Manat (goddess)

Manat (Arabic: منات‎, Manāt) was a major pre-Islamic Arabian goddess, worshipped by several tribes in the Hejaz region of Arabia. She was one of the three goddesses known as the al-ghīṭān ("the three goddesses") alongside al-Lat and al-ʿUzzā, who were considered the most important deities in the Arabian pantheon before the rise of Islam.

Attributes and Roles

Manat's specific attributes and roles are debated amongst scholars, due to the limited surviving textual evidence. However, she was generally associated with fate, destiny, and the determination of events. Some sources suggest she presided over childbirth and could influence the course of a person's life. Her name itself might derive from a root meaning "fate" or "portion". The association with fate suggests that supplicants would petition her for guidance and favorable outcomes. Her cult may also have involved rituals related to the oracle or prophecy.

Worship and Cult

Manat was venerated at several sites throughout Arabia, with one of the most prominent being at al-'Ukhḍūḍ, a sacred place located near Mecca. The shrine was a significant center of pilgrimage and ritual activity. As one of the al-ghīṭān, her status indicated significant influence within Arabian society, and she received substantial reverence from many tribes. The destruction of Manat's idols, along with those of al-Lat and al-ʿUzzā, occurred after the conquest of Mecca by the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

Post-Islamic Context

The destruction of Manat's idol and the subsequent rise of Islam significantly impacted her worship. In Islamic tradition, she is condemned as an idol of pagan worship. However, limited information about Manat's cult practices and beliefs remains, making further understanding of her importance a subject of ongoing scholarly research and interpretation. Details on specific rituals and beliefs remain incomplete and based largely on indirect evidence.

See Also

• Al-Lat
• Al-ʿUzzā
• Arabian paganism
• Pre-Islamic Arabia

References

(Further research and detailed citations would be needed to complete this section)