وَمَنَوٰةَ ٱلثَّالِثَةَ ٱلْأُخْرَىٰٓ 20
Translations
And Manāt, the third - the other one?
Transliteration
Wa-manāta ath-thālithata al-ukhrā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to Manat, one of the three pre-Islamic Arabian goddesses that polytheists falsely associated with Allah. The verse is part of a broader condemnation of idolatry, emphasizing that these false deities have no basis in divine revelation. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note this ayah refutes the pagan practice of attributing daughters to Allah and worshipping these invented idols.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Najm's discussion of pagan Arabian idolatry during the Meccan period. The context addresses the false beliefs of the Quraysh who claimed Allah had daughters (Al-Lat, Al-Uzza, and Manat), a practice explicitly rejected by Islamic monotheism. The surah establishes that only Allah deserves worship.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari reports that when the Prophet ﷺ recited verses about these goddesses (53:19-20), the pagans momentarily seemed pleased, leading to the revelation of clarifying verses. This incident illustrates how firmly the Quran rejected any compromise with idolatry.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that false beliefs and idolatrous practices, no matter how culturally entrenched, have no legitimacy in the sight of Allah. It teaches the importance of absolute monotheism and vigilance against modern forms of idolatry that distract from true worship.