Abu al-Qasim Abd al-Rahman ibn Abd Allah al-Wahrani A Hadith Scholar from Oran: Life, Scholarly Journey, Transmission Networks, and Legacy

Abstract

This study reconstructs the life and scholarly contribution of Abu al-Qasim Abd al-Rahman ibn Abd Allah al-Hamdani al-Wahrani (338-411 AH), a hadith scholar originating from Oran who became active across al-Andalus and the wider Islamic world. Drawing on classical biographical dictionaries, chronicles, and works on transmitters, the article examines his lineage, early education, twenty-year journey in search of knowledge, principal teachers, transmission chains, students, scholarly reputation, and death. Particular attention is given to his transmission of al-Muwatta, Sahih al-Bukhari, and the Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal, as well as his connections with major centres of learning, including Qayrawan, Egypt, Baghdad, Basra, Merv, and Balkh. The study adopts a historical-descriptive and analytical approach to clarify al-Wahrani's place within Maghribi-Andalusi hadith networks. It concludes that his mobility, reliability, and teaching activity significantly contributed to the circulation of hadith and Maliki learning between the Islamic East and West during the fourth century AH.