Remember when the word 'Idol' had a bad meaning? 

From Al-Ibaanah.com 

'Have you then considered Al-Laat and Al-‘Uzzaa, and Manaat, the third other?' [Surah An-Najm: 19-20]"

Shaikh Saalih Al-Fawzaan said in his commentary: Sharh Al-Qawaa'id-ul-Arba' [Dar-ul-Imam Ahmad (pg. 34-37)]

This verse indicates that there are polytheists who worship stones and trees. "Have you then considered" is an interrogation that consists of a condemnation, which means "Inform me." Such a question is asked with the intent of condemning and censuring.

"Al-Laat" with one "t" was the name of a statue found in Taa’if, which consisted of a carved out rock upon which a house was built that had curtains on it, resembling the Ka’bah. There were open fields around it and it had its own custodians, and people would worship it apart from Allaah. It belonged to the tribe of Thaqeef and they were proud of it.

The verse is also recited as "Al-Laatt" with a double "t" and that is a verbal noun derived from the verb "latta", which means to pound and knead. Based on this, it referred to a man that would knead sawiq (a mush made from wheat and barley) to give as food to the pilgrims on Hajj. When he died, the people built a house on his grave and placed curtains over it. Later on, they began to worship it. This was Laatt.

"Al-‘Uzzaa" refers to a group of trees that was found in a date-palm valley between Makkah and Taa’if. It also consisted of a building with curtains around it, and which had its own custodians. There were devils inside that would talk to people, and the ignorant would think that the ones speaking to them lived inside the trees or the building that they constructed when in fact it was the devils that were speaking to them in order to divert them from Allaah’s Path. This idol belonged to the tribe of Quraish as well as the other tribes that resided in Makkah and its surrounding areas.

"Manaat" was a huge rock that was found in a place close to Mount Qudaid between Makkah and Madeenah. It belonged to the tribes of Khuzaa’ah, Aws, and Khazraj. They would assume the state of Ihraam by its location when going to Hajj.

These three idols were the greatest idols amongst the Arabs. Allaah says: "Have you then considered Al-Laat and Al-‘Uzzaa, and Manaat?" This means: "Have they benefited you with anything? Have they helped you? Have they assisted you? Have they created, sustained, brought life, and caused death? What have you found in them?"

This was asked of them in order to censure them and alert the minds to return back to the correct way. These things are only rocks and trees that give no benefit and cause no harm, i.e. they are creations.

When Allaah brought Islaam and the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) conquered Makkah, he sent Al-Mugheerah bin Shu’bah and Abu Sufyaan bin Harb to Al-Laat in Taa’if, and they destroyed it upon the orders of Allaah’s Messenger. He (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) also sent Khaalid bin Al-Waleed to Al-‘Uzzaa, and he destroyed it, cut down all the trees that were there, and killed the female Jinn that resided there who used to talk to the people and lead them astray. So he completely obliterated it, all praise be to Allaah. The Prophet also sent ‘Alee bin Abee Taalib to Manaat, and he demolished it and erased it from existence.

These idols were not able to save themselves so how could they save their adherents and worshippers. "Have you then considered Al-Laat and Al-‘Uzzaa, and Manaat, the third other?"

Where did they go? Did they benefit you? Did they protect themselves from the forces of Allaah and the army of monotheists?

This verse proves that there were people who would worship trees and stones. In fact, the above three idols were the greatest of their idols, but in spite of that, Allaah wiped them out of existence. They were not able to prevent their own destruction nor were they able to assist their worshippers. The Messenger of Allaah waged war against them and fought them, and their statues were not able to stop them. This proves the point that the author is trying to make here, which is that there exist people who worship stones and trees.

Glory be to Allaah! Is it possible that there could be human beings with intellects that worship inanimate objects such as trees and stones, which do not possess minds or movement or even life?! Where are the intellects of human beings? Far removed is Allaah from what they say!