Page 102 - Su'udi Relations with Eastern Arabi & Uman (1800-1870)

since 1796, began, in later years, to exercise broader authority and to take
stricter measures against anyone showing opposition to his administrative
conduct on the island and its dependency in Qatar.811 Such policy alienated
certain members of the Al Khallfah, forced a small group of‘Utub to leave the
country, and incited some discontented tribes to turn against the ruler of
al-Bahrayn.812 A confederation composed of these various elements was
organized outside ai-Bahrayn. Led by Muhammad b. Khallfah, nephew of
‘Abd Allah b. Ahmad, as well as Bashir b. Rahmah and ‘isa b. Tarlf, the chief
of the Al Bin ‘All of Qatar, this confederation launched an attack on al-Bahrayn
and forced its ruler to capitulate and leave the island in March 1843.
Muhammad b. Khallfah thus became the unrivalled ruler there.813
‘Abd Allah, the ousted ruler, established himself with his sons at al-
Dammam, on the mainland of al-Hasa. From al-Dammam, which had been
lost to the Al Khallfah in the upheaval following the Egyptian withdrawal from
Arabia, ‘Abd Allah conducted operations against the new administration in
al-Bahrayn.814 Meanwhile, Faysal b. Turk! had by this time gained control of
Najd and al-Hasa and was in a position to act as mediator in the Al Khallfah
disputes. Faysal might have anticipated the possibility of peacefully recovering
al-Dammam once the differences between the feuding family members were
settled and ‘Abd Allah’s position in al-Bahrayn restored. However, ‘Abd Allah
refused Faysal’s offer and, declining the possibility of reconciliation with his
nephew, remained at al-Dammam.815 ‘Abd Allah’s behaviour damaged his
relations with Faysal; the latter eventually transferred his support to the side of
the incumbent ruler and denied any rights to the exiled shaykh. 816
Furthermore, Faysal decided to annex al-Dammam to his own territory; he
successfully despatched a Su‘udl contingent which attacked the place,
overpowered ‘Abd Allah and his followers, and restored al-Dammam to the
Su‘udl rule. This action relieved the ruler of al-Bahrayn of the danger formerly
posed by ‘Abd Allah’s presence. The potential power of the Su‘udi state, along
with Faysal’s previous support for Muhammad b. Khallfah’s cause, led the
latter to express his gratitude and recognition of Su‘udl supremacy by
commencing payment of the annual zakah and by delivering the sums overdue
from previous years.817
Having no place to reside and unwilling to surrender his rights and
privileges by becoming a private citizen in al-Bahrayn, ‘Abd Allah b. Ahmad
crossed to the Persian coast to press his case and seek help from the Persian
government.818 When no substantial support was granted, ‘Abd Allah cruised
the Gulf waters, visited Qatar, and, in 1845, moved to al-Qatlf.819
During this period, Su‘udi-Bahraynl relations reached their lowest level.
Muhammad b. Khallfah, the ruler of al-Bahrayn, had twice evaded the Su‘udl
demand for the payment of zakah arrears. Angered by the evasive behaviour on
the part of the ruler of al-Bahrayn, the Su‘udi governor of al-Qatlf, ‘Abd Allah
al-MudawI, planned a sudden attack on al-Bahrayn, blockaded the ports of
al-Hasa and instigated the harassment of Su‘udl subjects in the area by
Humayd b. Mijdal and his followers of the ‘Amayir tribe.820
Once again the governor of al-Hasa tried to invade al-Bahrayn. This time he
enlisted ‘Abd Allah b. Ahmad and his sons as allies, and together they
engineered a plot in which ‘ Abd Allah would decoy the blockading force away
from the port with his own vessels while the invading troops would cross over
and take al-Bahrayn.821 The secret despatches relating to this matter fell into

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