After being introduced in the seventh century, Islam has always been a major influence on the life of the oasis. The Arab chronicler Al-Bakri says that there were already several mosques around the oasis by the 11th century.[7] Starting in the 1960s, the oil industry drove growth in the once-sleepy village.[8] By 1968, the population of the village had increased to about 2,000 people, and by 1982 it had risen to over 4,000, supported by twelve mosques.[9]