al-Ansari, Abd al-Rahman ibn Abd al-Karim
- Died
- 1195 AH
- Born in
- Medina
Abd al-Rahman ibn Abd al-Karim al-Ansari (1124 – after 1197 AH / 1712 – after 1783 CE) was a Hanafi scholar, genealogist, and historian of Medina, best known for his genealogical work Tuhfat al-muhibbin wa-al-ashab fi ma'rifat ma li-al-madaniyyin min al-ansab ("The Gift of Lovers and Companions on Knowing the Lineages of the People of Medina").
Biography and travels
His full name was Abu Zayd Abd al-Rahman ibn Abd al-Karim ibn Yusuf al-Ansari al-Khazraji al-Madani. He traced his lineage through twenty-one forebears back to the Companion Anas ibn Malik al-Ansari al-Khazraji al-Najjari. Born in Medina in 1124 AH (1712 CE), he studied in the city and attended the lessons of the Moroccan scholar al-Harishi on the Muwatta' at the Prophet's Mosque; his father later completed al-Harishi's commentary on the work in 1142 AH.
According to al-Daftardar, al-Ansari lived in Mecca for seventeen years and traveled widely, visiting Yemen, the Maghrib, Istanbul, Egypt, and the Levant.
Scholarly contribution and death
Al-Ansari was recognized as the chronicler and genealogist of Medina in his era. His primary work, Tuhfat al-muhibbin wa-al-ashab fi ma'rifat ma li-al-madaniyyin min al-ansab, documents the lineages, origins, and social history of the families and notable residents of Medina during the twelfth Islamic century, a genre traditionally referred to locally as al-qarmiyyah. The text was later edited by Muhammad al-Arusi al-Matwi and published in Tunis. Al-Ansari also composed sermons and poetry.
He died in Medina after 1197 AH (after 1783 CE), though another biographical account records his death in 1195 AH (1781 CE).
Answer updated
List of Works
Tuhfat al-Muhibbin wa al-Ashab fi Ma'rifat ma li al-Madaniyyin min al-Ansab is a genealogical and biographical dictionary devoted to documenting the lineages, origins, and social history of the families and notable residents living in Medina during the twelfth Islamic century.