Generally speaking, this is an
Arabic word meaning approximately "
struggle" or "
trial," but which is often
euphemistically used to refer to a
war. Specifically, the word is used often to describe the
civil conflicts of the first few centuries of the
caliphate, especially those enormous chaotic conflicts to which the rulers sometimes had to resort to settle multiple simultaneous succession disputes and rebellions. For more information concerning individual
conflicts, see the following nodes that I spent a large amount of time writing:
First fitnah
Second fitnah
Third fitnah
Fourth fitnah