06-10-2006, 10:30 PM
In the Koran, Sura 53:19 says 'Have you considered "Al Lat" and "al-Uzza" and "Manat" the third other?'
This passage was originally followed by the words <b>'Verily they are the exalted maidens and their intercession is to be hoped for'.</b> The polytheistic Pagans of Mecca were delighted when Muhammad delivered this passage because it was a chant recited by the Qurash tribe as they circled the Ka'aba while worshipping these three principle goddess of pre-Islamic Mecca. This compromise also caused some companions to doubt Muhammad and leave his fold. "Al-Lat" was the most famous of the pre Islamic pagan gods. She was the chief goddess (and idol) of the tribe of Thakif at Taif, who tries to compromise with Muhammad, if only he could destroy their god "Al-Lat" for 3 years.
The earliest authority on the life of Muhammad (Ibn Hisham) claimed that these words were uttered by Muhammad at the "instigation of Satan" and are considered to the be Satanic Verses (not to be confused with Salman Rushdies' book).
When Muhammad realized that his attempt to appease the pagan Meccans was causing his followers to leave, he quickly made a slight alteration and a major omission to this passage by dropping the sentence about the exalted maidens. To make matters worse, Gabriel allegedly came to Muhammad and denied that he had revealed the word to him. ('Sirat'ul Rasool' as revised by Ibn Hisham, (vs. 239), and Tabari pp. 1 192). Muhammad retained the named of the goddesses, and added that it was unfair that God should have daughters while humans had sons (See Sura 53:19-23).
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