fitna: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Academic, Religious, Journalistic (in specific contexts)
Quick answer
What does “fitna” mean?
Civil strife, conflict, or discord within a community, often referring to internal divisions in an Islamic context.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Civil strife, conflict, or discord within a community, often referring to internal divisions in an Islamic context.
More broadly, any situation of chaos, temptation, societal disorder, or moral trial that threatens unity. Also used in modern contexts to refer to provocative content or actions intended to stir up unrest.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is near-identical; both varieties treat it as a specialized, borrowed term. Appears slightly more in UK media due to different diaspora demographics and historical colonial ties to regions where the term originates.
Connotations
Similar scholarly and analytical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general English. Appears primarily in academic papers, religious studies, or reporting on specific geopolitical issues.
Grammar
How to Use “fitna” in a Sentence
The [noun phrase] caused fitna among [group].They sought to avoid fitna by [verb + -ing].The period was marked by fitna.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “fitna” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The controversial film was accused of fitna-ing the community.
American English
- The article sought to fitna readers with inflammatory claims.
adverb
British English
- The group acted fitna-ously, seeking to divide and conquer.
American English
- The rhetoric was deployed fitna-fully across social media.
adjective
British English
- The nation faced a deeply fitna-inducing political crisis.
American English
- His speech was described as fitna-like in its divisiveness.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. Potentially in risk analysis for operations in politically volatile regions (e.g., 'The main business risk is social fitna').
Academic
Common in Religious Studies, Middle Eastern History, Political Science, and Islamic Theology papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation unless discussing specific historical or religious topics.
Technical
Used as a precise theological or historical term within Islamic scholarship.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “fitna”
- Misspelling as 'fitnah' or 'fitnat'.
- Using it as a synonym for any minor argument.
- Pronouncing it as /ˈfaɪtnə/ (like 'fight').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a loanword from Arabic, fully naturalised in English for use in specific academic and journalistic contexts relating to Islamic history and politics.
Yes, but it is rare. Its primary meaning is religious/historical. In extended use, it might describe any severe internal sedition or divisive chaos, but such usage is highly specialised.
The First Fitna (656–661 CE) following the death of the Caliph Uthman, which led to the first major civil war within the early Muslim community and the schism between Sunni and Shia Islam.
Pronounce it as FIT-nuh, with a short 'i' as in 'fit' and a schwa ('uh') at the end. The 't' is pronounced clearly.
Civil strife, conflict, or discord within a community, often referring to internal divisions in an Islamic context.
Fitna is usually formal, academic, religious, journalistic (in specific contexts) in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to sow fitna (to deliberately create discord)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'FITNA' sounds like 'FITful' + 'dismayNA' — a fitful period causing dismay and division.
Conceptual Metaphor
CIVIL STRIFE IS A DISEASE / CIVIL STRIFE IS A SEDUCTIVE TEMPTATION.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'fitna' MOST appropriately used?