Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal Al Saud

Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal bin Turki Al Saud was a son of Imam Faisal bin Turki Al Saud, the last ruler of the Second Saudi State, and the father of King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud.[2][10]

He represented his family in negotiations with the Ottoman Empire over the future of Al-Ahsa in 1289 AH,[1] left Riyadh with his family for Kuwait after the Battle of Mulayda in 1308 AH,[3] and his family returned to Riyadh after the city was recaptured on the fifth of Shawwal 1319 AH, corresponding to 16 January 1902.[5][10]

Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal arrived in Baghdad on 24 Sha'ban 1289 AH, corresponding to 18 October 1872, representing his brother Imam Saud bin Faisal in negotiations with the Ottoman Empire over the future of the Al-Ahsa Oasis.[1]

After the negotiations failed, he and his companion Fahd bin Sunaitan were placed under house arrest in Baghdad, while the other companion, Farhan bin Khairallah, was permitted to return on 1 Dhu al-Qi'dah 1289 AH, corresponding to 16 January 1873.[1]

The restrictions of house arrest were lifted from him and his companion Fahd bin Sunaitan by a royal decree issued on 2 Safar 1291 AH, corresponding to 22 March 1874.[1]

From Bahrain he sent a letter to the British Political Resident in the Arabian Gulf on 18 Rajab 1291 AH, corresponding to 3 September 1874, stating that on leaving Baghdad he had intended to head for Basra, which documents his presence in Bahrain during that period.[1]

A document preserved in the Ottoman Archive relating to the news of Najd in 1308 AH/1891 records part of Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal's political contributions in the Second Saudi State.[4]

In 1309 AH/1891 the era of the Second Saudi State came to an end, the year in which the rule of Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal, its last ruler, concluded.[2][10]

When the House of Al Saud left Riyadh in 1307 AH, it went to Bahrain as guests of Sheikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa and remained there until 1308 AH, then moved on to Al-Ahsa and then Kuwait.[6]

Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal left Riyadh with his family after the Battle of Mulayda in 1308 AH and settled afterwards in Kuwait.[3]

In 1309 AH the last ruler of the Second Saudi State travelled to Kuwait across the Rub' al Khali desert.[2]

Riyadh was recaptured by Imam Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Faisal Al Saud on the fifth of Shawwal 1319 AH, corresponding to the sixteenth of January 1902.[5]

With the recapture of Riyadh, the House of Al Saud returned to it after years spent in Kuwait.[6][10]

His daughter Noura bint Abdulrahman bin Faisal was born in Riyadh in 1292 AH; her mother was Sara bint Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Sudairi, who also bore Imam Abdulrahman Faisal, Munira, Haya and Sa'da.[3]

King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman grew up in a righteous environment and received his upbringing at the hands of his father, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal.[7]

At the outset of his working life, Sheikh Abdullah bin Hassan Al ash-Sheikh was appointed imam of the mosque of Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal, known as the Diwaniya Mosque, in 1323 AH.[9]

In 1336 AH, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal assigned Sheikh Omar bin Hassan Al ash-Sheikh to the office of enjoining good and forbidding wrong, as assistant to his cousin Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdul Latif.[8]

The name of Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal was given to one of fifteen squares in the city of Riyadh, under a directive of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz issued on 23 Sha'ban 1446 AH, corresponding to 22 February 2025, coinciding with Founding Day.[11]

Q: Who was Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal Al Saud? A: He was the last ruler of the Second Saudi State and the father of King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud, and he represented his brother Imam Saud bin Faisal in negotiations with the Ottoman Empire over the future of Al-Ahsa.[1][2][10]

Q: When did he arrive in Baghdad, and what was his mission there? A: He arrived on 24 Sha'ban 1289 AH, corresponding to 18 October 1872, representing his brother Imam Saud bin Faisal in negotiations over the future of Al-Ahsa.[1]

Q: How did his family leave Riyadh, and where did they go? A: The House of Al Saud left Riyadh in 1307 AH for Bahrain, then Al-Ahsa, then Kuwait; the Imam left with his family after the Battle of Mulayda in 1308 AH and settled in Kuwait, and travelled there across the Rub' al Khali desert in 1309 AH.[2][3][6]

Q: When did the family return to Riyadh? A: After the recapture of Riyadh by his son Imam Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Faisal on the fifth of Shawwal 1319 AH, corresponding to 16 January 1902.[5][10]

Q: What in Riyadh bears his name today? A: A square among fifteen squares named after the imams and kings by a directive of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques on 23 Sha'ban 1446 AH, corresponding to 22 February 2025, and a mosque known as the Diwaniya Mosque.[9][11]

A square in Riyadh has borne the name of Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal since 1446 AH/2025, and a mosque has also been known by his name, alongside the events of his era in the Second Saudi State and the recapture of Riyadh in 1319 AH/1902.[5][9][11]