in the early 18th century, dayr al-qassi was a fortified village controlled by a local sheikh (chief) named abd al-khaliq salih. in 1740, sheikh zahir al-umar, an arab "mutasallim" (tax collector) from the al-zayadina clan whose strength was growing throughout the galilee, struggled to gain control of dayr al-qassi. later that year, he made the village part of his domain by marrying sheikh salih's daughter, thereby sealing an alliance with the latter's clan. in late 1767, zahir's son ali of safad requested control of dayr al-qassi from his father after his request for dayr hanna was rejected. zahir refused and the two entered into an armed conflict, which zahir won. nonetheless, zahir pardoned ali and ultimately ceded the village to him.