العوامل المؤثرة على أوضاع الشيعة في السواحل الجنوبية للخليج الفارسي في القرن الثاني عشر الهجري/الثامن عشر الميلادي

During the twelfth century AH (eighteenth century CE), the Shiʿi communities of the southern coasts of the Persian Gulf experienced significant changes in their social condition. These developments resulted from the migration and settlement of the Najdi–ʿUtubi tribes, the expansion of colonial influence, and changes in the social composition of the historical coastal region extending from al-Ahsa and al-Qatif to Zubarah (Qatar) and Bahrain. During the Afsharid and Zand periods, these coastal regions witnessed the foundations of the social transformations that characterized the nineteenth century, developments that profoundly influenced the social life of the Shiʿa over the following two centuries. Throughout the eighteenth century, demographic changes along the southern Persian Gulf accompanied the consolidation of colonial influence, contributing to the transformation of the institutions governing Shiʿi society and the emergence of a new identity shaped by colonialism. Among the most significant developments were the migration of Najdi tribes and its adverse effects on the indigenous coastal population, together with the gradual expansion of the influence and power of European trading companies. These developments affected the economic and social activities of local Shiʿi communities—including farmers, merchants, and fishermen—in the ports and islands of the region.
The weakening of the two major Islamic empires, the Ottoman and Safavid states, together with drought and insecurity in Najd during the late Safavid period, disrupted the social and economic networks of the southern coasts and encouraged tribal migration toward the Persian Gulf. European commercial companies sought to control regional markets, creating shared interests with Najdi migrants, a relationship that in the following century culminated in the establishment of colonial-dependent shaykhdoms. The most significant transformation of this period was therefore the migration and settlement of Najdi tribal groups whose strong tribal solidarity and unfamiliarity with the cultural and social system of the Shiʿi population brought about profound changes in the social and cultural identity of the southern Persian Gulf. The arrival of these groups in territories previously characterized by stable cultural traditions, but now weakened by economic decline, drought, insecurity, and colonial domination, transformed traditional patterns of livelihood and created tensions between indigenous inhabitants and newcomers. Within the broader context of colonial culture, these developments reshaped social relations throughout the region.
The central issue addressed in this study is that the transformations associated with colonialism and the onset of the modern era affected not only the long-established societies possessing strong cultural, economic, and social foundations throughout the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf, but also the tribal communities of Najd. These circumstances fostered alliances based upon shared interests between certain Najdi tribal leaders and colonial powers. The political and economic instability of the principal centers of the Islamic world encouraged a convergence of interests between migrating tribal groups and newly arrived European actors. In subsequent decades, this relationship developed into an alliance that challenged the historical identity of both Shiʿi and Sunni coastal communities while promoting approaches opposed to local traditions and identities—an orientation that has continued to influence the political and cultural character of the Arab Gulf shaykhdoms. Although the migration of the Najdis and their relationship with colonial powers have received limited scholarly attention, existing theoretical frameworks derived from modern historical sociology are likewise inadequate for explaining the unique historical circumstances of the southern Persian Gulf. The distinctive geographical setting, traditional economy, and social structures of the region render the application of conventional Eurocentric theories insufficient for analyzing the relationship between identity, colonial conflict, and the convergence of interests between Najdi tribal groups and European commercial companies. At the same time, historical research, due to the coherence and context-specific nature of historical events within particular temporal and spatial settings, cannot be adequately explained through conventional theoretical frameworks, which are generally based on Eurocentric models of homogeneous societies.
Using a descriptive-analytical historical approach and drawing on library-based sources, this study seeks to answer the following central question: What impact did the simultaneous phenomena of the migration of Najdi Bedouin tribes and the presence of European trading companies have on the condition of the Shiʿa communities along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf during the twelfth century AH (eighteenth century CE)? To address this question, the study examines the process by which these groups became established, taking into account the region's geographical setting, local culture, and the shared interests of the newly arrived Europeans and Najdi migrants.
The findings indicate that although the primary objective of the alliance between the Najdi migrants and the European companies—namely, the weakening of the political and economic power of the indigenous coastal communities, both Shiʿi and Sunni—was largely achieved, the cultural and religious dimensions of coastal life were strengthened because of the deep historical roots of the indigenous identity and the ideological nature of colonial policies. Moreover, the intellectual solidarity of the coastal population in confronting colonialism contributed to the preservation and reinforcement of their religious heritage.