Wajihids

Wajihids بَنُو وَجِيْه
926–965
Capital	Suhar
Official languages	Arabic
Religion	Islam
Government	Monarchy
Emir
• 926–945	Yusuf ibn Wajih (first)
• 950–965	'Umar ibn Yusuf (last)
Historical era	Early Middle Ages
• Established	926
• Disestablished	965
Preceded by Succeeded by Abbasids Buyids
Today part of	Oman UAE

Historical Arab states and dynasties
Ancient Arab states Kingdom of Qedar 800 BC–300 BC Kingdom of Lihyan 600 BC–100 BC Nabataean Kingdom 400 BC–106 AD Kingdom of Osroene 132 BC–244 AD Emesene Dynasty 64 BC–300s AD Kingdom of Hatra 100s–241 AD Tanukhids 196–1100 AD Ghassanids 220–638 AD Salihids 300s–500s AD Lakhmids 300s–602 AD Kingdom of Kinda 450 AD–550 AD
Arab empires and caliphates Rashidun 632–661 Umayyads 661–750 Abbasids 750–1258 Fatimids 909–1171
Eastern dynasties Emirate of Armenia 654–884 Emirate of Tbilisi 736–1122 Emirate of Crete 824–961 Dulafids 840–897 Habbarids 854–1011 Kaysites 860–964 Shirvanshah 861–1538 Alavids 864–928 Hamdanids 890–1004 Rawadids 955–1071 Mazyadids 961–1150 Jarrahids 970–1107 Uqaylids 990–1096 Numayrids 990–1081 Mirdasids 1024–1080 Munqidhites 1025–1157 Ma'nids 1517–1697 Turabays 1480–1677 Harfushs 1517–1865 Shihabs 1697–1842
Western dynasties and caliphates Salihids 710–1019 Umayyads of Córdoba 756–929 Muhallabids 771–793 Idrisids 788–974 Aghlabids 800–909 Sulaymanids 814–922 Emirate of Sicily 831–1091 Caliphate of Córdoba 929–1031 Kanzids 1004–1412 Bakrids 1012–1051 Tujibids 1013–1039 Amirids 1020–1086 Abbadids 1023–1091 Yahsubids 1023–1062 Hammudids 1026–1057 Muzaynids 1027–1063 Jawharids 1031–1091 Hudids 1039–1110 Sumadihids 1041–1091 Tahirids 1049–1078 Nasrids 1230–1492 Saadids 1554–1659 Senussids 1837–1969
Arabian Peninsula Imamate of Oman 751–1970 Ziyadids 819–1138 Yufirids 847–997 Ukhaidhirds 865–1066 Rassids 897–1962 Qarmatians 899–1077 Wajihids 926–965 Sharifate of Mecca 968–1925 Sulayhids 1047–1138 Sulaymanids 1063–1174 Uyunids 1076–1253 Zurayids 1083–1174 Nabhanids 1154–1624 Mahdids 1159–1174 Rasulids 1229–1454 Usfurids 1253–1320 Jarwanids 1305–1487 Kathirids 1395–1967 Tahirids 1454–1526 Jabrids 1463–1521 Qasimids 1597–1872 Ya'arubids 1624–1742 Upper Yafa 1800–1967 Muscat and Oman 1820–1970 Rashidids 1836–1921 Qu'aitids 1858–1967 Emirate of Beihan 1903–1967 Idrisids 1906–1934 Mutawakkilite Kingdom 1926–1970
East Africa Makhzumi dynasty (Shewa) 896–1279 Nabahani dynasty (Pate Island) 1203–1894 Mahdali dynasty (Kilwa) 1277–1495 Mazrui dynasty (Mombasa) 1746–1828 Sultanate of Zanzibar 1856–1964 Nabahani dynasty (Wituland) 1858–1895 Tippu Tip's State 1860–1887
Current monarchies 'Alawis (Morocco) 1631–present Al Qasimi (Ras al Khaymah) 1727–present Al Qasimi (Sharjah) 1727–present Al Saud (Saudi Arabia) 1744–present Al Said (Oman) 1749–present Al Sabah (Kuwait) 1752–present Al Nahyan (Abu Dhabi) 1761–present Al Mualla (Umm al-Quwain) 1775–present Al Khalifa (Bahrain) 1783–present Al Nuaimi (Ajman) 1810–present Al Maktoum (Dubai) 1833–present Al Thani (Qatar) 1868–present Al Sharqi (Fujairah) 1900–present Hashemites (Jordan) 1921–present
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The Wajihids (Arabic: بَنُو وَجِيْه, romanized: Banū Wajīh) were an Arab dynasty that ruled in coastal Oman in the early and mid-10th century AD. Their capital was the town of Suhar, after moving there from Al-Buraimi Oasis or Tawam, where they had been in the 9th century.^[1]

History

The origins and history of this dynasty are obscure.^[2] They may have been of either Omani or Bahraini origin, and they were possibly related to Ahmad ibn Hilal, a previous governor of Oman on behalf of the Abbasid Caliphate.^[3] In any event, by about 929,^[4] the coastal regions of Oman were under the control of Yūsuf ibn Wajīh (Arabic: يُوْسُف ابْن وَجِيْه), the first member of the dynasty.

According to the archaeologist Timothy Power, the origins of the Wajihids can be found in an account by the tenth-century chronicler al-Tabari. The latter source reported that in 893 or 894 during the Abbasid era, there was a dispute about who should rule Oman among the local factions. A faction that approached the Abbasids was the Bani Sama, who were based in Al-Buraimi or Tawam (which includes the modern Omani town of Al-Buraimi and the UAE city of Al Ain), before moving to Sohar. The Bani Sama also referred to themselves as the "Wajihid Dynasty", and assumed leadership over the region.^[1]

The Wajihids did not enjoy undisputed control of Oman. In the mountainous interior of the country, the Ibadi imams centered at Nizwa opposed Wajihid rule and were intent on maintaining their independent status. In addition, the neighboring Qarmatians of al-Hasa sought to gain possession of Suhar, and Qarmatian raids into Oman were common during this period. The Wajihids were able to neutralize these threats by using a mixture of force and diplomacy against both the Ibadis and Qarmatians. Wajihid policy in its relations with the neighboring powers was opportunistic, and they recognized the suzerainty of both the Qarmatians and Abbasids at different times during their rule.^[5]

Suhar during Wajihid rule was an extremely prosperous town and, along with Siraf, was one of the main seaports of the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf. Its development during the tenth century turned it into a major center of international commerce and the chief city of Oman.^[6] The Wajihids were able to take control of the Suhari trade^[7] and they actively worked to maintain the town's economic status.

The Wajihids were chiefly known in the medieval sources for their two attacks on Basra. The first campaign occurred in 943, in response to excessive Basran customs dues on Omani shipping. The Wajihid military moved up the Tigris River and took possession of al-Ubullah, but the expedition failed when the Baridi rulers of Basra managed to destroy much of the Wajihid fleet.^[8] The second campaign, of 951-2, saw the Wajihids and their Qarmatian allies again advancing against Basra, which was now controlled by the Buyid amir Mu'izz al-Daula. The latter's vizier Abu Muhammad al-Hasan al-Muhallabi went to defend the town, and the Wajihids were once again defeated.^[9]

Yusuf ibn Wajih was succeeded by his son Muhammad, who was in term followed by his brother 'Umar.^[10] Wajihid rule was suddenly brought to an end in around 962 when 'Umar was killed by Nafi', a longtime mawlā of the dynasty. Nafi' then attempted to rule in 'Umar's place, and for the next several years Oman entered a period of anarchy, which ended only with the arrival of the Buyids and the establishment of a Buyid province in Oman.^[11]

Rulers

The exact chronology of the Wajihid dynasty is difficult to determine.^[7] Coins that they minted during their reign are important in creating a ruler list. Based on available numismatic data, the Wajihids ruled as follows:^[12]

• Yusuf ibn Wajih (926/929–945)
• Muhammad ibn Yusuf (945)
• 'Umar ibn Yusuf (950–962/965)

Abdulrahman al-Salimi, in attempting to reconcile the numismatic data with information provided by written sources, came up with an alternative chronology:^[13]

• Ahmad ibn Hilal (c. 898–929)
• Yusuf ibn Wajih (926–952)
• Muhammad ibn Yusuf (942–951; as a co-ruler with his father)
• 'Umar ibn Yusuf (952–962; but posthumously recognized as ruler until 965)^[14]

See also

• Lashkarwarz, a Buyid officer who warred with the Wajihids

References

Sources

• Bates, Michael L. "Unpublished Wajihid and Buwayhid Coins from 'Uman in the American Numismatic Society." Arabian Studies I. Ed. R.B. Serjeant and R.L. Bidwell. Totowa, N.J.: Rowman and Littlefield, 1974. ISBN 0-87471-482-6
• Miles, S. B. The Countries and Tribes of the Persian Gulf. 1919. Reading, UK: Garnet & Ithaca Press, 1997. 187393856X
• Miskawaihi. The Eclipse of the Abbasid Caliphate: the Concluding Portion of the Experiences of the Nations, Vol. II. Trans. & ed. H. F. Amedroz and D. S. Margoliouth. London, 1921.
• Piacentini, Valeria Fiorani. "Sohar and the Daylami interlude (356–443/967–1051)." Proceedings of the Seminar for Arabian Studies 35: Papers from the thirty-eighth meeting of the Seminar for Arabian Studies held in London, 22–24 July 2004. Oxford: Archaeopress, 2005. ISBN 0-9539923-7-3
• Al-Salimi, Abdulrahman. "The Wajihids of Oman." Proceedings of the Seminar for Arabian Studies 39: Papers from the forty-second meeting of the Seminar for Arabian Studies held in London, 24–26 July 2008. Oxford: Archaeopress, 2009. ISBN 978-1-905739-23-3
• Wilkinson, John C. (2010). Ibadism: Origins and Early Development in Oman. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-958826-8.