[2] He is known for being the father of Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani, the founder of Qatar and who fended off the Ottoman army in the late 19th century.
He abdicated, due to old age, as emir of Qatar in 1876, turning the throne over to his eldest son Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani.
[3] It was not until Mohammed bin Thani moved from Fuwayrit to Al Bidda in 1848 that he began to exert influence over the peninsula.
However, with Mohammed bin Thani's arrival, Qatar began to gain significant economic and political weight, albeit while still remaining under Bahrain's suzerainty.
Faisal had long sought to gain control of Bahrain and had previously attempted, and failed, to invade the island.
Upon hearing the news, they fled to Bahrain without incident, much to the dismay of Faisal who admonished Mohammed bin Thani for not capturing them.