"This book provides an in-depth study of the history of Oman from the advent of Islam until the fall of the second Ibadi Imamate in AH 280. In pulling together scattered fragments of historical material, Dr. Al-Rawas gives a vivid account of Oman's position in the early Islamic community during a hitherto underexamined period of its history." "Oman, following the death of the Prophet Muhammad, was successfully targeted for conversion to Islam by the nascent Islamic government in Medina. After embracing the new religion, Oman fell under the influence of the heterodox Islamic movements in Basra, particularly the Kharijite revolt. It eventually chose the Ibadi doctrine, a moderate offshoot of Kharijism, as its national creed."--BOOK JACKET.