Al Muhannadi

History

The formation of the Al-Mohannadi Arab tribal confederacy likely involved a collective agreement among various families to defend the villages of Al Thakhira and Al-Khor.

Mustafa Murad Al-Dabbagh mentioned in his book, Qatar, Its Past and Present, that the city of Al-Khor was established in 1200 AH (1785–1786 AD), and its population in the middle of the last century reached more than 2,000 people, belonging to the Al-Muhanada tribe, whose leaders were known as Al-Misanada.

The settlement expanded its borders after one of their hunting groups discovered a substantial water source near the coast in the mid-19th century. This led them to construct the Ain Hleetan Well, which helped sustain the villagers' basic needs. Some locals believed that water obtained from the well possessed medicinal properties. In turn, the villagers built the Al Khor Towers around 1900, to defend both the well and its harbor.

John Gordon Lorimer

In 1908, J. G. Lorimer, a British historian, compiled his two-volume encyclopedia, the "Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf, Oman and Central Arabia" in which he wrote that Al Khor was frequently referred to as 'Khor al-Mahandah [Mohannadi]'. He also wrote that the village consisted of 400 stone and mud houses belonging to the tribe. They also settled the nearby village of Al Thakhira. In 1908, Lorimer noted that the village comprised 100 houses of the Al Mohannadi tribe.

J. G. Lorimer also noted that in 1908 there were 80 pearl boats, 90 sea-going vessels, and 30 fishing boats, just 8 mi north of Al-Khor. The maritime activities of the Al-Mohannadi contributed to Qatar’s economy and trade relations with neighboring regions.

Folklore

May and Gilan

Main article: May and Gilan

A tale from the Al Mohannadi tribe tells the story of a man with many pearling boats and his rival May who had even more, they competed over pearls until Ghilan inspired by a grasshopper's wings invented the sail which allowed him to reach pearl beds faster than May.

This story is known mainly in Al Khor and reflects the Al Mohannadi tribe's maritime heritage.

References

References

1. (2014). "Al-Khor Island: Investigating Coastal Exploitation in Bronze Age Qatar". Moonrise Press Ltd.
2. "الخور".
3. Adel al-Moslimani (6 July 2014). "Qatar's wells and springs: clues to early settlements" (PDF). Gulf Times. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
4. (2020-10-23). "Wells of Qatar {{!}} Qatar Museums".
5. "Keeping History Alive – Guide to Heritage Sites in Qatar" (PDF). Qatar Museums. 2016. p. 28. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 June 2017. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
6. "'Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf. Vol. II. Geographical and Statistical. J G Lorimer. 1908' [1754] (1877/2084)". Qatar Digital Library.
7. "'Gazetteer of Arabia Vol. I' [525] (556/1050)". Qatar Digital Library.
8. Montigny, Anie. (2004-12-01). "La légende de May et Ghilân, mythe d'origine de la pêche des perles ?". Techniques & Culture. Revue semestrielle d'anthropologie des techniques.