that Muharrem is the new year. Its beginning is with the birth of the crescent moon.
75. “Ze” is Muharrem, "be" is Safer, "jim" is "he." The two Rabîs are "vav," the two Cemâdels are "alif."
76. "Be" is Receb, "dal" is Şaban; "he" is Ramadan. Şevval is “ze,” Zi’l-Ka‘de is “alif,” and Zi’l-Hicce is “jim.”
77. Eight letters have been completed with “ehec” and “edbud.” Each year, one of these letters prevails.
78. When the year reaches one thousand six hundred sixteen, "dal" will be the dominant letter in Muharrem.
79. The next year, "alif" will be the dominant letter of the year. This cycle continues without disagreement.
80. If you want to know on which day the hilâl is born in that month; add “gurre” to the dominant letter and find it.
81. You will know which day is the first of the month; by following the days within two weeks.
82. Know how to determine the sign the day is in. Also, you will find the Hijri month in this way.
83. The day goes one degree, every day; whereas the moon travels thirteen degrees at that time.
84. The moon passes the day twelve degrees each day. Calculate it like this for each night.
85. Know the Sun from the Rûmî months, find it so. Count how many nights the hilâl has passed, and count the month accordingly.
86. Until you know its place; which month, which sign, what number of the month is it?
87. Know which work is suitable for the moon in which constellation it is in; each constellation of the moon has a ruler.
88. Or calculate the number of nights the moon has passed; add five to that.
89. Count how many times five is in that number; know the sign by counting the Sun.
90. Starting from the Sun, give five to each constellation. Do not count less than five so that you reach the moon's constellation.
91. Let the moon be found in the Aries constellation. Consider beginning a work auspicious.
92. In the Taurus constellation, marriage, wedding, trade, building and doing good deeds.
93. In the Gemini constellation, look to change your clothes; study knowledge, buy property.
94. It is good to give glad tidings in the Cancer constellation; like transfers and journeys, it is also good to take a purgative.
95. When you are in the Leo constellation, it is good to present your wish; for agriculture and repair, cupping is also good.
96. In the Virgo constellation, wear new clothes; be clean. Consider the pleasure of intimacy with women an opportunity for your family.
97. As for Libra, shop a lot, converse, listen to music, take medicine; it will always heal you.
98 – In the sign of Scorpio, modesty and purity are fitting; seclusion, silence, freedom from distractions, and spiritual retreat are appropriate.
99 – When in the sign of Sagittarius, the Moon should undergo cupping; one ought to dress finely and go to the bathhouse, and be shaved.
100 – In the sign of Capricorn, excursions to the countryside and hunting are suitable; digging agricultural wells and tending gardens are beneficial.
101 – In the sign of Aquarius, horsemanship is pleasing; building structures and innovating in cities is good.
102 – In the sign of Pisces, undertake a voyage upon the sea; agreements, partnerships are favorable, and commerce is esteemed.
103 – In the year six hundred sixteen, this calendar was completed precisely on one hundred couplets.
104 – Praise be to God! “The Movements of the Moon” you have explained in this poem. This is what suffices you; reliance upon God is necessary at all times.
105 – You have witnessed the realm of forms; it is all illusion. Come to the realm of spirits, for it is delightful—abide therein.