Manaf (deity)

Manaf (Arabic: مناف) was a pre-Islamic Arabian deity, and currently a given name. Personal names incorporating the name Manaf such as "Abd Manaf" show that the deity was widespread among the tribes of Quraysh, Hudhayl, and Tamim.

Although famous scholar Al-Tabari calls Manaf "one of the greatest deities of Mecca," very little information is available on the subject. Some authors state that women, who normally touched his idol as a token of blessing, kept away from it during menstruation, but, according to Encyclopedia of Islam, a report from Ibn Al-Kalbi indicates that this practice was common to all idols.

Today, "Manaf" is a boy name infrequently given mostly in the Arab world. Despite being a boy's name, it can also be given to girls; while "Abd Manaf" has since become virtually unused.

Notable people named "Manaf"

• Abd Manaf ibn Qusai: Pre-Islamic leader of Quraysh.
• Manaf Tlass (1964-): Former member of the Syrian Republican Guard.
• Manaf Abushgeer (1980-): Former Saudi Arabian football player.
• Manaf Abd al-Rahim al-Rawi (died 2013): Iraqi jihadist.
• Manaf Suleymanov (1912-2001): Azerbaijani historian.
• Manaf Al-Saeed (1976-): Former Saudi Arabian handball player.

See also

• Al-Lat
• Hubal
• Manāt