Abd al-Rahman bin Muhammad bin Abd al-Rahman al-Saqqaf was a Ba Alawi scholar of Tarim known for hadith, jurisprudence, Arabic and the religious sciences. Al-Mashra al-Rawi traces his lineage through the al-Saqqaf branch of the Ba Alawi family.
The source records that he was born in Tarim, memorised the Quran and pursued both transmitted and rational sciences. A particularly important teacher was Abu Bakr bin Abd al-Rahman bin Shihab al-Din, from whom he studied Quranic commentary, hadith, legal theory, tasawwuf and Arabic. Abd al-Rahman later taught these disciplines himself and the source names a number of students who studied with him.
Al-Mashra al-Rawi describes him as careful in speech, strongly devoted to study and teaching, and knowledgeable about the positions of scholars. It records his death in 1048 AH and burial in Zanbal Cemetery at Tarim. A later historical compilation independently identifies the same Abd al-Rahman bin Muhammad bin Abd al-Rahman al-Saqqaf, likewise places him in Tarim, names Abu Bakr bin Abd al-Rahman bin Shihab al-Din among his teachers, and gives the same death year.
Scholarly connections
Student: Abdullah bin Ahmad bin Husayn al-Aydarus. The biography identifies this scholar among the student’s teachers.
Lineage and source note
Primary source: Al-Mashra al-Rawi fi Manaqib al-Sada al-Kiram Al Abi Alawi, volume 2, biography of Abd al-Rahman bin Muhammad bin Abd al-Rahman al-Saqqaf. It records his Tarim setting, education, teaching, students and death in 1048 AH. A later historical compilation independently corroborates his identity, principal teacher and the same death year.