Once the missionaries had succeeded in establishing their centres in the Islamic State, they began to look for opportunities of agitating the citizens of the Islamic State. One such opportunity presented itself when Ibrahim Pasha retreated from al-Sham. His move created unrest and fear amongst the people and the anarchy that broke out divided them. The foreign delegates, especially the missionaries, seized the opportunity and began igniting civil strife. The missionaries were able to take such a treacherous action because they knew that the ‘Uthmani State had little influence in al-Sham at that time. After a period of just one year, in 1841, serious disturbances broke out in the mountains of Lebanon between the Christians and the Druze. The situation deteriorated and under the pressure and influence of the foreign states the ‘Uthmani Khilafah was persuaded to design a separate ruling system for Lebanon, dividing the province into two parts; one part would be occupied by the Christians, while the Druze would occupy the other. The ‘Uthmani Khilafah appointed a wali (governor) over both parts, aiming therefore to avoid any clashes between the two sects. This system did not succeed.

Britain and France became involved in the dispute and incited civil strife wherever the official authorities attempted to quell trouble.

These clashes were used as an excuse by the British and the French to interfere in Lebanon’s affairs. The French sided with the Maronites and the British sided with the Druze, leading to the renewal of disturbances in 1845. The attacks were extended to include churches and monasteries. Theft, killing and pillage became common practice, prompting the ‘Uthmani government to send her foreign affairs inspector to Lebanon in order to use his mandatory powers to quell the trouble once and for all. He, however, could not achieve anything significant, although he managed to reduce the tension a little. Meanwhile, the missionaries intensified their activities and in 1857 the Maronites began calling for revolution and armed struggle. The Maronite clergy incited the farmers against the feudal lords and attacked them fiercely in the North of the country, thus the revolution was ignited and it spread to the South. The Christian farmers now rose against the Druze feudal lords and the British and the French backed their respective allies. Civil strife rapidly spread all over Lebanon as a result of this. The Druze began to kill all Christians indiscriminately, whether they were clergy or ordinary people. This civil strife led to the death of over ten thousand Christians, and many more were either displaced or became homeless.