star Sirius in verse 49, where it is given the name (transliteration: aš-ši‘rā or ash-shira; the leader). The verse is: "", "That He is the Lord of Sirius (the Mighty Star)." Ibn Kathir (d.1373) said in his commentary "that it is the bright star, named Mirzam Al-Jawza' (Sirius), which a group of Arabs used to worship." The alternate (to Sirius) Aschere, used by Johann Bayer, is derived from this. See also Satanic verses References External links Najm Al-Lat