Abd al-Rahman ibn Rustam

Abd al-Rahman ibn Rustam (Arabic: عبد الرحمان ابن رستم) was an Ibadi imam and the founder of Rustamid dynasty, which existed in Algeria from about 776 or 778 CE to 908 CE. He was also the founder of Tiaret.

Abd al-Rahman ibn Rustam
Imam
Reign	776/777 or 778/779–784/785
Successor	Abd al-Wahhab ibn Abd al-Rahman
Born	c. 729–730 Iraq, Umayyad Caliphate
Died	c. 784–785
House	Rustamid dynasty

Origin

Abd al-Rahman was probably born c. 729–730 in Iraq. His father, Rustam ibn Bahram, a Persian man, left Iraq with his son and wife to join the Maghreb, but died when he arrived in Mecca or its surroundings.^[1] According to the 13th-century historian Ibn al-Abbar, Rustam had been a mawla (client) of the Umayyad prince al-Ghamr ibn Yazid.^[2] Abd al-Rahman's grandfather, Bahram, had been a mawla of Uthman ibn Affan in Medina. Abd al-Rahman's mother had remarried a Kairouani pilgrim she had met in Mecca and the couple raised Abd al-Rahman at Kairouan.^[1]

Early life

A painting of al-Qayrawan, the city where Abd al-Rahman ibn Rustum have been raised and educated (Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac).

Abd al-Rahman ibn Rustum was raised and educated in al-Qayrawan, a key urban center during that period.^[3][4]It was there that he became passionate about Ibadism, influenced by the missionary work of Salama ibn Sa'id, an Ibadi preacher who came from Basra to al-Qayrawan and began spreading this Islamic school of thought in the Maghreb.^[4][5]Around 752 (135 AH), Abd al-Rahman traveled to Basra with a group of five Maghrebi students, known as the Hamalat al-Ilm (bearers of knowledge), to deepen their understanding of the religious doctrine within the halaqa (study circle) of Abu Ubaida Muslim [ar]. Among them were Asim al-Sedrati from region of Warglan Abu Dawud al-Nefzawi of the Nefzawa tribe from southern Ifriqiya, and Ismail ibn Darrar al-Ghadamsi from Ghadames in southern Tripoli.^[4][6] Upon their arrival in Basra, they were joined by another Ibadi preacher, Abd al-A'la ibn al-Samh [ar].^[6] The group arrived in Basra during politically tense times, prompting Abu Ubaida Muslim to teach them with vigilance.^[7]They spent nearly five years there studying the principles of Ibadism^[8][4]. Ibadi sources depict Abd al-Rahman ibn Rustum as exceptionally handsome, to the point that Abu Ubaida covered his face with a veil to minimize distractions for the students.^[4] Cyrille Aillet [fr] interprets this as a legendary account intended to safeguard the young man’s virtue, illustrating how such anecdotal narratives reflect the political imagination and cultural values of that time.^[9]

The group spent nearly five years studying the principles of Ibadism.^[8][4] Around 757 (140 AH), having sufficiently completed their instruction, they decided to return to their homeland in the Maghreb.^[8][4] Before leaving, they sought the advice of Abu Ubaida Muslim [ar] regarding what they should do if they became strong enough to appoint a leader.^[4] According to Ibadi sources, notably Ahmad al-Darjini and Abu Zakariyya al-Warjlani, who transmitted this account, the dialogue unfolds as follows:^[10]

O our Sheikh, what would you say if we were to possess strength in the Maghreb and find within ourselves the capacity to appoint a leader from among us?" Abu Ubaida replied, "Return to your lands, and if there be among you one who possesses the qualities and numbers sufficient to warrant such an appointment, then elect a leader from among yourselves. As for the one who refuses, kill him." And he pointed to Abu al-Khattab.

Conquests

The first Imam of the Ibadites had captured Kairouan from the Warfadjuma warriors and after his conquest, he gave several parts of Ifriqiya (central North Africa) to Abd al-Rahman (in June 758—the same year—Ibn al-Asha'ath retook Kairawan). Ibn al-Ash'ath was after him though.

Quickly though, Abd Al-Rahman and his son Abd al-Wahhab and their companions took refuge in the central Maghrib and ended up founding the town of Tahert, which is now known as Tagdemt near Kuzul. The city was quickly populated with Ibadite emigrants from Ifriqiya and Jabal Nafusa.

At about 776 or 778 CE, Abd Al-Rahman became the Imam of the Ibadites of Tahert. He seems to have had a very peaceful reign and worked hard to ensure that justice and simplicity were also instilled in Tahert's legal system. The eastern Abadite communities held high respect for him and sent him a number of money and presents, in addition to recognizing his right to an Imamate. He is alleged to have died at about 784 CE and his son Abd Al-Wahhab succeeded him.^[11]