Dhidan bin Hithlain, Chief of the Ajman, had not been present at the battle of Sibilla. He was nevertheless (with Faisal Ad-Dawish and Sultan bin Bijad bin Humaid both of whom had engaged in the battle of Sibilla) a member of the fractious triumvirate of Ikhwan leaders. The Governor of Hofuf, Abdullah bin Jelawi, therefore decided to send his son Fahad to elicit, by persuasion or force, a reaffirmation of Ajman loyalty to Ibn Saud.
The outcome, through confusion and misunderstanding, was the death of Dhidan bin Hithlain.