Chronic instability after the death of Faisal accelerates the decline of the Al Saud.

While the Al Saud are bickering among themselves, however, the family of Muhammad ibn Rashid, who controls the area around the Jabal Shammar, has been gaining strength and expanding its influence in northern Najd.

In 1891 Muhammad ibn Rashid, the grandson of the leader with whom Turki had first made an alliance, is in a position to enhance his own power.

He removes the sons of Saud ibn Faisal from Riyadh and returns the city to the nominal control of their uncle, Abd ar Rahman.

Muhammad puts effective control of the city, however, into the hands of his own garrison commander, Salim ibn Subhan.

When Abd ar Rahman attempts to exert real authority, he is driven out of Riyadh.

Thus, the Al Saud, along with the young Abulaziz, are obliged to take refuge with the amir of Kuwait.