Abd al-Rahman

Abd al-Rahman was a Muslim merchant who occupied a high post under the Mongol rule over the China. In 1244 he was appointed by the Kublai Khan head of the imperial finances in charge of state financial administration.

In the Mongol Empire government departments were headed by the Mongols and Semu Muslim officials. As was the case with Abd al-Rahman, a significant number of Semu Muslims were also employed by the early Mongol emperors in key positions in China. Abd al –Rahman, who was in charge of state financial administration, had responsibility to raise state revenue by increasing the number of households liable to pay tax and instituting profitable state monopolies on sea, liquor, vinegar, gold and silver.