Tafsir of An-Najm 53:49

Al-Shi‘ra refers to "al-‘Abur" (Sirius), spelled with an ‘ayn, a ba, and a ra. It is also called "al-Ghumaysa," spelled with a ghayn, a mim, a ya, and a sad. The first is in the constellation of Orion (al-Jawza’). It was called "al-‘Abur" (the Crosser) because it crossed the Milky Way and met Canopus (Suhayl), and because it appears as if it is about to cross when it rises. It is also called the "Dog of the Giant" (Kalb al-Jabbar) because it follows Orion—which is called the Giant—just as a hunter or prey is followed. The second (al-Ghumaysa) is in the outstretched arm of the Lion (al-Asad). It was called "al-Ghumaysa" (the Bleary-eyed) because it wept over the departure of Canopus, causing its eyes to become rheumy—and ghams is the white discharge that collects in the corner of the eye. This is based on the claims of the Arabs that they (the two stars) were sisters of Canopus.

In al-Qamus, it is mentioned among their narratives that al-Shi‘ra al-‘Abur crossed the Milky Way, so it was named "al-‘Abur," while the other wept behind it until its eyes became rheumy. It is also called "al-Ghamus." It is said that they claimed Canopus and al-Shi‘ra were a married couple; Canopus descended and became Yemenite, so al-Shi‘ra followed him, crossed the Milky Way, and was named "al-‘Abur," while al-Ghumaysa remained behind and was named such because it is less luminous than the former. All of this belongs to their false imaginations which have no basis in truth. When mentioned absolutely without description, what is immediately understood is "al-‘Abur," because it is greater in mass and more luminous, and it is the one that was worshipped other than Allah (Exalted is He) during the Pre-Islamic period (Jahiliyyah).

Al-Suddi said: The tribes of Himyar and Khuza‘a worshipped it. Others said: The first to worship it was Abu Kabsha, a man from Khuza‘a (or he was their leader), whose name was Wakhz ibn Ghalib. The polytheists used to say to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): "Son of Abu Kabsha," likening him to him because of his opposition to his people regarding the worship of idols. Some mentioned that he was one of his ancestors (peace and blessings be upon him) on his mother's side, and they used to claim that every trait in a person is inherited from one of his maternal uncles, saying, "He has inherited such-and-such a trait," and "the maternal uncle is a source of traits." It is also said that it is the kunyah (agnomen) of Wahb ibn ‘Abd Manaf, his grandfather on his mother's side. Their saying this to him (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), according to what the apparent meaning of al-Qamus implies, relates to his physical resemblance, not his opposition (to the people). It is also said that it is the kunyah of the husband of his wet nurse, Halima al-Sa‘diyyah, or the kunyah of her son’s paternal uncle.

Because it was worshipped besides Him (the Almighty and Majestic), it was singled out for mention to expose their ignorance in making a created being a lord. For the sake of greater emphasis on this, the sentence was presented in the manner expressed by the majestic arrangement of the verse. Among the Arabs were those who venerated it, believing in its influence over the world, and claiming that it crosses the sky widthwise while other stars cross it lengthwise, and they would speak of the unseen at the time of its rising. Thus, in the words of the Almighty: "And that He is the Lord of Sirius," there is an indication of the negation of its influence.