Page 38 - Su'udi Relations with Eastern Arabi & Uman (1800-1870)

Qatar and al-Bahrayn

Geographically and historically, the various parts of eastern Arabia arc so
closely associated with one another, and the study of their modern history so
interrelated, that one cannot avoid repeating certain episodes and dealing with
similar and sometimes identical events which have made an impact on different
districts in the peninsula.
Though the very recent and distinctive history of Qatar as a whole begins
with the emergence of the Al ThanI dynasty, who united its tribes under their
rule, the modern period of Qatar’s history commenced with the arrival of the
Al Khallfah at al-Zubarah on the northwestern coast of Qatar in 1766 and their
subsequent occupation and rule of that part of the country. At the same time,
Al Musallam, a clan of the Banu Khalid from the fishing settlements of
Huwaylah and Furayhah, as well as the Ma‘adld, Al Bin ‘All of Tamlm in
Ruwayhah and Fuwayrit, were already settled in Qatar.181 These settled tribes
have traditionally engaged in fishing, pearling, and commerce.182 As part of
the wider area of the Banu Khalid, the paramount rulers of eastern Arabia, the
inhabitants of Qatar recognized the Klialidi rule and considered the chief of
al-Hasa as their supreme authority.183 The local rule in Qatar was in the hands
of the Al Musallam, the representatives of their ruling kinsmen in al-Hasa.184
They were to gradually achieve their independence after the decline of the
Banu Khalid’s power and influence in the land. The absence on information on
the political and social conditions of the Qataris before the rise of al-Zubarah
leads us to assume that, owing to the natural poverty of the land and its
vulnerable location in the event of tribal aggression, its inhabitants led a
peaceful life and confronted no major events thought worthy of historical
recording. The Al Musallam, Qatar’s ruling house at the time, seem to have
controlled both sides of the coast commercially and politically. Al-Zubarah,
because of its strategic location overlooking the islands of al-Bahrayn, held
promise for those engaged in pearling and seafaring trades. A great number of
the Al Bin ‘All of Qatar moved there from Furayhah, their former home. Other
merchants from various localities on the Gulf also found their way there and,
through their hard work, contributed considerably to the development of the
town.185
Khallfah b. Muhammad, a pearl merchant and head of the Al Khallfah, then
of al-Kuwayt, frequented al-Zubarah for business purposes and finally chose it
as his new home.186 The early days of Khallfah in al-Zubarah were devoted to
encouraging the new arrivals to participate, on a wide scale, in diving and
pearl-fishing by lending them money at the beginning of the pearling
season.187 In turn, they would be obliged—according to the traditional
customs of the pearl-fishing industry there—to sell their catch exclusively to
him.188 Khalifah’s monopoly on the pearl-fishery and the increase of his
wealth and influence, especially after the mass migration of Al Khallfah and Al
Jalahimah to the new location about 1768, disquieted Al Musallam, who saw
the situation as an alarming threat to their own position.189 To reassure their
superiority over the town and to discourage the suspected political aspirations
of Al Khallfah, the ruler of Qatar demanded the payment of tribute as a sign of
allegiance _and submission.190 Confident of their power and numerous
followers, Al Khallfah refused to comply, and prepared to defend themselves
and their town against possible attacks by constructing a fort and a wall around

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