The original version of the Necronomicon, known as the Kitab Al-Azif, was written around the year 730 A.D. in Damascus by the Arab, Abdul Al-Hazred (Abd al-Azrad). A student of magic as well as an astronomer, poet, philosopher, and scientist, al-Azrad was born around 700 A.D. in Sanaa, in Yemen. Before composing his great work he spent years visiting the ruins of Babylon, the pits of Memphis, and the great southern desert of Arabia. He died in Damascus in 738, according to his 12th-century biographer, Ebn Khallikan, devoured in broad daylight by an invisible demon.

Manuscripts of the Al-Azif circulated secretly among philosophers and scientists of the age, but it was not until the year 950 that the work was translated into Greek by the Byzantine Theodorus Philetas, who renamed it the Necronomicon. Numerous copies of Philetas' manuscript were made. The increased circulation of the blasphemous tome led to its eventual condemnation in 1050 by the Patriarch Michael of Constantinople. Many copies were confiscated and destroyed, their owners suffering harsh penalties.

In 1228 Olaus Wormius effected a Latin translation of the Greek version, all copies of the original Arabic having by this time been lost. Its rapid circulation among philosophical circles led to its banning in 1232, both the Latin and Greek versions placed on the Index Expurgatorius by Pope Gregory IX. Olaus did not retitle the Greek Necronomicon, and the work is thereafter commonly referred to by that name.

The year 1454 saw the first practical printing press using moveable type and before the end of the century a black-letter version of the Latin Necronomicon had been printed in Germany, probably in Mainz. The text does not identify the date or place of printing.

In the early 16th century, probably before 1510, a version of the Greek translation was printed in Italy. Although again lacking any identifying marks, this version is generally believed to have come from the press of Aldus Manutius, founder of the Aldine Press, famous for its printing of unedited Greek and Latin texts.

In 1586 an English translation of the Necronomicon was produced by Dr. John Dee, mathematician, astrologer, and physician to Queen Elizabeth of England. Never published, Dee's translation is believed to have been made from a Greek edition discovered by the doctor during his travels in eastern Europe. Although accurate, it is incomplete, partially expurgated by its translator.

A second printing of the Latin version was made in Spain in the early 17th century. As usual, the printer is unidentified but the poorer cut of the type distinguishes it from the finer German work. It is in all other ways faithful to the earlier edition.

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