Who was Manat in Islam?

In Islam, Manat is recognized as a pre-Islamic goddess of fate who was worshipped in Arabia. She is mentioned by name in the Quran (53:20) as one of three principal idols, alongside Al-Lat and Al-Uzza, whose worship is condemned as an act of shirk (polytheism).

Why is Manat mentioned in the Quran?

Manat is mentioned in the Quran (Surah An-Najm, 53:20) not for reverence, but as part of a divine rebuke against the Meccan polytheists. The verse critiques the illogical practice of worshipping these idols and falsely attributing them as 'daughters of Allah'.

Which Arab tribes worshipped Manat?

According to Islamic historical sources, Manat was particularly venerated by the tribes of Aws and Khazraj in Yathrib (later Medina). Her idol was located at a place called al-Mushallal in Qudayd, between Mecca and Medina, and pilgrims would visit it.

What happened to the idol of Manat?

Following the Conquest of Mecca, the Prophet Muhammad dispatched a companion (either Sa'd ibn Zaid al-Ashhali or Ali ibn Abi Talib) to destroy the idol of Manat. The companion demolished the idol and its shrine, marking a definitive end to her worship as part of the establishment of monotheism.

Manat: The Pre-Islamic Goddess Mentioned in the Quran

Manat

مناة

Manat (مناة) is the name of a false pre-Islamic goddess mentioned in the Quran.

Explore Verses Related to Manat

🕋An-Najm53:20

At a Glance

According to search-discovered classical Islamic scholarship, Manat (Arabic: مناة) was one of the three chief goddesses worshipped by Arabs in the pre-Islamic era of Jahiliyyah (Ignorance), alongside Al-Lat and Al-Uzza. Tafsir Ibn Kathir clarifies her single mention in the Quran (Surah An-Najm, 53:20) as a direct refutation of idolatry, where Allah rebukes the polytheists for worshipping idols they considered 'daughters of God'. Historically, Manat was considered the most ancient of this triad and was revered as the goddess of fate and destiny. Her main idol was situated at al-Mushallal near Qudayd, between Mecca and Medina, and was particularly venerated by the Aws and Khazraj tribes. The destruction of her idol by the companions of the Prophet Muhammad marked a pivotal moment in the eradication of shirk (polytheism) from the Arabian Peninsula and the firm establishment of Tawheed (pure monotheism).

📖 Quranic Context

She serves as a primary example of Shirk (polytheism) and the irrationality of idolatry. The Quranic mention is not to validate her, but to critique and refute the beliefs of the Meccan polytheists.

In pre-Islamic belief, she was one of three goddesses considered 'daughters of Allah', a concept vehemently rejected and condemned by the Quran.

References: Manat is mentioned by name once in the Quran, in Surah An-Najm (53:20), as part of a rhetorical condemnation of the principal idols worshipped by the pagan Arabs.

💭 Theological Perspective

Represents the human tendency during Jahiliyyah (Age of Ignorance) to seek intercessors and assign partners to God, particularly concerning concepts like fate and destiny.

The worship of Manat symbolizes the misplacement of reliance (Tawakkul) from Allah to created beings or concepts.

Her mention in the Quran is a critical part of the divine guidance that dismantles polytheistic frameworks and establishes pure monotheism (Tawheed).

📜 Hadith Perspective

Historical and Sirah literature detail the Prophet Muhammad's command to destroy her idol following the conquest of Mecca, signifying the end of state-sanctioned idolatry in the Arabian Peninsula.

The complete rejection of idolatry.
The establishment of Tawheed over the land.
The dispatching of companions like Sa'd ibn Zaid al-Ashhali or Ali ibn Abi Talib to demolish the idol at al-Mushallal.

💎 Deeper Insights

Manat was considered the most ancient of the Meccan triad of goddesses. The prevalence of early theophoric names like 'Abd-Manah' (Servant of Manat) before names related to Al-Lat or Al-Uzza suggests her worship was older and more deeply rooted.

The destruction of Manat's idol was assigned to her former worshippers from the Aws and Khazraj tribes, demonstrating the completeness of their conversion. This was a powerful psychological and social act, proving their allegiance to Islam over their previous traditions.

A notable historical theory connects Mahmud of Ghazni's 11th-century raid on the Somnath temple in India to the idol Manat. Ghaznavid court historians claimed the main idol at Somnath was the original Manat idol spirited away from Arabia, which Mahmud was 'reclaiming' and destroying.