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.