Muhammad Ahmad

The Mahdi Introducing Muhammad…

• Muhammad Ahmad is the most influential man in Sudanese history • Born in 1844, he grew up in the Dongola region of the Sudan. • His father and brothers were boat builders but his grandfather was a fiki (religious teacher). • Mohammed learned to read and write from his grandfather, and devoted his life to religious study. He moved to the Isle of Abba to receive further religious instruction. • In 1881, Muhammad declared himself the ‘Mahdi’. Mahdi : “he who is guided aright” • It was predicted that spiritual ruler would appear who was destined to establish a reign of righteousness throughout the world. ABOUT THE SUDAN • Historically, the Sudan region was divided in many tribal groups. •The tribes made a living off the land. The fertile Nile Valley and the abundant rainfall in the southern territory makes cultivation possible. •Trade routes between the region and the rest of Africa, primarily Egypt, formed to facilitate the trade of gold, wood, ivory, gum, ostrich feathers and slaves. • Arab Muslim migration along trade routes in the 13th to 15th centuries allowed for the Islamicization of large portions of the Sudan regions. • Egypt invaded the Sudan in 1821 in order to obtain access to gold, ivory and slaves to subsidize the expansion and modernization of the Egyptian military. Conceptualizing ME&A Muhammad the Prophet… • After moving to the Isle of Abba, Muhammad built a mosque and was venerated as a holy man by all who knew him. • In 1881, he claimed that the prophet “Mohamed came to him in a dream and informed him, as from God, that he was the long- promised Mahdi” (False Prophet Article) • The Mahdi advocated purifying the Muslim faith. He intended to invade Egypt to convert the people to the ‘true faith’ that they had strayed from and massacre all the Christians.

“God is the patron of those who believe; he leads them out of darkness into light; but they who do not believe, their patrons are demons who lead them from light into darkness; they are fellows of the fire, in which they shall remain for ever.” (Letter to General Gordon)

• The Mahdi believed that he was saving the region from damnation by converting them to the true faith. Muhammad the Prophet… • At first Khartoum dismissed him as a fanatic

• Took a closer look at him once they realized his “religious zeal turned to denunciation of tax collectors”

• The Mahdi and some followers made a long march to Kurdufan to recruit more followers to his cause.

• The Mahdi found great support or assurances of neutrality from all except the pro-Egyptian Khatmiyyah.

• Some of his biggest supporters were merchants and Arab tribes who depended on the slave trade. The Siege of Khartoum • The final stage in the liberation of the Sudan from the British and Egyptian interference. • The British sent an army of 600 soldiers, headed by General Gordon, to defend the capital at Khartoum. • A further 800 soldiers were sent by steamship down the Nile to aid General Gordon in the defense of Khartoum. • Before the extra soldiers could reach Khartoum, they were headed off by an army of 4000, lead by the Mahdi. • The Mahdi’s army defeated any offensive attempts by the British army, forcing General Gordon to remain in Khartoum and go on the defensive. • The siege lasted many months, ending when the Mahdi’s army broke the • defenses at Khartoum and stormed the city. General Gordon was beheaded by a soldier, (Battle flag of the Mahdi’s army) against the wishes of the Mahdi. • Many other areas of Africa attempted to break free of colonial rule: – The Tukuloor Empire (present day Mali and Burkina Faso) – The Maji Maji movement in Tanganika – The Chimurenga wars in Matabeleland and Shonaland (present day Zimbabwe)

• Reasons for failure: – Weak responses from the people – Primitive weapons compared to the colonial powers – The belief in spirit mediums • The leader of the Maji Maji movement encouraged his supporters to sprinkle their bodies with magic water, which they believed would protect them from bullets. Thousands were killed in battle and the German responded with the scorched earth policy wiping out entire villages and all their crops. Reasons for the Mahdi’s success: • He provided an option to the harsh treatment of the Egyptian rulers. This provided incentive for the people of Sudan to join the Mahdi’s army

• He preached that to die in battle for the good of Islam would lead to salvation. The warriors, though under armed compared to the British and the Egyptians, fought ferociously for the cause.

• Muhammad commanded an army significantly larger than any other rebel forces in Africa. Slaves and peasants alike joined the Jihad in hope of a better life.

• Muhammad was light brown in colour with flashing eyes and a wonderful smile. People took to him quickly and were willing to follow. He was a simple man, dressing in simple clothing of locally made cloth. They perceived him as a man of the people. • The Mahdi’s rule ended shortly after the defeat of Khartoum, with his death on June 22, 1885 (only six months after sizing Khartoum) from typhus. A tomb at Khartoum was erected in his honour. • He was succeeded by his second in command, Khalifa Abdulla. • His rule was uneasy as he continued the region as a military state. • Regional relations were not good because of the Khalifa’s continued use of jihad. • He ruled for eleven years before the british, under General Kitchner, reconquered the Sudan. Was Muhammad Ahmad really the Mahdi???

•There had been a significant amount of discussion on whether or not Muhammad was really the messiah. Some think that he was just a devout religious leader at the right time in history. •However, whether or not Muhammad was legitimately the Mahdi, he and his successors were rightfully fighting against injustice and colonial misrule. • In the aftermath of the fight, the British adopted a more humane and enlightened administration of the Sudan after they re-conquered the region. DISCLAIMER: There was a significant amount of contradictory information of Muhammed Ahmad. We attempted to choose the information that was mentioned the most, but we apologize if any of our information is not quite 100% fact