He is the notable sheikh of Islam, Abdul Rahman al-Aydarus who was nicknamed Abu l-Marahem. His lineage goes up to Imam al-Husayn.
al-Aydarus grew up in righteousness in the care of his father and grandfather in the town of Tarim in Hadhramaut, Yemen. In 1153 AH when he was 18 years old, he accompanied his father and grandfather to India where he met with many of his kinsmen who were men of religion and scholars and whose ancestry went back to the Aydarusians. They completely took him under their wing. He then moved from one Indian city to another in search of and to expand his knowledge and out of his desire to visit the pious friends of Allah. Through him, Allah converted many cities and guided many people. His karamat (miracles of Divine favor) were manifest and his blessings widespread. He returned to Tarim after which he headed to Mecca al-Mukarrama where he studied under the tutelage of its sheikhs and jurists. He then went to al-Ta`if and visited the religious authority of the community, Abdullah Ibn Abbas. In 1161 AH he set for Egypt, sailing from Jeddah to al-Suez where he visited Sidi Abdullah al-Gharieb and lauded him in a poem. From al-Suez, he went to Cairo and visited al-Shafi’i and other pious friends of Allah. He wrote an ode to each of them commensurate with their status. He collected these poems in his known book of collection of poetry known as Rihlat al-‘Aydarus (The Journey of al-‘Aydarus).
In Egypt, scholars, jurists, and prominent men flocked to meet him as did the leaders of sufi orders. He delivered exhaustive speeches and revelations all of which are mentioned in his book Rihlat al-‘Aydarus.
After spending eight years in Egypt, he went to al-Hijaz in 1169 AH where he married his maternal cousin and settled in al-Ta`if. In 1172 AH, he took a second wife, Ruqayya, who was a member of the Ashraf. In 1174, Ruqayya bore him a son al-Sayed al-Mustafa. He returned to Egypt with his family with the intention to settle there.
Through his knowledge and virtues, he became the most notable and influential person of his time. He was mentioned by the pious and scholars alike. Princes of different ranks obeyed him; his messages were not rejected and those who sought his help were never turned back.
He did not remain in Cairo but moved between the cities of Upper Egypt. He journey to Tanta where he visited al-Sayed al-Badawi; Dusuq where he visited al-Sayed Ibrahim al-Dusuqi, Alexandria where he visited al-Sayed Abu ‘Abbas al-Mursi, and many other walis (pious friends of Allah).
He died in 1192 AH and was buried next to his grandmother, Lady Zaynab (may Allah be pleased with her) where he still lies.