Career
According to the British explorer Richard F. Burton, he was the brother of 'Abd ar-Rahman ibn Muhammad. However, while returning from an unsuccessful campaign to extract tribute from the Ala Oromo in 1825, he was betrayed to these people and 'Abd al-Karim made himself Emir. Abd al-Rahman appealed for help from his Babille allies, who helped him resist his deposition.
In the end, 'Abd ar-Rahman was deposed and forty villages are listed as having been destroyed by the Oromo to the north, west and south of harar, as well as in Babille country during this civil war. According to Richard F. Burton, 'Abd al-Karim had recruited 60 or 70 Arab matchlockmen, under one Haydar Assal the Auliki, to wage war against the neighboring Oromo who were threatening Harar. However, the battle went against the Harari and the Arab mercenaries, the latter suffering twenty casualties before retreating within the walls of the city.
The Oromo managed to enter Harar, captured both 'Abd al-Karim and 'Abd ar-Rahman, and aided by the inhabitants of the city attempted to slaughter the remaining Arab mercenaries. According to Harari tradition, the reign of 'Abd al-Karim was a golden age. "Abd al-Karim is popularly depicted as a wise and just ruler and a militant proselytizer of the Oromo," writes Caulk.
"He made himself so respected outside the walls, it is claimed, that the Qottu regularly paid their taxes and even the leaders of the independent Oromo gave ready redress for all injuries done to the townspeople.".