Abd al-Rahman ibn Rustam

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]

Abd al-Rahman was a quick and energetic learner, and had studied under Abu Ubaida Muslim in Basra. Abd al-Rahman became one of the five missionaries who was ultimately responsible for the spread of the Ibadite doctrine in the Maghreb.

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.[3]