Manaf (deity)

Part of the myth series on
Religions of the ancient Near East
Anatolia Arabia Canaan Egypt Iran Mesopotamia Syria (Ebla·Hurrian)
Pre-Islamic Arabian deities
A'ra Abgal Allah Al-Lat Al-Qaum Amm Anbay Atarsamain Athtar Basamum Dhu l-Khalasa Dushara Haukim Hubal Isāf and Nā'ila Manaf Manāt Nasr Nuha Quzah Ruda Sa'd Shams, Samas Syn Suwa' Theandrios al-‘Uzzá Wadd Ya'uq Yaghūth Yatha
Arabian deities of foreign origin
Aglibol (Palmyrene) Astarte Atargatis (Syrian) Baalshamin (Canaanite and Palmyrene) Bēl (Palmyrene) Bes (Egypt) Ēl, Ilāh (NW Semitic) Inanna/Ishtar Malakbel (Palmyrene) Nabū, Nebo Nergal Yarhibol (Palmyrene)

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. It is sometimes said that women, who normally touched his image as a token of blessing, kept away from it during menstruation.

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"

• 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