Ka'b ibn Mama al-Iyadi (Arabic: كعب بن مامة الإيادي) was a pre-Islamic Arab figure proverbial for his munificence, and in particular for "giving water to a companion and himself dying of thirst as result".[1] According to Ibn `Abd Rabbih, he was one of three people who reached the highest point of generosity in the pre-Islamic era, the other two were Hatim al-Tai and Harim ibn Sinan al-Murri.[2]
Kaʻb died of dehydration in one of his travels when he favored his companion, al-Namari (Arabic: النمَّري), over himself for the remaining water they had carried. His story with al-Namari displays a high degree of i'thar (altruism), a trait which the pre-Islamic Arabs regarded with great admiration.