Muhammad Ahmed ibn-Seyyid Abdullah (otherwise known as The Mahdi or Mohammed Ahmed) (1845 – 1885) was a Sudaneserevolutionary.
Mohammed Ahmed was born in 1845, and was a distant descendant of the Prophet and was the son of an indegent boat-builder. In 1881, he declared he was "The Mahdi" or expected one. The Mahdi was foretold in the hadith. Mohammad was able to convince the Sudanese, due to their infatuation with Sufism. Sufism was introduced to Sudan by fugara, or wandering holymen.
Mohammed Ahmed used a V-shaped gap in his teeth to prove he was the Mahdi. Mohammed Ahmed gathered Ansar, or followers. His followers were organised and willing to die.
The Mahdi's followers killed British General Charles Gordon in 1885 and placed his head on a pike. The Mahdi installed the first extremist Muslim regime in Sudan, all alcohol, swearing, dancing, and jewelry was banned, and all women had to be veiled.
The Mahdi soon grew fat from date wine and had to be carried around by strong Ansar. He died shortly after, out of obescity.
The purpose of this essay is to highlight (not necessarily memorialise or eulogise) a recent victim of this trend, and to discuss the impact and repercussions for the West and Muslim liberals of failing to respond accordingly to the burgeoning wave of Islamically inspired violence, which is becoming increasingly organised and sophisticated.
Ahmeds death is a stark warning to moderate Muslims and Islamists, not only in Sudan but in the region as a whole, which has developed a fervent sympathy to the stricter Islamic interpretations of Ikhwahn an Muslimuun [the Muslim Brotherhood] or other Islamic based groups.
Ahmed was in many respects an ally of the regime and a fervent supporter of the Islamist revival.
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