The Mahdist movements have been many and widespread. Although each movement ought to be treated separately, we have for the sake of illustration, chosen to depict some features of a movement, whose relationship to the aspirations of the Mahdi as well as its own aspirations, appear to be fairly well in accordance with the above mentioned scheme of progression. Hence the Almohad movement in the Maghreb, the leader of which was Ibn Tumart (born between 471/1076 and 474/1081). In the traditional fashion, he made his debut as a moral reformer, preaching wherever he came. ‘‘Pious and devout, he lived in squalid poverty, subsisting on the coarsest fare and attired in rags; his courage was great; he blamed with extreme severity the conduct of those who were transgressing the divine law, and not content with obeying God’s commandments, he laboured to enforce their strict observance; an occupation he took such pleasure in that he seemed to have been naturally made for it, and he suffered with patience the vexations to which it exposed him. The ill usage which he incurred at Mecca by his zeal caused him to pass into Egypt, and having expressed the highest disapprobation of the culpable proceedings which he witnessed there, he was treated by the people in the roughest manner, and the government drove him out of the country.” From Cairo he proceeded to Alexandria, where he embarked for his native country, the Anti-Atlas of Morocco. But as soon as he was on board, he started to correct the profane conduct of the crew. And when he arrived in Mahdiya, he continued the same line of activity.
Mahdism and False Claimants of Mahdihood
