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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>For kind ttention of Abdul Aziz Ali
Elkabi
"Ahmed, or to cite his full name, AL HAJ Ahmed bin Na aman bin Muhain bin
Abdullah al-Bahrani was born in 1784 in Basra, where he recieved a rudimentary
,classical Islamic education. Patrilineally, he was Arab, descended from the
renowned Bani Ka'ab (pronounced Cha'ab) tribe of the Persian Gulf littoral. His
mother was Persian. Ahmed's early history is obscure. He is said to have started
as a lowly cabin boy, and, by dint of sheer ability made his way upward. Ample
evidence exists attestng to his Muslim piety, though his detractors sometimes
attributed Sabean origins to him. At a later date they were to pillory him with
the sobriquet Wajhain, or two faces." Hope this
helps Regards Ralph (<A
href="mailto:ralphmct@omantel.net.om">ralphmct@omantel.net.om</A>
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