Muhammad, the Qur'an and Islam
Yaug - ("He hinders" or "He preserves") was a god of the Yemeni Hamdan, whose main place of worship was near Sana. Wellhausen, Reste,
p. 22; Sahih Bukhari, vol. 6, p. 414; Rudolph, Koran, p. 527, n. 4.
Nasr - ("Eagle" or "Vulture") a god of the Himyar in southern Arabia,
who was also worshiped in the north. Wellhausen, Reste, p. 23; Buhl,
Muhammeds, p. 74; Sahih Bukhari, vol. 6, p. 414; Rudolph, Koran, p. 527,
n. 4.
Al-Lat - ("The goddess") was a sun goddess worshiped by many Arab
tribes; a stone was made sacred to her in Ta'if. Wellhausen, Reste, pp. 29 f;
Buhl, Muhammeds, pp. 74 f; Rudolph, Koran, p. 479, n. 12.
Al-`Uzza - ("The most powerful") was a goddess worshiped as the
morning star (Venus) in northern Arabia. Three trees and a stone formed a
sanctuary for her in Nakhla near Mecca. A Lakhmid king (Mundhir III)
once offered 400 Christian nuns to her. Wellhausen, Reste, pp. 34 f; Buhl,
Muhammeds, pp. 76 f, 84; Rudolph, Koran, p. 479, n. 12; SEI, p. 617;
Guillaume, Muhammad, p. 38.
Manat - ("Fate") was a goddess whose sanctuary at Qudayd consisted of
a black stone. Wellhausen, Reste, pp. 25 f; Rudolph, Koran, p. 479, n. 12;
SEI, p. 325; Guillaume, Muhammad, p. 38.
Hubal - (meaning uncertain) was a man-like idol worshiped in Mecca,
who was also consulted by the casting of arrows. He was allegedly the
greatest idol of the Quraysh or Mecca itself. Wellhausen, Reste, p. 75;
Buhl, Muhammeds, p. 79; SEI, p. 140; Tabari, History, vol. 6, pp. 3-5;
Guillaume, New Light, p. 19.
[36] There were many pilgrimage sites; see Wellhausen Reste, pp. 84 f.
[37] There were many seasonal markets on the Arabian peninsula; see
Wellhausen, Reste, p. 246.
[38] Buhl, Muhammeds, pp. 92 f.