Muhammad bin Abdul-Rahman

Muhammad bin Abdul-Rahman (died 1943) was a son of Abdul-Rahman bin Faisal, Imam of the Second Saudi State based in Riyadh. He was an early supporter of his brother King Abdul-Aziz. However, Muhammad and Abdul-Aziz had a falling-out after both attempted to place their respective sons in line for kingship. This conflict may have led to the death of Muhammad's son Khalid. Muhammad later became a virtual non-entity in Saudi politics.

Early life and education

There is some controversy regarding the date of his birth, with some sources making him older than his brother, the future king Abdul-Aziz, an important factor in his later maneuvering for succession to rule.

He followed his family to exile in Kuwait after the collapse of the Saudi state in 1891 and in 1902 was one of Abdul-Aziz's companion on the raid which retook the Masmak Castle.

Internal politics and death

Muhammad played a major role in subsequent military expeditions, but as Abdul-Aziz's own sons came of age and began to assume positions of responsibility, he saw his own importance overshadowed. As it became apparent that Abdul-Aziz was grooming his elder sons for succession, Muhammad began to put forward the candidacy of his own eldest son, Khalid. This may have had some support at first, but eventually a family consensus emerged and Khalid's supporters dwindled in number. Rumours abounded of plots and assassination attempts, with Khalid alleged to have tried to kill Saud bin Abdul-Aziz and Saud said to have attempted to take Khalid's life. Whatever the truth, Khalid bin Muhammad died under mysterious circumstances in 1938. By now Muhammad was totally excluded from public life, and he died alone in 1943. His descendants today hold important administrative positions in government.