Awal

:"For the acronym meaning "Absent Without Authorized Leave", see AWOL"

Awal ( _ar. أوال) is the ancient name of Bahrain, an island country in the Persian Gulf. The name Awal had remained in use, probably for eight centuries. Awal was derived from the name of an idol that used to be worshipped by the inhabitants of the islands before the advent of Islam. Awal resembled the head of an ox.

Before Islam Bahrain's administrative name was Mishmahig Security and Territoriality in the Persian Gulf: A Maritime Political Geography By Pirouz Mojtahed-Zadeh, page 119] and it was also called Tylos by the Ancient Greeks.

ee also

* History of Bahrain
* Munzir ibn Sawa Al Tamimi

References