Bahrain, which at this period includes much of eastern Arabia as well as the islands that comprise the present state, is under Abbasid control at the end of the ninth century, but a slave rebellion in Basra disruptz the power of Baghdad.

The Qarmatians seize their opportunity under their leader Abu Sa'id al-Hasan al-Jannabi who captures Bahrain’s capital Hajr and al-Hasa in 899, which he makes the capital of his republic and once in control of the state he seeks to create a utopian society.