Oman From the Dawn of Islam

It is said that a massive human migration occurred during the earliest part of recorded history, from the north of the Arabian peninsula, south to Oman and its coastal periphery due to the drought affecting the interior of Arabia. The exact date of the migration has not been established, nor whether it took place as a single migration or a series. The migrants came from the Nazarene tribe, Adnani Arabs from the north. Arab sources relate how Oman was the focus of an intense influx from Yemen when, in the time of Sharhabil Yaafar al-Himyari in the mid 5^th century AD, the Ma'rib Dam was breached and destroyed. As a result of an inability to repair the dam, the Lakhm and the Azd inhabitants fled the city to various parts of the peninsula. Some of the Azd travelled into the eastern part of Oman, while the Awas and the Khazrah settled in Yathrib. The Bani Amru bin Amer, who were descended from Mazin bin Al-Azd, headed north towards the hills of El-Sham. Al-Bilathuri describes how the Azd, after they had left their home country, went first to Mecca and there they separated to travel to Oman, As'Sirah, Al-Anbar and Al Hirah, and El-Sham.

The historian, Phil, refers to the Azd tribe which inhabited the Ma'rib at the end of the first century AD. He remarks that they fled from Ma'rib across the Hadramaut Valley, arriving at Saihout under the command of Malik bin Fahm who went on by sea to Qalhat and embarked on a series of battles with the Persians to liberate Oman. He thus became Oman's first independent overlord.

It is said that Malik was the first of the Azd to enter Oman. Malik crossed into Oman with an armed force of more than 6000 men and horses. Upon finding the Persians there, he retired to Qalhat and then engaged in a protracted and fierce battle with them. The Persians sought to terrorize the Arabs by bringing a number of their elephants to the front of their battle lines. But Malik's company were not intimidated and fell upon the animals with weapons, until the beasts fell and crushed many of the Persian troops.

Despite the Persians' spirited resistance, the Azdi tribesmen were victorious and the Persians were forced to sue for peace. Under this arrangement, Malik was to maintain peace for one year, while the Persians moved out of Oman. However, the Persian King, enraged by the defeat, reneged on his promise to move out and sent down reinforcements via Bahrain. Malik, despite an inferior force, attacked the 3000-strong army and routed them. Thus, Malik bin Fahm attained control of Oman and seized all the wealth and possessions of the Persians.

This showdown with the Persians made the Omani Arabs fiercely protective of their independence, Arab identity and lineage. They descended on Persia itself and succeeded in wresting control of Karman, which remained in Omani hands until the death of Selima bin Malik. The Persians inflicted defeat on the Omanis and regained possession of Karman. Thus, a portion of the Omani Arabs returned to Oman.

For a period before the Julanda came to power, the Azd tribe had been pouring steadily into Oman. Among the first to settle was Omar bin Amru bin Amer and his sons, Al-Hajar and Al-Aswad. From these two are descended many of the Omani tribes.

The Bani Al-Aswad took part in the Muslim Conquests after the emergence of Islam and a branch of them was to travel as far as Andalucia when they went down to Bajana seaport and partook in a jihad by sea. Of the Bani Maawiya bin Shams Al-Azdi were Gaifar and Abd, sone of Al-Julanda bin Karkar bin Al-Mustakbir bin Mas'ud bin Al-Jarar Abdul Azi bin Ma'wila bin Shams, King of Oman at the time of the Prophet. Ibn Hazm recounts how the Prophet sent them a dispatch inviting them to adopt Islam. This they did with full and complete conviction and along with them the people of Oman. This was in the eighth year of the Hegira, soon after Amr bin Al-A'as had adopted the faith.

It is reported that Amr bin Al A'as recounted his journey and events in Oman as follows:

He then said to me, 'Think Amr, about what you are saying.' I replied, in the name of Allan I have told you the truth. Then Abd asked me, 'What is his advice and from what does he want the people to desist?' I said, He wants everyone to be obedient to Allah - may He be exalted. He forbids disobedience and has ordered us to do everything that is good and to be good to relatives. He forbids oppression and injustice. He also forbids adultery, alcoholic drinks and the worshipping of stones, as well as the prohibition of praying to idols and the cross. Abd replied, 'What a great thing he is leading the people to. If my brother agrees with me, we will travel to, and will believe in, Mohammed. But my brother is selfish with his property and would not wish to become a follower.' I said, if he submitted to Islam, then Allah's Messenger will assign him to be the leader of his people and will take the alms from the rich and give it to the poor. He said, 'It is really a wonderful story, but what are the alms?' I told him that Allah's Messenger had imposed a certain amount of tax on the wealthy people. When I mentioned the cattle, he asked me, 'Do you mean that some of the pasturing cattle will be taken?' I replied that they would. He said, 'My God, I don't think that all my people will accept such a rule.'"

Amr bin Al-A'as remained at this city and continued his narrative, thus:

"My mission was conveyed to Abd's brother who in turn invited me to visit him where he lived. His soldiers took my arm and he told them to enter. When I went in, they refused to allow me to sit. I looked into his eyes and he asked me, 'Tell me what you want?' I gave him the closed letter. He took it and finished reading the letter and passed it over to his brother to read it. Then he said, 'Would you tell me what Qureish did?' I said, they trusted and followed Him, whether through sincere belief in the religion or whether forced by the sword to accept it. He then asked, 'Who supports him?' I replied that the people who accepted and chose Islam as their religion understood Islam with the help of Allah. They were in darkness and that I did not know anyone left in the area who did not believe in Islam, except him. If he did not submit to Islam and follow it, the horses would crush him and destroy his followers, If he submitted to Islam, then he would be assigned the leader of his people and the horses and the soldiers would not enter his place. He replied, 'Give me one day to think and come back tomorrow.'

On the next day, I returned to him, but he did not allow me to enter his room. I went to his brother and told him that they did not allow me to see him. He came with me and entered the room, and Gaifar said to me, 'I have reflected upon what you demanded but I should be the greatest weakling of all the Arabs if I were to give another man rule over all that I possess.' I told him that I was leaving tomorrow. When he was certain that I was really leaving, he went to have a private talk with his brother. On the next morning, he called me and dedicated himself to Islam, together with his brother and his people. They paid their alms and ruled their people. They helped me and stood side by side with me against any opposition. Both submitted to Islam and many people followed them too."

Another branch of the Omani Azd came from Al-Hodan bin Shams, brother of Ma'wila bin Shams. A delegation of these approached the Prophet after Mecca had fallen to the Muslims under Maslia bin Mazin Al-Hadani. Another detachment of them then migrated to Basra and others stayed in Oman.

Emergence of Islam

Historians cannot give specific dates as to when Islam emerged in Oman, but documents indicate that the Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him) contacted Oman's leaders in 6^th Hegira (AH - from the Islamic calendar). The first Omani called to the Islamic faith was Mazin bin Ghaduba Al-Tay who declared that he had destroyed the idols and '..come before the Messenger and converted to Islam.' Following his revelation, Mazin travelled to the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) and dedicated himself to the faith of Islam, to obeying its laws and to spreading the word of Islam to the unbelievers. The Arab Islamic Conquest continued from the time of the Prophet's death in 11^th century AH for around 100 years. With Oman's strong merchant trading links, it was instrumental in spreading the word to other countries such as Persia.

In the 16^th century AD, Oman was invaded by Portuguese troops, who were vying for control of the Gulf and the Indian Ocean. Their occupation lasted around 150 years until they were finally expelled by Sultan bin Saif al-Yarubi in 1650AD, the date which most consider to be the start of Oman's complete independence. The following Ya'aruba Dynasty brought a new-found renaissance to the country and it was during this time that many of the decadent forts and castles were built, some of which are still standing.

In 1718AD, the Imam, Sultan bin Saif II died and civil war broke out over the election of his successor. This war raged for the next 18 years and two factions emerged: one supporting the leadership of Saif bin Sultan, who was, at the time, a young boy; and the other supporting Muhanna bin Sultan who held the necessary qualities to be an Imam. Muhanna was smuggled into Rustaq Fort where he was thus established as Imam in 1719AD. He was not a popular leader, despite his hard work, and only one year later, Ya'arub bin Bal'arab forced him to concede his leadership and killed him. Ya'arub installed the young Saif bin Sultan as Imam and declared his own role as Saif's custodian. However, he abused his role and Bal'arab bin Nasir took over the welfare of Saif in 1723AD.

In 1738AD, a huge battle took place between Persian troops and the Arabian forces in Bahla. The Arabian forces were defeated and Imam Saif escaped to Buraimi where he declared his intention to fight and overthrow the Persians. However, unrest among the people, who now favoured Sultan bin Murshid as new Imam, gave the Persians the opportunity to capture Muscat. On the Persians' attempts to take over Sohar, Ahmad bin Said, the deputy of the town, overthrew them and drove them from Oman.