Page 24 - Su'udi Relations with Eastern Arabi & Uman (1800-1870)

1157/1745, when Shaykh Muhammad b. ‘Abd al-Wahhab arrived at al-
Dir'iyah and received Ibn Su'ud’s pledge of support, that the Su‘udl family,
with their capital in al-Dir4iyah, came into prominence, opening a new chapter
in the history of modern Arabia.83
On the eastern border of al-Dir‘Iyah, the new settlement of al-Muqrin, along
with smaller ones in its vicinity, came to be known as al-Riyad in the early
decades of the eighteenth century.84 This settlement was destined to become
the centre for the Saudis’ most powerful opponents in Najd. With its small
population, al-Muqrin seems to have existed quietly and peacefully under the
rule of the Al Zar4ah, the leading family in the area. Leadership in the tribal
society of Najd is, in most cases, passed on from father to son. Under strong
leadership, allegiance to the leading family is preserved, regional stability is
maintained, and the pattern is continued. When Zayd b. Musa Al Zar4ah died,
allegiance was transferred to his minor son. However, the prince was soon
deposed by Khamls, a freedman of the deceased chief.85 This event led to
disturbances which forced Khamls to leave the town, and he was killed soon
afterwards. The vacuum of leadership prompted Dahham b. Dawwas, the
maternal uncle of the young prince, to assume custody and rule on his behalf.
But as events unfolded, Dahham sent his nephew into exile and proclaimed
himself the new ruler of al-Riyad in 1738.86 For thirty years, Dahham’s
powerful personality and strong leadership helped to build al-Riyad into a solid
base of opposition to the rising Su4udl power in the area.87 His stubborn and
ceaseless struggle to protect his domains and maintain his influence is evident
in the numerous batdes he fought against the Su4udis.88 However, as a result of
losing hope in winning the war, advanced age, the stress that came from losing
a number of his sons and close associates in the wars with the Su‘udls, Dahham
unexpectedly left al-Riyad and sought refuge in al-Kharj,89 thus relieving the
Su'udls of a bitter enemey.90

Al-Hasa

The vast region to the north of Najd consisting of the coast and hinterland
between Qatar and al-Kuwayt is known as al-Hasa. Strictly speaking, the name
applies to the great oasis in that area and derives from hisy, the term for an
excavation in sandy soil that, due to a strong substratum, contains and
preserves easily accessible rain water.91 The region is generally blessed with
numerous wells and sizeable oases, the most extensive being those of al-Hasa
and al-Qatif. Al-Hasa’s geographical location gave it distinct strategic and
commercial advantages, which were coveted by stronger tribes and powerful
dynasties. And indeed, the region proved important to the people of central
Arabia. With its fertile oases, it served as a refiige for the Bedouins when they
were faced with drought in their own grazing lands. Merchants frequented its
harbour to import and export products.
In the course of history, al-Hasa often became a centre for local tribal
powers. It first became famous when Abu Sa4id al-Jannabl (d. 301/913)
established the Qarmatian state in eastern Arabia.92 The Qarmatian leaders
built a fortress near al-Hasa and made it their capital, al-Mu’miniyah. The
general Qarmatian hostility toward the ‘Abbasid caliphs, the inhabitants of
al-Hasa, and the Fatimids of Egypt weakened their position and accelerated

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