Coastal Oman's rule over the interior has…

Coastal Oman's rule over the interior has become tenuous and local imams exist.

After the early days of Islam, the tribes in the interior of Oman have been led by Imams, who hold both spiritual and temporal power.

The Yahmad branch of Azd tribes had gained power in the ninth century and established a system where the ulama of the Banu Sama, the largest of the Nizari tribes of the interior, select the Imam.

The authority of the Imams had declined due to power struggles.

During the eleventh century and the first half of the twelfth, Oman had been controlled by the Seljuq Empire.

The Seljuqs are expelled in 1154, when the Nabhani dynasty comes to power.

The best quality frankincense, a valuable product in the Middle Ages, comes from Dhofar in the interior of southern Oman.

The Banu Nabhan control the trade in frankincense on the overland route via Sohar to the Yabrin oasis, and then north to Bahrain, Baghdad and Damascus.

Muhammed al-Fallah of the Banu Nabhan had emerged as a powerful leader in 1151 and had taken control by 1154.