<![CDATA[False dawn (fajar kāżib) is a pre-dawn luminous phenomenon significant in hadith, Islamic jurisprudence, and Islamic astronomy. Hadith describe it as vertically rising light resembling a wolf’s tail that neither marks the beginning of the Subuh prayer time nor signals the end of the pre-dawn meal. This study examines the interpretation of hadith descriptions of false dawn by integrating normative hadith narratives, juristic explanations, and published astronomical evidence. It employs a qualitative-interdisciplinary approach combining textual analysis, juristic interpretation, and documented astronomical observations. The observational materials include field images, sky-brightness data measured using a Sky Quality Meter (SQM), Stellarium-based visual comparisons, and sky-condition analyses from Bayan, North Lombok, recorded on 7–8 October 2024. The analysis proceeds through three stages: interpreting the hadith descriptions, examining their juristic implications, and comparing the visual characteristics of false dawn with astronomical explanations of zodiacal light. The findings suggest that false dawn can be understood phenomenologically as dim, vertically extending, non-horizontal light appearing before true dawn (fajar ṣādiq). These characteristics resemble zodiacal light, which results from sunlight scattered by interplanetary dust concentrated around the ecliptic plane. This synthesis demonstrates that hadith provides visual indicators and legal boundaries, while Islamic astronomy offers a physical explanation grounded in existing scientific literature. The study concludes that integrating hadith interpretation with astronomical evidence can strengthen scientific and Sharīʿah-based understanding of false dawn without altering the normative role of hadith in determining prayer times.]]>
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