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Arabic and Islamic Goddesses
Alilat
The Arabian mother goddess
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Allat
(Al-lat) An ancient mother and fertility goddess of the pre-Islamic Arabs.
Her name means "the Goddess". This mythic figure of great antiquity
is one (she represented the earth and its fruits) of the trinity of desert
goddesses, daughters of Allah, named in the Koran; Al-Uzza (goddess of
the morning star) and Menat (goddess of fate and time) being the others.
She was worshipped in the form of a block of white granite. Al-Uzza (goddess
of the morning star) and Menat (goddess of fate and time) being the others.
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Allatum
The goddess of the underworld in early Iranian mythology. She is believed
to be of Mesopotamian origin (Ellat).
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Al-Uzza
(El-'Ozza, Han-Uzzai) Another Arabic pre-Islamic goddess, considered the
youngest daughter of Allah. She was worshipped in the form of a black
stone.
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Aluqa
An Arabian demoness who seduces men, sucking their blood after copulation
so that they are totally exhausted and commit suicide.
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Ayesha
The favorite wife of the Prophet Muhammad, daughter of Abou Bekr. He married
her when she was only a child, soon after the Hegira, and ultimately died
in her arms. |
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Badoura
The heroine of the story of Camaralzaman and Badoura in the Arabian Nights.
Reputedly 'the most beautiful woman ever seen upon earth'.
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Balkis
The Muslim name of the Queen of Sheba, who visited Solomon.
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Batul
("virgin") The word usually refers to Maryam or Fatimah, both
of whom are regarded as superior to other women in Islamic tradition.
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Dhat-Badan
The primary goddess of the Arabs of Yemen. She was a goddess of the natural
forces of the wilderness, worshiped especially in tree-circled oases.
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Fatima
Fatima was the moon goddess in pre-Islamic Arabia. Her name means The
Creatress. She was also known as Source Of The Sun, Tree Of Paradise,
the Moon, and Fate. She existed from the beginning of the material world.
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Ghaddar
A demon (possibly female) in the deserts of the Red Sea countries. It
catches travelers and tortures them by devouring their genitals. Islamic
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Ghul
("seizer") Arabic, Pre-Islamic. Female spirits who attacked
desert travellers, occasionally seducing or eating them. The root of the
modern word 'ghoul'. |
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Haiwa
("life") The Arabic name for Eve. She is not mentioned by name
in the Koran, but referred to as Adam's spouse (Koran 2:35, 7:189). She
was created by God as a spouse for Adam so that they could live in the
Garden together. They were warned not to approach a certain tree. This
tree had a very sweet smell, the best in the garden, called qamh. Eve
was tempted by Iblis, who had become her friend by his glib talking, to
eat from the tree fruit. Only by eating its fruit, he told her, would
she be able to have children. When Adam learned what she had done, he
followed her example, though more hesitantly, because he knew she would
be cast out of paradise and he wanted to protect her against the hard
life on earth.
Maryam
The mother of Prophet Isa (Alaih Assalaam) was called Maryam. Some
people also call her Mary. She was a very pious woman and once, an angel
of Allah Allah came to her and said: Soon you will have a son. But how
can I have a son? Maryam asked. I have no husband. The angel replied:
Allah is almighty. When He wishes something, then it will happen. You
will have a son, and his name shall be Isa, and he will be a great prophet
of Allah.
When Isa was born, Maryam was on her own. She was very sad and hungry,
for she had nothing to eat. But Allah came to her aid. He made a stream
flow and a tree with nourishing fruits grew in the place where Maryam
lived. Now, she would not have to suffer thirst and hunger. Later Maryam
returned to her family. They were very curious about the child and asked:
How did you get him? But Maryam did not answer. Instead, she just pointed
to the child. Don't be silly, Maryam! The people admonished her. How can
we ask a child, who is still in the cradle? But just then, to their amazement,
they heard the child say: I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the
scripture and made me His prophet. We, mankind, should worship only Allah
and help the poor and give them some of our money.
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Sakina
"Security, tranquility". In the Koran (2:248) it is a reference
to the Hebrew shekina, "divine presence, and immanence". In
the next chapter of the Koran it says: "There will come to you the
ark [tabut] with the sakina in it. The word could also mean "spirit,
faith, courage" (Koran 9:26, 40, 48:2).
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Qandisa
A female demon of Morocco
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Ruhu'llah
The spirit of Allah, which He breathed into Maryam. Now also a title for
the highest mullahs (the ayatollahs in the Iranian Shi'a). Koran 4:169,
15:29, 21:91, 32:8, 38:72).
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Safura
Arabic for Zipporah, wife of Moses (Musa), daughter of Jethro (Shu'ayb).
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