Surah An-Najm (53) — Ayah 20

The tafsir of this verse may be read with the following verses.

20. 1. This is said as a rebuke to the polytheists: Allah has the majesty that has been mentioned, that He is the Creator of great angels like Jibreel (علیہ السلام), His Messenger is the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, whom He called to the heavens, showed him great signs, and also sent down revelation upon him. Do those deities whom you worship possess these or any such qualities? In this context, the names of three famous idols of Arabia are given as examples. Lat: according to some, this word is derived from Allah, while others say Lat is from "yalit," which means to turn; the worshippers would turn their necks towards it and circumambulate it, hence the name. Some say that in Lat, the "ta" is mushaddad, and it is the active participle from "lat yalit" (one who mixes flour with water); he was a pious man who used to mix flour with water and give it to the pilgrims to drink. When he died, people made his grave a place of worship, and then his statues and idols were made. This was the greatest idol of Banu Thaqif in Taif. Uzza: it is said that this is derived from Allah's attribute "Aziz," and it is the feminine of "a'azz," meaning "azizat." Some say it was a tree in Ghatafan that was worshipped, some say it was a she-devil (female jinn) who appeared in certain trees. Some say it was a white stone that was worshipped. This was the special deity of Quraysh and Banu Kinanah. Manat: from "mani yamni," which means to pour; to gain its nearness, people would slaughter many animals at its place and pour their blood. This was an idol between Makkah and Madinah (Fath al-Qadeer); it was in a place called Mushallal opposite Qudayd, and it was the special idol of Banu Khuza'ah. In the time of ignorance, Aws and Khazraj would enter ihram from here and also circumambulate this idol. (Aysar al-Tafasir and Ibn Kathir) Besides these, there were many other idols and idol-houses spread throughout various regions. The Prophet ﷺ, after the conquest of Makkah and on other occasions, eliminated these idols and all other idols, demolished the domes and buildings that were built over them, cut down the trees that were venerated, and erased all traces and manifestations that were reminders of idolatry. For this task, he ﷺ sent Khalid, Ali, Amr ibn al-As, Jarir ibn Abdullah al-Bajali, and others (may Allah be pleased with them all) to wherever these idols were, and they went and destroyed them all, erasing the name of shirk from the land of Arabia. (Ibn Kathir)

And another, the third, Manat [12]?

[12]
The Many Goddesses of the Polytheists of Makkah: Lat, Uzza, and Manat:

Now, in comparison to such a Lord of limitless greatness and majesty, listen also to the mention of those goddesses whom the people of Arabia worshipped. Lat (the feminine of "ilah") had its shrine or sanctuary in Ta’if, and the Banu Thaqif were its devotees. Uzza (the feminine of "Aziz") means "the honorable" or "the one who grants honor." This was the special goddess of the Quraysh, and her shrine or sanctuary was located between Makkah and Ta’if in the valley of Nakhlah at the place called Hiraas. The shrine or sanctuary of Manat was located between Makkah and Madinah on the shore of the Red Sea at the place called Qudayd. The Banu Khuza’ah, Aws, and Khazraj were its devotees. Its pilgrimage and circumambulation were performed regularly. During the time of Hajj, when the pilgrims finished the circumambulation of the House of Allah, and the rites of Arafat and Mina, from there the cries of "Labbayk, Labbayk" would be raised for the visitation of Manat, and those who intended this second "Hajj" would not perform the Sa’i between Safa and Marwah.