LAT, AL-

North Arabian goddess of pre-Islamic times to whom a stone cube at at-Ta'if (near Mecca) was held sacred as part of her cult. Two other North Arabian goddesses, Manat (Fate) and al-'Uzza (Strong), were associated with al-Lat in the Qur'an (Islamic sacred scriptures). The Prophet Muhammad once recognized these three as goddesses, but a new revelation led him to abrogate the approving verses he had earlier recited and to abandon his attempt to placate Meccan pagans. Members of the tribe of Quraysh circumambulated the Ka'bah in Mecca (now a central shrine of Islam in Mecca's al-Haram mosque) chanting the praises of al-Lat, al-'Uzza, and Manat. Each of the three had main sanctuaries near Mecca that were sites of pious visits and offerings until Muhammad ordered them destroyed. The goddesses were also worshipped by various Arab tribes located as far away as Palmyra, Syria.