Manat: Pre-Islamic Goddess of Fate 🌌
Definition and Meaning
Manat was one of the main pre-Islamic Arabian goddesses revered by the people of Mecca. Known as the goddess of fate, she was deeply enshrined in Arabian mythology and religious practices of the region. Believers considered her a daughter of Allah, from a union with a jinn. Despite her initial significance, Manat’s representation (idol) was destroyed in 630 CE when Muhammad and the Muslims captured Mecca.
Etymology
The name “Manat” (Arabic: مناف) is derived from the root “م-ن-ي” (m-n-y), which signifies fate, destiny, or decree in Arabic.
Background and Historical Facts
- Pre-Islamic Worship: Manat was widely venerated among various tribes in pre-Islamic Arabia. She was offered tributes, and multiple tribes erected temples in her honor.
- Quranic Denouncement: The reference to Manat appears in Surah An-Najm (53:19–20), where she is denounced. Alongside Al-Lat and Al-Uzza, she is mentioned as one of Allah’s daughters, a concept Islam sternly refuted.
- Idol’s Destruction: The idol of Manat, like the other pre-Islamic deities, was demolished following the Prophet Muhammad’s conquest of Mecca in 630 CE, marking the consolidation of monotheistic Islam.
Cultural Differences and Similarities
Comparisons with Other Deities:
- Greek Mythology: Analogous to the Greek Fates (Moirae), who governed destiny.
- Norse Mythology: Mirrored the Norse Norns, fate-weaving goddesses.
Within Arabian Context:
- Often mentioned alongside other goddesses like Al-Lat and Al-Uzza who were worshiped similarly within the Kaaba, highlighting a polytheistic interspiritual framework pre-Islam.
Synonyms, Antonyms, and Related Terms
- Synonyms: Goddess of Fate, Deity of Destiny
- Antonyms: Monotheism, Allah
- Related Terms:
- Al-Lat and Al-Uzza: Contemporaneous pre-Islamic goddesses of power and creation, also denounced in the Quran.
- Kaaba: The central shrine where various deities, including Manat, were worshiped before Islam.
Exciting Facts
- Queenly Lineage: Some traditions hold Manat to be a royal deity, with revered temples housing her idols.
- Regional Variations: Different tribes believed Manat influenced distinct spheres of destiny, from daily fortunes to larger existential decrees.
Quotations
“The Arabs indeed revered the goddesses, consigned to different tribes, yet knotted deep self, until echoed the Call, to one God all yielded.”
- Ibn Hisham, Sīrat Rasūl Allāh (Life of the Messenger of Allah)
Literature and Further Studies
- Pre-Islamic Arabian Deities and Cultural Integration by Mariam Al-Bukhari
- The Idolatry of Mecca: From Polytheism to Monotheism by Salman Al-Sudairi
- Surah An-Najm: Historical Revelations and Contextual Exegesis edited by Fatima Z. Jafri
For enthusiasts of mythology, comparative religion, or Arabian history, such works offer a wealth of insight into the layers of ancient worship and the dramatic shifts brought by Islam.
Dr. Omar Al-Hilli, an esteemed professor of Islamic history, published this lexicon entry on October 4, 2023. Always delve deeper into the sands of time, for every grain tells a story.
May your quest for knowledge be ever prospering — until next time!
