# Muhammad Ahmad ibn ʿAbdallah > Religious leader in the Sudan, self-proclaimed as the Mahdi (1844-1885) **Wikidata**: [Q298678](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q298678) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Ahmad) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/muhammad-ahmad-ibn-abdallah ## Summary Muhammad Ahmad ibn ʿAbdallah was a religious leader in the Sudan who lived from 1844 to 1885. He is best known for self-proclaiming himself as the Mahdi and for his roles as a military leader, politician, and resistance fighter. His work intersected with Islamic theology, military affairs, and politics. ## Biography - **Born:** August 12, 1844 - **Nationality:** Sudan - **Known for:** Self-proclaimed Mahdi, leading military and resistance efforts, and religious leadership - **Field(s):** Islamic theology, military affairs, politics ## Contributions Muhammad Ahmad ibn ʿAbdallah is noted for his self-proclamation as the Mahdi, a significant religious declaration within the context of Islamic theology. As a military leader and resistance fighter, he led troops in war and battle, engaging in activities associated with military affairs. He also participated in politics, defined as activities associated with group decisions, governance, and policy-making. His occupation as an ulema signifies his role as a Muslim legal scholar. ## FAQs ### Who was Muhammad Ahmad ibn ʿAbdallah? Muhammad Ahmad ibn ʿAbdallah was a human and religious leader in the Sudan, active during the 19th century. He is historically recognized for self-proclaiming himself as the Mahdi. ### What were his primary occupations? He held multiple roles, serving as a politician, a military leader, a resistance fighter, and an ulema (Muslim legal scholar). ### When did he live? He was born on August 12, 1844, and died on June 22, 1885. ### What fields did he work in? His professional activities spanned Islamic theology, military affairs, and politics. ## Why They Matter Muhammad Ahmad ibn ʿAbdallah holds historical significance as a figure who combined religious authority with military and political leadership in the Sudan. His self-proclamation as the Mahdi positioned him as a central leader in a resistance movement, influencing the region's governance and military affairs. As an ulema, he contributed to the legal and theological discourse of the time. ## Notable For - **Self-Proclamation:** Declared himself the Mahdi. - **Multifaceted Leadership:** Simultaneously served as a military leader, resistance fighter, politician, and religious scholar. - **Historical Era:** Active during the late 19th century (1844–1885). - **Aliases:** Also known as Muhammad Ahmad bin Abd Allah, Mohammed Ahmed Mahdi, and Muhammad Ahmad bin Abdullah bin Fahal. ## Body ### Identity and Names Muhammad Ahmad ibn ʿAbdallah is identified as a member of the species Homo sapiens (human). He is known by several aliases, including Muhammad Ahmad bin Abd Allah, Mohammed Ahmed Mahdi, and Muhammad Ahmad bin Abdullah bin Fahal. His name is recorded in various bibliographic systems with multiple identifiers, such as ISNI 0000000117692136, VIAF ID 184457021, and GND 119156717. ### Professional Roles and Classifications Muhammad Ahmad ibn ʿAbdallah held diverse occupations that bridged religious, military, and political spheres. * **Politician:** As a politician, he was a person who held or sought positions in government, engaging in the practice of activities associated with group decisions. * **Military Leader:** He served as a military leader, defined as someone who leads the army and troops in war or battle. * **Resistance Fighter:** He was a fighter of a resistance movement. * **Ulema:** In the religious domain, he was an ulema, a Muslim legal scholar. * **Religious Leader:** He is broadly classified as a religious leader in the Sudan. ### Fields of Work His professional endeavors were categorized into three primary fields: * **Politics:** He engaged in activities associated with group decisions, including governance, policy-making, and the exercise of power within organized groups. * **Military Affairs:** His work involved the collective term for everything that concerns the military, including legal regulations and the training of soldiers. * **Islamic Theology:** He operated within the set of beliefs associated with the Islamic faith. ### Chronology Muhammad Ahmad ibn ʿAbdallah was born on August 12, 1844. His active period as a leader and self-proclaimed Mahdi occurred during the late 19th century. He died on June 22, 1885. ### Archival and Bibliographic Identifiers The individual is cataloged in numerous databases and archives, reflecting his historical significance. These identifiers include: * **Library of Congress Control Number:** n82164387 * **IdRef (SUDOC):** 114669597 * **Bibliothèque nationale de France ID:** 119156717 * **NLA Trove ID:** 9506208 * **Open Library ID:** OL4540584A * **CiNii ID:** 123835054 * **RERO ID:** 0044726 * **NKC ID:** vtls001026650 * **SNAC ARK ID:** 59564 * **Encyclopædia Britannica ID:** biography/al-Mahdi-Sudanese-religious-leader * **NLI ID:** 9810673467405606 * **CANTIC ID:** 3936213 * **RKDartists ID:** 119156717 * **BNF ID:** 987007313710005171 * **KulturNav-ID:** 591790 * **LCCN:** n2004254180 * **BabelNet ID:** 695756087 * **NARA Authority ID:** 4149 * **Biblioteca Nacional de España ID:** 119156717 * **Ukrainian Wikipedia ID:** 695756087 * **VIAF:** 184457021 * **WorldCat Identities:** 184457021 * **Freebase ID:** /m/01t4dl * **Wikidata ID:** Q132858 * **Find a Grave ID:** 695756087 ## References 1. Dictionary of African Biography 2. [Encyclopædia Britannica Online](https://www.britannica.com/topic/al-Mahdiyyah) 3. Virtual International Authority File 4. Lingua Libre 5. [Encyclopædia Britannica Online](https://www.britannica.com/biography/al-Mahdi-Sudanese-religious-leader/Capture-of-Khartoum#ref4465) 6. Find a Grave 7. Encyclopædia Britannica Online 8. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie 9. Prabook 10. Integrated Authority File 11. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 12. LIBRIS. 2013 13. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File