The reason for the name `Saad Al-Dhabih` and the story of the shepherd Saad
Arab Weather - The story goes that a young man named "Saad" was a brave shepherd, who decided one day to go on a grazing trip outside his village. This was during the days of Al-Mraba'aniyah, and Saad thought that winter was over after he saw a warm sun spreading warmth on the horizon.
Despite the advice of his father and the elders of his village who advised him to carry furs and firewood to protect him from the harsh winter cold, Saad ignored that advice, confident that warmth would continue to accompany him. He loaded his camel and sheep and set off on his journey.
But nature had other ideas. Halfway there, the weather surprised him with its sharp changes, as a very cold storm swept through the area, with heavy rain and heavy snow. The bitter cold became so intense that Saad could no longer bear it.
At a fateful moment, Saad had no choice but to slaughter his only camel to take refuge inside its entrails and use its fur as a warm shelter to protect him from freezing to death.
Hence, this period of the year is called “Saad Al-Dhabih” , after the shepherd Saad, who was forced to slaughter his camel in order to keep warm.
Characteristics of the days of Saad Al-Dhabih
The days of “Saad Al-Dhabih” are described as the coldest of the year, and extend for 12 and a half days, from February 1st until the middle of February 13th (according to popular tradition).
It was said in describing the severity of the cold during it:
Saad was slaughtered, his dog did not bark, his farmer did not farm, and his shepherd did not graze.
See also:
The Winter Fifty in the Levant and the Period of Saudi Women... Stories from Popular Heritage
Winter Pentecost and Stories from Popular Heritage
Sources:
Saad Al Bukhari
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