Page 128 - Su'udi Relations with Eastern Arabi & Uman (1800-1870)

remitting zakah to al-Riyad.1066 The change of regime in Masqat meant as little
to the authorities in al-Riyad as the new ruler’s title, and neither change, in
their opinion, exempted ‘Azzan from payment of zakah.
‘Azzan and his decision-making advisors, on the other hand, saw the matter
from a different perspective. Although aware of al-Sudayri’s sympathy with
Salim b. Thuwaynl, ‘Azzan did not seem to resent the demand for zakah,
probably because he remembered previous affiliation with the Su‘udls and the
aid they provided during his conflict with Thuwaynl.1067 Therefore, it is said
that ‘Azzan himself was not initially dead set against the Su‘udi demand. 1068
However, ‘Azzan was still in the early months of his rule and had not yet
achieved supremacy over certain districts in the country. Furthermore, he was
unable to act in opposition to his co-rulers, such as al-Khallll and Salih b. ‘All.
Al-Khallll, who served as chief advisor and governor of Masqat, advised that
the Su‘udl demand be refused.1069 He based his argument on financial and
religious grounds. The money was needed to meet the financial requirements
of the Imamate, which had suffered a shortage of revenues due to the economic
deterioration within the country, as well as to the discontinuation of the
subsidy from Zanzibar.1070 Moreover, ‘Azzan’s new title proclaimed his
independence from obligation to anyone, making it morally questionable to
pay zakah to the Su‘udls.1071 As a result, ‘Azzan decided to accept the gifts sent
by the Su‘udls but declined from replying on the subject of the zakah. 1072
In the following year, favourable circumstances encouraged ‘Azzan to not
only withhold the zakah, but also to take an offensive line against the Su‘udl
government. The death of al-Sudayri had deprived the Su‘udls of a strong and
experienced governor in ‘Uman at a time when they needed such a man the
most.1073 Al-SudayrFs death, coupled with the consolidation of ‘Azzan’s
power in Masqat and in the tribal centres of the Hinawl elements in ‘Uman,
weakened the Su‘udl position in al-Burayml and placed the Nu‘aym tribe of
al-Burayml in a precarious situation. While some of the Nu‘aymls had disliked
the strict administration exercised by al-Sudayri over the affairs of the region,
the majority viewed the matter differently. They feared subsequent military
incursions into their territory by the supporters of the IbadI Imamate, and felt
that the Su‘udls were no longer capable of fending off such an attack. Hoping
to avoid a costly confrontation while preserving self-rule, the Nu‘aymls
decided to transfer their allegiance to the Imamate.
Knowing that the Su‘udi garrison would not evacuate voluntarily, the
Nu‘aymis established a connection with the Imamate leaders. Muhammad b.
‘Ali, the principal chief of the Nu‘aym tribe, met with Muhammad b.
Sulayman al-Gharibil and ‘Azzan, inviting them to take control of the
oasis.1074 ‘Azzan, who had grown vexed and resentful toward the Su‘udls as a
result of al-Sudayrl’s promise to Salim, as well as Amir ‘Abd Allah’s insistence
on the delivery of zakah, now found it opportune to reduce the Su‘udl threat in
‘Uman.1075
Accompanied by $alih b. ‘All, the chief of the al-Hirth tribe, as well as a
contingent of five hundred men from the Ja‘lan district and other tribal
elements from al-Zahirah, ‘Azzan advanced on al-Burayml, attacking the
Su‘udl-held forts that dominated the oasis there.1076 The Su‘udl garrison
resisted the attack for three days, but on June 18 it surrendered with safe
conduct and evacuated the area.1077
Outraged by ‘Azzan’s action, Amir ‘Abd Allah wrote a strongly-worded,

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