Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	AMANA MUTUAL FUNDS TRUST
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Sep. 28, 2015
Amana Participation Fund
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Amana Participation Fund
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	Capital preservation and current income, consistent with Islamic principles. Capital preservation is its primary objective.
Objective, Secondary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectiveSecondaryTextBlock	current income, consistent with Islamic principles.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Participation Fund.
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]	rr_ShareholderFeesCaption	Shareowner Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses Caption [Text]	rr_OperatingExpensesCaption	Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Portfolio Turnover [Heading]	rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading	Portfolio Turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]	rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock	The Participation Fund may have transaction costs, such as commissions and a bid-ask spread, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual Fund operating expenses or in the example, affect your after-tax returns. The Fund began operations as of September 28, 2015 (the date of this Prospectus) and consequently has not yet made any purchases or sold any securities, and therefore does not have a portfolio turnover rate to report.
Other Expenses, New Fund, Based on Estimates [Text]	rr_OtherExpensesNewFundBasedOnEstimates	The "Other Expenses" are based on estimated amounts for the initial fiscal year.
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The example below is intended to help investors compare the cost of investing in shares of the Participation Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes an investor invests $10,000 in shares of the Participation Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeems all shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that the investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions an investor's expenses would be:
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	Under normal conditions, the Participation Fund invests at least 80% of its assets in short and intermediate-term Islamic income producing investments. The Fund invests primarily in notes and certificates issued for payment by foreign governments, their agencies, and financial institutions in transactions structured to be in accordance with Islamic principles. Examples of these notes and certificates include (a) sukuk, which link the returns and cash flows of financing to the assets purchased, or the returns generated from an asset purchased, (b) murabaha, which involves a purchase and sale contract, and (c) wakala, in which accounts are operated under the Islamic finance principle of wakala (an agency agreement). These investments typically involve the purchase of financial certificates representing investments in tangible assets, project financing, sale and leaseback arrangements, and similar transactions, and the distribution of profits (as opposed to the payment of interest) related to the underlying asset or project. Unlike an investment in a conventional bond that represents a promise to pay interest, these investments involve the sharing of profits and losses in the assets or projects financed by the Fund's investment in the notes and certificates. In addition, the Fund may invest in time deposits with banks that involve underlying purchase and sale agreements to generate the return on the deposit. Generally, Islamic principles require that investors participate in profit and loss, that they receive no usury or interest, and that they do not invest in a prohibited business. Some of the businesses not permitted are liquor, wine, casinos, pornography, insurance, gambling, pork processing, and interest-based banks or finance associations. In accordance with Islamic principles, the Fund shall not purchase conventional bonds, debentures, or other interest-paying obligations of indebtedness. Islamic principles discourage speculation, and the Fund tends to hold investments for several years. Under normal circumstances the Fund maintains a dollar-weighted average maturity of two to five years. The Participation Fund restricts its investments so that at least 50% are denominated in US dollars, with no more than 10% in any other currency. Under normal conditions, the Fund invests at least 65% of its assets in securities rated within the four highest grades (Aaa, Aa, A, Baa) by a nationally-recognized rating agency and may invest up to 35% in unrated and high-yield notes and certificates, which may be considered equivalent to "junk bonds."
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks of Investing
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	Market risk: The value of Participation Fund shares rises and falls as the value of the securities in which the Fund invests goes up and down. Consider investing in the Fund only if you are willing to accept the risk that you may lose money. Fund share prices, yields, and total returns will change with the fluctuations in the securities and currency markets as well as the fortunes of the countries, industries, and companies in which the Fund invests. Diversification and concentration risks: The Fund is non-diversified and may invest a larger percentage of its assets in fewer issuers, which may cause the Fund to experience more volatility than diversified funds. In addition, the Fund may concentrate its investments within the financial services industry and real estate sector. Strategy risk: The Fund's restricted ability to invest in certain market sectors, such as non-Islamic financial companies and conventional fixed-income securities, limits opportunities and may adversely affect the Fund's performance. Because Islamic principles preclude the use of interest-paying instruments, cash reserves do not earn income. Liquidity risk: Liquidity risk exists when particular investments are difficult to sell. Investments by the Fund in foreign securities and those that are thinly traded, such as lower quality issuers, tend to involve greater liquidity risk. The market for certain investments may become illiquid under adverse market or economic conditions. Foreign investing risk: The Participation Fund involves risks not typically associated with investing in US securities. Investments in the securities of foreign issuers may involve risks in addition to those normally associated with investments in the securities of US issuers. All foreign investments are subject to risks of: (1) foreign political and economic instability; (2) adverse movements in foreign exchange rates; (3) currency devaluation; (4) the imposition or tightening of exchange controls or other limitations on repatriation of foreign capital; (5) changes in foreign governmental attitudes towards private investment, including potential nationalization, increased taxation, or confiscation of assets, and (6) differing reporting, accounting, and auditing standards of foreign countries. The risks of foreign investing are generally magnified in the smaller and more volatile securities markets of the Participation Fund. Sukuk risk: Sukuk are specifically structured to adhere to Islamic investment principles, but also must be engineered to be economically feasible in order to attract investment. Sukuk structures may be significantly more complicated than conventional bonds and often include a series of entities created specifically to support the sukuk structure. In addition, sukuk are largely created in or otherwise subject to the risks of developing economies, many of which have weak or inconsistent accounting, legal, and financial infrastructure. The structural complexity of sukuk, along with the weak infrastructure of the sukuk market, increases risks of investing in sukuk, including operational, legal, and investment risks. In addition, adherence to Islamic investment principles increases the risk of loss in the event of a default. As compared to rights of conventional bondholders, holders of sukuk may have limited ability to pursue legal recourse to enforce the terms of the sukuk or to restructure the sukuk in order to seek recovery of principal. Sukuk are also subject to the risk that some Islamic scholars may deem certain sukuk as not meeting Islamic investment principles subsequent to the sukuk being issued and therefore classify the investments as noncompliant with Islamic principles. Interest rate risk: Changes in interest rates developments in the capital markets impact prices of fixed-income investments. When interest rates rise, the value of fixed-income investments (paying a lower rate of interest) generally will fall. Investments with shorter terms may have less interest rate risk, but generally have lower returns and, because of the more frequent maturity dates, may involve higher re-investment costs. Credit risk: Corporate and sovereign issuers of the notes and certificates in which the Fund invests may not be able or willing to make payments when due, which may lead to default or restructuring of the investment. In addition, if the market perceives deterioration in the creditworthiness of an issuer, the value and liquidity of the issuer's securities may decline. High-yield risk: Securities that are rated below investment grade may have greater price fluctuations and have a higher risk of default than investment grade securities. Below investment grade securities may be difficult to sell at an acceptable price, especially during periods of increased market volatility or significant market decline.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	Consider investing in the Fund only if you are willing to accept the risk that you may lose money.
Risk Nondiversified Status [Text]	rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus	Diversification and concentration risks: The Fund is non-diversified and may invest a larger percentage of its assets in fewer issuers, which may cause the Fund to experience more volatility than diversified funds. In addition, the Fund may concentrate its investments within the financial services industry and real estate sector.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Performance
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund began operations on September 28, 2015 and consequently has no historical returns to report. Future reports will show how the Fund's average annual total returns for the required time periods compare with the Fund's benchmark. A fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not a guarantee of how a fund will perform in the future. Performance data current to the most recent month-end and quarter-end are available on www.amanafunds.com.
Performance One Year or Less [Text]	rr_PerformanceOneYearOrLess	The Fund began operations on September 28, 2015 and consequently has no historical returns to report.
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	www.amanafunds.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	A fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not a guarantee of how a fund will perform in the future.
Amana Participation Fund | Participation Fund Investor Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum sales charge (load) on purchases	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) on redemptions	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther	none
Maximum sales charge (load) on reinvested dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption fee (as a percentage on shares held less than 182 calendar days)	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	2.00%
Exchange fee	rr_ExchangeFeeOverRedemption	none
Maximum account fee	rr_MaximumAccountFeeOverAssets	none
Operating Expenses Column [Text]	rr_OperatingExpensesColumnName	AMAPX
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.50%
Distribution (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.25%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.35%	[1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.10%
Expense Example, By Year, Column [Text]	rr_ExpenseExampleByYearColumnName	AMAPX
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 112
3 years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	$ 350
Amana Participation Fund | Participation Fund Institutional Shares
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum sales charge (load) on purchases	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) on redemptions	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther	none
Maximum sales charge (load) on reinvested dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption fee (as a percentage on shares held less than 182 calendar days)	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	2.00%
Exchange fee	rr_ExchangeFeeOverRedemption	none
Maximum account fee	rr_MaximumAccountFeeOverAssets	none
Operating Expenses Column [Text]	rr_OperatingExpensesColumnName	AMIPX
Management Fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.50%
Distribution (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.35%	[1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.85%
Expense Example, By Year, Column [Text]	rr_ExpenseExampleByYearColumnName	AMIPX
1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	$ 87
3 years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	$ 271

[1] The "Other Expenses" are based on estimated amounts for the initial fiscal year.