Abu Damdam

Abu Damdam is the hero of a collection of anecdotes that was already cited in the tenth century. All kinds of foolish remarks are attributed to him, and especially comical rulings on points of law, like those later attributed to Karakush. The entry is signed by J. Horovitz. ¹

The encyclopaedia says that Abu Damdam is probably the same as a devotee who, before or during the lifetime of Muhammad, offered his good name in place of the poor-tax to the servants of God. Giving up one's reputation among men could easily be read as an invitation to present the devotee as the typical fool. A later bearer of the same name is credited with wide knowledge of old poetry, but the article cannot say whether it is the same person. ¹