Ikhwan discontent over efforts to restrict their freedom to raid continued to mount until they culminated in a mass gathering in Riyadh, convened by Ibn Saud. The Ulema, the most distinguished citizens of the towns, the tribal chieftains, all the eminent men of the Nejd were present, an assembly of some 800 people. But the three Ikhwan leaders - Faisal Ad-Dawish of the Mutair, Sultan bin Bijad bin Humaid (Ibn Bijad) of the Utaibah and Dhidan bin Hithlain of the Ajman - were absent, having refused Ibn Saud's invitation.
The Ikhwan representatives who were present repeated their call for the removal of the Iraqi police post and demanded that there should be strict observance and enforcement of the laws of the Holy Qur'an. Part of the stricter regime they advocated was the proscription of all products of modern technology. These were the habitual complaints and demands of the Ikhwan and Ibn Saud recognized that those who presented them were not susceptible to rational argument. Ibn Saud therefore decided on a strategy designed to cut through argument and appeal not to the minds but to the hearts of his people. He rose and offered to abdicate, declaring that he had no wish to rule an unwilling people.
A stunned silence ensued, followed by a universal protest. All present renewed their oath of allegiance to Ibn Saud. Ibn Saud had brought home to the august gathering which represented the entirety of his Kingdom that he alone had the power to unite. From the moment that the assembly rejected his offer to abdicate and re-affirmed their loyalty to him, Ibn Saud knew that he had the power to deal effectively with the Ikhwan.