The sheikhs of the Arabs, the notables of the country, its dignitaries, its scholars, and its elders were summoned to achieve what they had promised in their project.

The decree was issued on the 6th of April, 1881, by the Khedive, upon the suggestion of Riyad Pasha, the Prime Minister, a high order concerning the increase of salaries for officers and soldiers and the amendment of military regulations and laws, based on the request of Mahmoud Pasha Sami, the former Minister of War. He celebrated this with a grand celebration at the Nile Palace, to which he invited the ministers and inspectors to commemorate the issuance of that decree. On the previous day, Riyad Pasha, Mahmoud Sami, and Ahmed Urabi gave eloquent speeches praising the Khedive's generosity for the favors he bestowed upon the army.

On the 16th of Sha'ban, 1298 AH, the Khedive was in his summer residence in Alexandria when a carriage belonging to one of the notables of Alexandria ran over a soldier of the army, causing him to die. His comrades went to Ras el-Tin Palace and asked the Khedive to look into his case. He promised them, and they calmed down.

A few days later, a military council was formed, which issued its judgment on the person who led his comrades to march to Ras el-Tin, sentencing him to hard labor for the rest of his life. As for his comrades, they were sentenced to three years in prison, after which they would be sent to Sudan as conscripts for the army. Abd al-Malik, the Amir alay of the Sudanese Division, sent a complaint to the Minister of War, Mahmoud Sami, about the harshness of that sentence. Sami raised this complaint to the Khedive, who became displeased and summoned the ministers to Alexandria via telegram. They arrived in Ramadan, or August, and held a council under his presidency, where the Minister of War submitted his resignation, which was accepted. Daoud Pasha was appointed in his place, and the ministers returned to the capital. The situation outwardly calmed down, but in reality, they were displeased with the acceptance of Mahmoud Pasha Sami's resignation, as they considered him one of their strongest supporters.

The relationship between the Khedive and the Urabiists changed. The Urabiists began to look at the Khedive and his ministers with suspicion and caution. On the 18th of Shawwal, or September 18, 1881, after the Khedive's return from Alexandria, an order was issued to the Amir alay of the Gendarmerie to proceed to Alexandria, and another order to the Amir alay of Alexandria to come to the Citadel. Urabi instructed the Amir alay of the Gendarmerie that these orders were intended to disperse them. The Amir alay declared his non-compliance with the order. Meanwhile, Urabi was addressing the Amirs alay, asking them to prepare to come to Abdeen Square on the first of September.