Qatar
/ History / The Islam Development
The
Prophet Mohammed (P.B.U.H.) first came to prominence as a preacher
in AD 610, in Mecca, on the western side of the Arabian Peninsula.
His fervour and conviction soon earned him both a loyal band of
followers, and the emnity of the polytheistic rulers of Mecca.
As a result, he and his devotees moved to what is now Medina,
and the date of this move (622 AD) became the first year of the
new Muslim calendar. After the death of Mohammed in 632, his followers
gathered together all his teachings, and created the Quran, or
holy book of Islam, containing all the words of Mohammed, regarded
as having come directly from God.
The faith of Islam spread rapidly after the death of Mohammed
and the area which included Qatar converted peacefully in the
late seventh century.
From this time, until the arrival of the Portuguese in the fifteenth
century, the region prospered, benefitting from the control both
Persia and Mesopotamia exercised over East-West trade routes.
Various tribes in the Qatar area rose to ascendancy and the territory
was strongly linked to Bahrain, often falling under its rule.
The main town in Qatar during this period was Zubara, on the North-West
coast.
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