Journal of Negro Education

Mohammed Ahmed, (The Mahdi) Messiah of the Sudan Author(s): John Henrik Clarke Source: The Journal of Negro Education, Vol. 30, No. 2 (Spring, 1961), pp. 156-162 Published by: Journal of Negro Education Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2294340 . Accessed: 10/04/2011 21:29
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SectionD: Mohammed Ahmed, (The Mahdi) Messiah theSudan of

JOHN HENRI
CLARKE

U. S. Correspondent African on Affairs, WorldMutualExchange

MohammedAhmed-Ibn-Seyyid-Abdallah was the last and best knownof the native conquerors the Sudan. His caof reeris synonymous the title"MAHwith dia In 721 B.C. Piankhi, NubianPrince, DI", meaningone who is divinely established controlover the whole of rected; The Mahdi announcedto his the Egypt. The Kingsof Cush becameac- peoplethathe wouldconquer world. themto takean oathneverto ceptedas the Kings of Cush and Misr He taught put on a new garment untilall foreign(Egypt). ers had been drivenout of the Sudan. yearsthe Sudan was Thoughhe fought For a thousand as Egypt, well as the intotwoking- English, nonetheless, manysyma Christian divided nation, he, had and Aboa. In 640 A.D. pathizers doms;Mukarra Theyfelt among Egyptians. the made thathe was responding a feeling naEgypt theArabs whohad conquered of to their wayintotheSudan. In 1517 A.D. tionalist by pride and anger motivated Egypt theinjustice foreign the Sultan of Turkeyconquered of The domination. Sudan. Be- Englishoccupation Egypt, and invadedthe northern of supposedly of rule,hence- tentative, cause of the cruelty their was especially galling to the forththe people of the Sudan referredEgyptiansbecause of the uncertainty of as to all oppressors "Turks"regardless aboutits probable The Prophet duration. theirrace or religion. The armiesof of Islam in the Sudan commanded more Ali invaded the Sudan in reverence Mohammed than the fromthe Egyptians 1820 A.D. no Christian Englishwho were showing to preparations keeptheir and injusticewent unop- signsofmaking Corruption from to Egypt. posed for sixtyyearsuntil in 1881, a promise withdraw to greatleaderappeared unitethe SudaAhmedwas bornnearthe Mohammed nese. He rallied the people to unite islandof Argo, Dongolain the Sudan. at in a holy war againstthe "Turks"and At his deathhis age was estimated be to from Su- aboutforty the driveall foreign oppressors he have five. Therefore must dan. between1840 and been born sometime 1845. In spiteof their poorand obscure This great leader was Mohammed his familyclaimed to be background Ahmed. He belongedto the race of of or of "Ashral" descendants the "Prophet". peopleknownas Danagla; inhabitants of the During greater portion his youth, was a fikior reDongola. His father to Ahmedwas leftentirely his ligiousteacher. He taught son read- Mohammed
156

and it has not alwaysbeen called as theSudan. As early 4,000 B.C. there Egypt between to appears havebeentrade and what is now the Sudan. In those marked days the island of Elephantine of frontier Egypt. South the southern as extended the of this frontier country far as the land of Punt, whichwas on the coast of presentday Somalilandthe as laterit was known Ethiopia, Biblical land of Cush.

THE

SUDAN IS A VERY OLD COUNTRY

ing,writing themeaning theMosand of lem bible, the Holy Koran. Through his own resourcefulness, learnedof he the countries Egypt, India, Persia, of Europe and the vast worldbeyondand his around country.He was exceedingly intelligent, with a force of character somewhat superior mostof his people. to

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the his ownresources. learned Koran Sherif,because he had considered He this his instructiondedicated by heart and received early youngman to be his favorite he in theology. Subsequently went to disciple. But, this disciplehad rebuked the cityof Berberand becamea pupil him in the presenceof his eldersand Mohammed the leadingcitizens the town. Orderof the well knownteacher, of his el Kheir who completed education. ing him out of the schoolwas the only his he Arriving manhood, went to Khar- way the teacher at could maintain auof and toumwherehe becamea disciple the thority prestige. then celebratedand highly respected The newsof thisincident spread rapidSheikh MohammedSherif,his grand ly and drewthe attention sympathy and uncle. With him he went to live on the island of Abba, on the white Nile of the massesof people to this devout of here student the Koran. Now he had his near Kawa. He stayed and studied followers.He also daredto rebuke fora number yearsand latermarried first of the richin their own homesand became Sherif. the daughter Mohammed of a hero to the poor. Soon it was being of In outward appearance Mohammed said thathe was a person divine origin the Messiahwho he Ahmedwas strangely fascinating; was -probably longawaited to constitution seeming- was expected appearin the Islamyear and a manof strong were ly limitless energy. Like most of the 1300 or 1881. His nameand family similar thatof theProphet. to of members the Danagla tribehis com- very smile plexion was verydark. A pleasant As his popularity and following inon was nearly alwaysapparent his face. creasedthe British and Egyptian rulers a Under thissmilegleamed set of singuof his country becamealarmed over the larlywhite teeth,and betweenthe two discontent was spreading he amongthe oneswas a V-shaped space, uppermiddle and ordered arrest. With his his a whichin the Sudan is considered sign people first he disciples fledto an islandup the thattheowner will be lucky. His mode movebe- Nile. Here the Mahdi religious of conversation, had by training, too, ment was born. People fromall over come exceptionally pleasantand persuato sive. Later,when he and his followers theSudanmadepilgrimages theisland, him for Blessingand crying beseeching proclaimed that he was a Messiah and from their oppressors. Much he forliberation messenger God,he actedas though of later,the inevitable came to pass. The with the was in directcommunication movement madeinto was whichhe gave were Mahdireligious Deity. All orders a military thatmiraculously force defeated to supposed have cometo himby divine the Sudan armies Egypt combined of and a and inspiration; it becamethereforesin his from sixty to to refuseto obey them;disobedience Englandand freed country of and to the Mahdi's orderswas tantamount years slavery crueltaxation. to resistance the will of God. From AbbaIsland, Mohammed Ahmed, now called the Mahdi, went to the disMohammedAhmed's great asset in trictof Kordofan where his fame had his drawing people to revere personality alreadytaken hold of the population. was his pietyand deeplyreligious zeal, People flocked him forblessings-the to thismade him a favorite withall of his of blessings a holy man-one who had . teachers . . yet at one timethispious been bold and brave enoughto rebuke disposition to a conflict.Mohammed a teacher led for his sins and his lack of Ahmed rebukedone of his instructors for for allowingsingingand dancingat a reverence thelawsof theHoly Koran. feast. He held the opinion thatthisacIn preaching exhorting people, and the to tivity would be displeasing God. In the Mahdi had one subject and one the quarreland conflict that followed, theme:"Ourreligion becoming is debased Mohammed Ahmed toldin very harsh and corrupted; Prophetis insulted was our words to leave the school. This was and everytrue Moslem is humbledby for Mohammed the corruption the government heartbreaking his teacher, of officials

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to for The Mahdi was invited Khartoum and theirutter disregard the true in faith". to be examined theKoranto see if he Messiah. He rethe was really expected Now Mohammed Ahmedand Gordon jected the invitation sent back the and claimants message, became rival Pasha at Khartoum "By the graceof God and His over forsupremacy the mindsof the Su- Holy Prophet, am master theSudan. in I danesepeople. They werealso rivalsin NevershallI cometo Khartoum justito another sense,forboth of themclaimed fymyself." of to be the "Messengers God". he With thissortof preaching struck as The Mahdi claimed, the wordim- the rightcord in the character the of of Moslem and all otherSudanese tribes. the "Guide or Messenger plies,to be God", and called himselfMohammed His plan and thought were to unite all thatis to in one great faith. Wisely for his Ahmedel Mahdi Monutazer, and guide awaitedby scheme, recognized generalstate say, the prophet the he had already of discontent mostastutely the world. His followers used it and Ahmed as a fertile adoptedthe cryof, "Mohammed for ground his message. He rassoulAllah nili Allah" . . . roughly was a religious leader,but he also was Mohammed the Messiahand a shrewd translated, politician.He basedarguments of Messenger Allah". and traced "hardtimes" of theprevailing, His government. thatwere being these to the existing Of the manyrumors was about him and his followers,astuteness again shownin the way circulated as one was that he intendedto invade be selected, the fieldof his earliest of section the the to to the Egypt, convert Mussulmen the efforts, mostdisturbed whichtheyhad strayed, country. truefaithfrom a in and after massacre the Christians of a offered large authorities The British Egypt,to go to Mecca, the holycityof sum forhim dead or alive. This action the forced Mahdi to declarea holywar. he to where expected receive his faith the Khalifat and be ordained the Grand He promised rapidly folincreasing his Cheikhof Islam. share of the spoils lowersthe majority the to of Gordon Pasha'sovertures friendshiphe intended takefrom oppressors. with disdain. towardhim were treated the between comA quarrel developed to In replying one of the Governor-Gensent to seize the Mahdi. The manders he eral'sgestures said, "I send you back quarrel and intoan openfight their broke your presents. I will not accept your two separate were of companies soldiers of to offer be Emir(Governor) Kordofan. weakened ineffectiveness. Mahdi to The You say you have come to make peace and his followers on thesetroops with fell becauseyou arewithGod. We are with clubs,sharp and sticks stones. In a short God. If you are withGod you are with while theyweredestroyed. More troops us were sent but thesetoo were destroyed. if us; on the contrary you are against God. Be converted, then, Then came the Mahdi'sattempt capyou are against to if and become Mussulman; not,we will ture El-Obeid,the capital of Kordofan; a we and though inflict upon youthesamepunishment losses, backwithgreat driven to have accorded Hicks Pasha". until aftera siege of five he prevailed surrenthe town and garrison lineshad beendrawn months, battle The future dered. Now he was hailedas themaker had and both contestants been pushed beyondthe point where a compromiseof miracles.PraiseAllah! The Messiah had come! could not be reached. looked upon no The government longer GordonPasha said in reply:"I go to to Khartoum makepeace. We can come him as a holyman,zealousforreligion to an agreement, however, you wish but poor and withoutinfluence-whom if, theycould silenceeasily. The governforwar,comeon. I am ready".

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by enabledthe poorly armedDervishforce cometo be despised went had already and to defeatthe British-Egyptian in army -thepeople because of its weakness of battle. whiletheprestige Moham- battleafter corruption, The was in theascendency. medAhmed was an inspiration Each new victory spirit of rebellionwhich prevailedin to fanati- and added otherfollowers the leaderhelpedto augment no Egypt doubt the ship of the Mahdi, untilpractically cism in the Sudan. The government and he again whole Sudan lay at his feet. again sentforMohammed in refusedto go. There now followed recalledRaouf Pasha The Egyptians defeatafter and sentanother rapid succession, surprising Generalwith Governor and defeatfor the government, success a stronger armyto turnback the Mahsuccessforthe Mahdi. after armies. Still this armyof di's fanatical swept to creatures misbegotten of the formerly and Now thepersonality activity them. Senaar, At before everything defeat the Mahdi stirred whole of the Sudanonly the hopeless became hopeful and the of 6,000 Egyptians 20 escapedalive. in At Djebel-Gadir June1882 twowhole had -leaderless founda leader. Fromthe and forests, armycorpswere wiped out; at Seribah, bills and the plains,deserts ralliedto the blackflagof the July11 of the sameyearthe Mahdi dethe tribes all to Mahdi and pledgedallegiance his cru- stroyed excepttwelveof an armyof and he of sade. Tens of thousands them,The 6,100 men. In October overran forceof 10,000. an defeated Egyptian Selem, Baggara,Risega,Homer,Dirrka, Bongo,Madi, and Bari,pouredinto the a El-Obeid, citywhere attacking After new Messiah's camp. They came on he had previously a suffered temporary and on footarmedwithrifles defeat, turned attention milihorseback and his he spears. tary prowesstowardKhartoum, and lances, or with home-made capitol of Some were the poorest the poor and cityof the Sudan. loin woreonlyfilthy cloths. The British wereonly who previously and the Egyptiansbraced themselves The English power of withthedecline their their this against tideand reshuffled plans concerned in and prestige the Sudan now began to and forces. Still the tribes gathered in thicker the Mahdi'scamp.All, fanati- fearfortheirverylives. The Egyptian the Mahfirst rearup against to cally brave,theyhad but one goal in forces, had beencrushed. di's power or view: Freedom Paradise. Sir William Hicks (called Hicks Ahmedhad all the qualiMohammed wars, of fighter colonial leader,the Pasha), a veteran ties of a greatrevolutionary of one who believed was placed in charge of 10,000 men sure self-confidence himself divinelyendowed, tremendousarmedwith the latestweapons. With the Nubian Desert in- his forcehe crossed and forceof character greatpersonal up tegrity.These qualitieswere combined and proceeded the Nile, hopingto the of masses peopleto the encounter Mahdi's armysomewhere to persuade great truthof his message. Besides he had near Khartoum.Beforethe Mahdi met the emergedat the time the long awaited Hicks Pasha's armyhe had crushed forcesat Abu Ahmedand at to Messiah had been prophesied appear Egyptian leavingno appreciable that he was indeed sent by Bheheb,therefore convinced him. armyin the fieldagainst hailed Egyptian his adherents to help them, God Mahdi,el Mahhim as the long-awaited first deKhartoum after Hicks reached di el Muntazar. This was to be a Jihad, feating some hostiletribeson the way. or a holywar,and the Mahdi reminded The Mahdi's followers prestige had and to according thewords increased a proportion his followers that, wherehe was to of the Prophet,those who met their now consideredan infalliblemilitary redeathin battlewouldbe immediately ceived in paradise. It was the fanatical leaderas well as a trueMessiah. With he status, led his main that this accelerated inspired whichthisdoctrine courage

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army toward Khartoum. Hicks left use diplomacy.After collapse his; of the 3,000 men to hold the cityand set off ill-advised attempts bringthe ex-slave to with the restof his armyto meet the trader, he LobeirPasha to his assistance, Mahdi,who in themeantime altered finallyhad to deal directly with the had his plans by withdrawing the army Mahdi. Gordon offered make the to headed forKhartoum.He encamped at Mahdi governor-generala largeprovof El-Obeid justlongenough entice to this. Mahdiinterpreted Hicks ince. The mighty Pasha to move his armyin that direc- gesture an insultand ridiculed him as tion. However when Hicks reachedthe formaking it-thinking: why shouldhe city,the Mahdi had movedfurther into be a meregovernor-general province of a the desert. Hicksfollowed intothis when the whole of the Sudan, except him well laid trap,as he expectedhim to one or two places,was already his. In do. On November. 1883, after his 3, Hicks reply he urged Gordon to forsake Pasha's army had been weakened by devout Christian beliefsand become a thirst and somehad died from drinking Moslem. poisoned water, Mahdi and his loyal the To Gordon,this of course,was uncohorts swept down upon them. This thinkable. Being a practicalmilitary was the Mahdi'smostdecisive so victory far. A moundof dead mencovered the man,he knewthathe did not have the powerhe needed to defendKhartoum. bodyof HicksPasha,also dead. out He sentthe womenand children of Now theanxiety the English the the city and awaited the Mahdi who of in Sudan becamepanic. They were afraid arrivedsoon afterward and laid siege that the Mahdi's examplewould spread to the city. After the siege had lasted to other colonial areas. sentan expedimanymonths British the tionof 25,000 men underthe command The force thatthe Mahdi had sentto GeneralGorSuakinunderthe leadership his most of LordWolselyto support of don's armyat Khartoum. able general, OsmanDigna,had defeated an army commanded theBritish by gener- Lord Wolselywhose'victory over the al, Sir Samuel Baker. Later, another Egyptians Tel-el-Kebir 1882 was at in British general namedGraham, was able the decisive factor establishing British in to holdOsmanDigna'sarmy bay. at up rule over Egypt, proceeded the Nile withhis expedition 800 boats, hoping in Morevictories theMahdi followed. to reachGeneral for before army Gordon his He captured Berber, Dongola,(the home was overrun the Mahdi's dedicated by of his tribe) Darfurand the richEqua- adherents. At Abu Klea, he met part torialProvinces. of the Mahdi's forcesand won a vicwhile The British, realizing that theywere toryin the battle that followed, memheavylosses. The bright about to be pushed out of the Sudan, suffering barelyhad broughtin their most able General, oryof Lord Wolsey'svictory Charles a George Gordon, renowned figure time to becomereal beforehis second was GeneralStewart, beatbetter knownas "Chinese"Gordon. He in command, en and killed. had servedin thisregion before and already had a respected reputation here.He After weeksof hardship part of Lord to was known most thepeopleandliked Wolseley's expeditionreached Omdurof by a largenumber them. Gordon of was man, a few miles fromKhartoum. In devout Christian liketheMahdi,had the journey British and the shipshad to sail illusionsof being divinelyendowed. through severeattacks MoslemKrupp by When Gordon arrived Khartoum at he guns. Lord Wolseley'ssuccessat Abu the up foundthe situation moredesperate than Klea and in bringing expedition feat of the Nile was a commendable the forceat his command could master. but the Knowing country itspeoplebetter leadership, it did not save General and than most Englishmen, decided to Gordon; two days before his arrival, he

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had fallen ed of his army. Later,bent on aveng25, 1885, Khartoum January ing his and England'shonor,he asked to the Mahdi'sarmy. fora chanceto attackthe Mahdi again The long 321 day siege ended when and was permitted do so. He reto 25,000 of the Mahdi's fanaticalarmy turned same yearwith 13,000white the of overthe ramparts the battle troops swarmed and was beatenback. Now Engthe cityand surrounded palace of land withdrew scarred all from of Sudan except Gordon. Gordon, a the partof Suakin,whichcould be deGovernor-General to soldier theend,walkedcalmly fendedby warships. The Mahdi prestalwart wherea giantKordofan vailedovertherestof theSudan. out on thesteps, of soldierfollower the Mahdi ran him named the crossed The Mahdi and his forces witha spear. An officer through Nisser, beheadedhim with his sword. West bankof the WhiteNile and there of fell upon Gordon in the desert laid the foundation Hundredsof soldiers and plungedtheirspearsinto his body. the capitol of his new kingdom. He of master a rich emHis head was sent to the Mahdi who was now supreme and pire1,600miles wide. longand 700 miles him as a soldier, at least admired had hoped to makehim a Moslemcon- His subjectshad been gatheredfrom and district tribe. Some gave him every vert. some throughfear. homage willingly, to attempt save The Sudan is peopled by many racial of The story Gordon's the Sudan was the more patheticbe- typeswith everyformof physiqueand cause his task showedeveryindication all of themwere represented amongthe to he before sethimself it. The Mahdi's followers. There were Chrisof failure end tragic and fall of Khartoum Gordon's and Moslems heathen. Therewere tians, blow to Englishpridethat those was a severe wholovedtheMahdiand his cause, avoided. To add to and otherswho followed mighthave been him in order this, another expeditioncomposed of to obtain protection, clothes,food and 11,000 English and Egyptiansoldiers shelter. lossesat Kassala, withgreat was defeated Osman was still runThe Mahdi's ambition by theMahdi'smostable general, as of Digna. ning high. He thought himself anotherMohammed. He planned to General Gordonhad made the city bringall adjoining under his territories then his of Khartoum headquarters, had rule; subduethe Christian partof Ethibeen hemmedin on all sides until the opia, marchinto Egyptand convert the world, the citywas cut offfrom outside worldto Islam. while his supplies of food, guns and were used up in a lost and ammunition His amazingcareerended beforeany hopelesscause. He had stood bravely of thesedreams wererealized. On June a to the after deathof to his port trying inspire hundred 22, 1885, six months of mento do thework thousands.Then, General Gordon,he died of typhoid by and he beingbaffled harrassed the shift- fever. Withhis laststrength shouted of lessnessand incompetency his officersthe Islamcreed. he he made promises could not keep him mourned formonths His followers began until his wordas an Englishman tomb ears. Yet, he and later erected a magnificent on unlistening to fall he on thespotwhere had died. inspireda listlesspopulationto resist for 321 days. Then came the night The Mahdi was succeeded by his attack, the mad rush to the palace, secondin command, Abdullathe Khalifa and he, who was said the javelin throw for who ruledthecountry eleventroubleto be "the fatherand saviourof the the British gave Lord someyearsbefore Sudan" lay dead. Kitchener enoughmen and guns tc reLordWolseof In themidst thischaos, to ley retreated Cairo withwhatremain- conquerthe Sudan.

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THE JOURNAL OF NEGRO EDUCATION helped to make the policy eventually country Sudan the freeand independent we knowtoday.
Bibliography

In avengingwhat he thoughtwas showed Lord Kitchener honor, England's to nothing be and considered no mercy his sacred while he was accomplishing the thanearned name, mission. He more of "The Butcher Omdurman".He bombardedthe tombof the Mahdi and took themintothe Nile, his bonesand threw It was said that the Mahdi's head was tin packedin a kerosene and laterused as by Kitchener a tobaccocontainer.

H. S. and W. D. Afford,The Egyptian Sudan, London, 1898. The Downfall of the DerE. N. Bennett, vishes, London, 1899. R. A. Berman,The Mahdi of Allah, New York, 1932. and those B. Burleigh, In spite of Lord Kitchener London,1896. Two Campaigns, of who came afterhim, the followers J. K. Griffen, The EgyptianSudan, New the to the Mahdi continued fight British York, 1905. Boston,. GeneralGordon,C. S. "Journals," until about 1930. Mass., 1885. question-was Col. D. ChoilleLong, The Three Prophets, As for the unanswered the New York, 1884. 'Ahmed, Mahdi,reallya Mohammed Messiah? Well, millionsof people in H C. Jackson,Sudan Days and Ways,. the Sudan believedhe was and some New York, 1954. in Ten Years Captivity the JosephOhrwolder, still do. But let this truthsuffice; the Mahdi's Camp, London, 1896. were rightMahdi and his successors Sudan, New and colon- Mekki Shibeika,Independent injustice against fighting fully York, 1960. amongotherreasons. The Rudolf C. Slatin, Fire and Sword in The' ial misrule, movedthe Brit- Sudan, London, 1896. of aftermath this fight ish to adopta morehumaneand enlight- G. W. Steevens,With Kitchener Kharto in ened administration the Sudan. This toum,New York, 1898.