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After the chaos and breakdown described in Fitnat al-Ahlas, the Muslim world did not remain in hardship forever. Instead, a completely different phase began. After the fall of the Ottoman Empire, new states were formed, especially in the Middle East. Over time, these regions experienced a level of wealth and development that was never seen before. From deserts to global cities, the transformation was rapid and almost unreal. This is where the second part of the hadith from Sunan Abi Dawood (4242) comes in: Fitnat al-Sarra, the fitna of ease, comfort, and prosperity.
At first glance, prosperity looks like a blessing. But the Prophet Muhammad described it as a fitna, meaning it is a test. In this part of the hadith, he mentions that people will gather and settle upon a person who will be “like a hip over a rib” (ka warak ‘ala zila’). This example is very interesting because it shows something that doesn’t naturally fit together. The hip is heavy and sits in a way that does not properly align with the rib. The word zila can also point toward something subtle or even linked to indirect or hypocritical behavior. Altogether, this gives the idea of something that looks strong and stable on the outside, but inside, there is a mismatch.
So who could this apply to? If we look at history, two figures often come up in this discussion: King Faisal of Saudi Arabia and Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
King Faisal is connected to the creation of the petrodollar system. In simple terms, this means oil started being sold in US dollars worldwide. Because of this, countries everywhere needed dollars to buy oil, which gave the United States huge influence over the global economy. Muslim countries with oil became tied to this system. From a critical point of view, this can be seen as a shift away from an independent Islamic economic model toward a global system based on interest and dependency.
On the other hand, the formation of the United Arab Emirates gives a very clear picture of “people settling on one person.” In 1971, seven emirates came together and chose Sheikh Zayed as their leader. This unity brought stability and massive growth. The UAE quickly became one of the most developed countries in the world, with high standards of living, strong infrastructure, and opportunities that even compete with European countries.
But this is where the deeper side of the fitna appears. Even though the people are Muslim, many systems in place—like interest-based banking, entertainment industries, and certain lifestyle norms—do not fully match Islamic teachings. This creates a kind of contradiction: outward success, but inward misalignment. It’s not obvious like war or poverty. Instead, it’s subtle. People are comfortable, safe, and successful, which makes it harder to even realize that it is a test.
This is why Fitnat al-Sarra is so powerful. It doesn’t break people through hardship—it slowly changes them through comfort. When everything looks good on the surface, people stop questioning what is happening underneath. Wealth, success, and stability begin to shape values, sometimes pulling them away from their original foundation.
Looking at this as a continuation of Fitnat al-Ahlas, it makes more sense. First, there was division and weakness. Then came prosperity and influence. And now, it seems like this phase is reaching its peak, with small signs of cracks starting to show.
What comes next is the final stage mentioned in the hadith—a fitna so overwhelming that it will not leave anyone untouched.
