Al-Salt bin Malik

Al-Salt bin Malik was the seventh Imam of Oman, ruling from 851 until his deposition in 885.

Reign Except for the fact he was a Kharusi hailing from the Yahmad branch of Azd, little is known about al-Salt bin Malik's life prior to his election as imam. He was elected by the Ibadi ulama on the same day as the death of his predecessor, al-Muthanna bin Jayfar, in 851. During his reign, he dispatched an armada of over one-hundred ships, supposedly at the request of the female poet Fatima al-Suqutriyya, to successfully retake Socotra, which had been occupied by the Ethiopians. A proclamation to the Omani army attributed to al-Salt ibn Malik details Ibadi military jurisprudence and the treatment of Muslims and non-Muslims. In addition, a fortification was constructed at the site of Nizwa Fort.

Deposition The latter years of al-Salt bin Malik's reign saw a rise in discontent from tribal sheikhs, possibly due to his less tribal attitude to governance compared to his predecessors. The opposition was headed by a certain Musa bin Musa, who, with his supporters, marched on al-Salt bin Malik's army headquarters near Nizwa with the intent of presenting their demands and forcibly removing him from power if needed. Too weak to resist, al-Salt bin Malik left for his son's house on 3 Dhu al-Hijjah 271 AH (22 April 885 AD). Musa then installed Rashid bin al-Nadhar as imam.