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[No. 2, 
E. C. Ross— Annals of 1 Oman. — Book IV. 
Imam, whether Musalman or sinner, who equalled el-Hakam-bin el-Mulld 
in weakness and imbecility. He soon abdicated, and the Sultan placed an 
army at Nezwa. God knows the truth! 
My own opinion is, that none of the Imams mentioned after el-Salt-bin 
Malik were universally recognised by the people of ‘Oman, and that their 
rule did not extend over the entire country. They were recognised in 
certain districts and not in others, by some of the tribes only, and not by 
all. For after the dissensions which had arisen amongst them, the people 
of ‘Oman had ceased to act in unison, and could not agree in the choice of 
an Imam. As they had cast away the blessings bestowed on them by God, 
so their hearts became disunited. 
Book IV. 
Containing an Account of the Imams Said-bin ‘ Abdullah and Bdshid-bin- 
el - Walld and their successors to the time of ‘Omar-bin el-Kasim-el- 
Fadheyli. A.D. 934 to A.D. 1560. 
The next of the Imams appointed in ‘Oman, after the people had come 
to be divided into factions, was Abul-Kasim Sa‘fd-bin ‘Abdullah-bin Moham- 
med-bin Mahbub-bin el-Ralieyl-bin Seyf-bin Hubeyrah, the horseman of the 
Prophet (on whom be peace !). I know not the date of his election, nor how 
long he was Imam 1 ; neither have I learnt by whom he was slain, and for 
what cause. I have perused many books and questioned many well-informed 
persons in search of information on these subjects, but in vain. Please God, 
however, I shall still endeavour to discover. 
I find that the first person to declare Sa‘id-bin ‘Abdullah Imam was 
Abu-Mohammed el-Hawarhbin ‘Othman, then Abu-Mohammed ‘Abdullah- 
bin Mohammed-bin Abil-Muathir, Next I reckon Mohammed-bin Zaxdeh 
el-Sxmuli. I find also that this Imam was elected as a Dati‘x, not as a Shari. 2 
Abu-Mohammed ‘Abdullah-bin Mohammed was wont to extol his learning 
and to assert that his attainments surpassed those of any previous Imam. 
It has also come down to us that Abu-‘Abdullah Mohammed-bin Ruli said 
that the Imam Sa‘id-bin ‘Abdullah was more learned than any of those who 
elected him and associated with him. It is known to us from the 
unanimous testimony of the select circle of those who profess the true 
Faith, 3 that he was recognised as our Ruler and Imam. He passed away. May 
God have mercy on his soul! We know not that any found fault with his 
election to the Imamate, ixor with his character; neither did any secede 
from him. We learn moreover of Abu-Mohammed ‘Abdullah-bin Moham¬ 
med-bin Abil-Muathir that he said : “ We know of no Imam of the 
“Musalmans in ‘Oman more excellent than Sa‘id-bin ‘Abdullah, for he was 
“ an upright and leanied Imam, and he died the death of a martyr. All 
