Page 43 - Su'udi Relations with Eastern Arabi & Uman (1800-1870)

attacks, as well as to help suppress further factional disturbances. Besides, the
‘Utiib and the Su‘udis had many things in common; they shared ancestral
origins and homelands, and were of Sunni background. As for Al Khallfah, the
impending Su‘udl influence in al-Bahrayn would not alter their position very
much.
In these circumstances, the ‘Utub appealed to the Su‘udis for help. The
authorities at al-Dir‘Iyah found the request to be an opportunity to further
their own cause. On the one hand, they would be able to strike strongly at their
eminent rival, the ruler of Masqat. On the other hand, through the alliance
with the shaykhs of al-Bahrayn, the religious reforms which were already
infiltrating these lands would penetrate more deeply and encourage their
political loyalty.238
Consequently, in 1802 the Su‘udls assisted by sending out a large fighting
contingent led by Ibrahim b. ‘Ufaysan and accompanied by Al Khallfah; they
descended on al-Bahrayn and engaged in a fierce battle with the Masqat!
troops. The latter were defeated after suffering heavy losses, and al-Bahrayn
was thus recovered by the ‘Utub.239 As the first Su‘udl state grew into a system
of tribal commonwealth, it became traditional to delegate the administration of
new districts to the hereditary ruling houses.240 The chiefs would maintain
their privileged position as long as they applied the rules and paid homage to
the central authority. Those who did otherwise were removed to al-Dir‘Iyah
and held under strict probation. The principal duties of the chiefs were to
attend to the collection of the revenue and to furnish such military contingents
as required.241
In the districts which were not completely incorporated within the state or
else not considered permanent parts of it, the chiefs held greater power within
their realms. The central government was usually satisfied with recognition of
its authority, represented by the forwarding of zakah to al-Dir‘iyah.
After the conclusion of military operations in al-Bahrayn and the departure
of Ibn ‘Ufaysan and his troops for the garrisons of al-Hasa and Qatar, Salman
b. Ahmad Al Khallfah resumed his rule over the island.242 He would continue
to exercise limited autonomy there for the next ten years.243
In the meantime, the influence of the Su‘udls continued to spread along the
Gulf shores and apparently reached a peak in those years.244 The Su‘udls now
employed the power of al-Bahrayn to further their perpetual confrontation
with Masqat. In 1803, an ‘Utbl contingent was sent by ship against Masqat;
two years later, during a dispute in ‘Uman, a fleet largely composed of‘Utbls
proceeded to Masqat to reinforce the Su‘udi troops.245
Meanwhile, the shaykhs of al-Bahrayn, who had never lost hope of restoring
their formerly total authority over the islands, were annoyed by the Su‘udls’
increasing interference in their affairs and thus began to show their
indifference to Su‘udl demands and requirements. In 1809, the shaykhs
ignored a summons by Amir Su‘ud to join the Qawasim in a naval attack on
al-Basrah and other parts of the coast.246 They also continued to withhold most
of the revenue for themselves and forwarded very little to al-Dir‘Iyah.247 These
and other actions led Su‘ud to the decision to bring Al Khallfah under stricter
control.248 After appointing ‘Abd Allah b. ‘Ufaysan as his wakil(deputy) in the
eastern province (which included al-Qatlf, Qatar, and al-Bahrayn), Su‘ud
immediately sent out a force under Muhammad b. Mu‘ayqil, reinforcing it
with a contingent from al-Hasa led by the newly appointed wakil.2*9 The

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