 The tribute was ostensibly payment for protection, however the Hassan were often either incapable or unwilling to protect their clients, resulting in Zawaya commerce and agriculture being frequently disrupted by raids and general insecurity.The Hassan were thus seen as legitimate targets for jihad, given that they were seen as failing to oblige their obligations under Islam, even though they remained nominally Muslim.Tensions between the Hassan and the Zawaya had also been exacerbated by an economic crisis; the two groups had previously complimented each other, with the Hassan being largely nomadic, whilst the Zawaya were agriculturalists along the Senegal.