| The Mad Arab | |
|---|---|
 | |
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Real Name |
Abdul Alhazred |
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First Appearance |
The Nameless City (1921) |
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Original Publisher |
The Wolverine |
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Created by |
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Origins[]
Abdul Alhazred, known as the "Mad Arab" and the author of the blasphemous grimoire, the Necronomicon. He is described as a poet and mystic who lived in the city of Sana'a, Yemen, during the 8th century AD. He is often depicted as a sinister figure shrouded in mystery and darkness.
Alhazred is credited with writing the "Kitab al-Azif," later translated into Greek as the "Necronomicon." This forbidden tome is said to contain arcane knowledge about the Old Ones, cosmic deities, and eldritch rituals capable of driving readers to madness. Alhazred himself claims to have journeyed to distant and otherworldly realms, encountering unimaginable horrors and entities beyond human comprehension.
Alhazred met a gruesome end in the city of Damascus, Syria, torn apart by an invisible force in broad daylight, an event attributed to supernatural forces. Despite his demise, his legacy lives on through the Necronomicon, which is referenced in many of Lovecraft's stories as a source of occult knowledge sought after by scholars and cultists alike.
Throughout Lovecraft's tales, Alhazred is portrayed as a tragic and enigmatic figure, driven by a thirst for forbidden knowledge and a desire to understand the mysteries of the cosmos. His writings and influence continue to shape the events and entities within the Cthulhu Mythos, serving as a reminder of the insignificance of humanity in the face of cosmic forces.
Public Domain Literary Appearances[]
- The Nameless City (1921)
- The Hound (1924)
- The Festival (1925)
- History of the Necronomicon (1938)
Notes[]
- Abdul Alhazred is not a real Arabic name. The more proper Arabic form might be Abd al-Hazred or simply Abdul Hazred, although these are still anomalous, as Hazred is not one of the 99 Names of God. In Arabic texts, his name has appeared as Abdullah al-Ḥaẓrad (عبدالله الحظرد).
- Al-Hazrad roughly translates as "The Banned" or "The Ban", although whether this is intentional is up for speculation.