Page 42 - Su'udi Relations with Eastern Arabi & Uman (1800-1870)

violence between the two divisions.230 When the ‘Utub occupied the island,
the size and power of the Sunni faction increased substantially. The Sunni
‘Utub, with their ruling section, Al Khallfah, became the most powerful class.
The other elements, Al Bu Quwarah, Sulatah, Al Musallam, Ma'awidah and
Jana’at, were Qatari tribesmen of Sunni affiliation who allied themselves with
the ‘Utub for the subjugation of al-Bahrayn, and then chose to remain there.
Together with elements of Dawasir and Nu‘aym who moved in later on, the
aforementioned elements constituted a major shift in the balance of the
population and strengthened the Sunni influence. The opposing elements
resented these developments, and the decline of their position led them to plot
against the new regime, to engage in secret correspondence with the ruler of
Masqat encouraging him to invade the island.231 The shaykh of al-Bahrayn
foiled some of their plots but, according to al-Nabhanl, “it was too late to
prepare for the defence of the island and to arrest the collaborators. ”232
Salim, the representative of Masqat rule at al-Bahrayn, associated himself
with a certain Shaykh Muhammad al-ShI‘1 and conferred on him full power to
settle the disputes which existed between the ‘Utub and the ShI‘Is.233 Shortly
afterwards, Al Khalifah made a comeback from al-Zubarah and al-Kuwayt,
where some of them had previously fled, and besieged Salim b. Sultan and his
‘Umani garrison.234 Salim capitulated on the condition that Muhammad al-
Shi‘I and his dependents be permitted to leave al-Bahrayn. Thus the island
reverted to the ‘Utub, and the Shi‘i conspirators were serverely punished by
the victorious Al Khallfah.235
In 1800, Sultan b. Ahmad relieved himself of the Su‘udl pressure in ‘Uman
by concluding a temporary truce with them, and then invaded al-Bahrayn,
occupying it by means of a grand naval expedition from Masqat.236 The
shaykhs of the islands fled to al-Zubarah in Qatar, while a number of ‘Utub
families were taken as hostages to Masqat.237 Although the fall of al-Zubarah
in Qatar ended all opposition to the Su‘udis and established their control over
the region, the strategic location of Qatar did not seem, from the point of view
of the Su‘udls, to be of much importance. They continued to consider al-Hasa
as their major base of operations, and thus left the towns of Qatar to be ruled by
their former chiefs without direct Su‘udl interference.
As for Rahmah b. Jabir, who was now residing at Khawr Hasan near
al-Zubarah, our sources are silent with regard to his political affiliation at the
turn of the century. His activities surfaced a few years later, however, when the
British authorities began to prepare their expeditions against the Qawasim and
their followers in the Gulf. From his headquarters, Rahmah had been closely
watching the developments in the neighbouring areas of al-Hasa, Qatar, and
‘Uman. It is inconceivable that he could have remained neutral while pursuing
his lifelong ambition, namely the destruction of Al Khallfah’s power and trade.
Rahmah might have achieved some understanding with the Su‘udl officials
that he should not be harassed. Moreover, the Su‘udl threat to the shaykhs of
Bahrayn ever since they conquered al-Hasa might have led Rahmah to rally to
their camp.
The combination of internal opposition and alien occupation appeared to
deprive Al Khallfah of any possibility of regaining their control over al-
Bahrayn without Su‘udl assistance. The ‘Utub, despite the fact that they
feared the probable eventuality of Su‘udl influence, found in the latter the
power needed to drive out the ‘Umanls and discourage them from further

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