Almahdi and the Nuba

A dialog on the Nubia list, September, 1996


Message-ID: <NUBIA%96090412364539@SAKSU00.BITNET>
Date: Mon, 2 Sep 1996 21:48:33 SLT
Sender: Discussion forum on NUBIAN <NUBIA%SAKSU00.BITNET@VTBIT.CC.VT.EDU>
From: Ahmed Akasha Khalil <D03N003%SAKSU00.BITNET@VTBIT.CC.VT.EDU>
Subject: Almahdi & The Nuba ... a query ?

All netters Maska aglo, ..Hi..

Why Did Mohammed Ahmed Al-Mahdi, when he was feeling weak and almost abandoned by his friends, take refuge with the Nuba of Nuba Mts. in particular and no other group?? Is it because these were an oppressed minority or were there any other "covert " reasons for this action??


Message-ID: <322DF539.78DF@emirates.net.ae>
Date: Thu, 5 Sep 1996 01:31:37 +0400
Sender: Discussion forum on NUBIAN <NUBIA%SAKSU00.BITNET@VTBIT.CC.VT.EDU>
From: abubakr sidahmed <sidahmed@EMIRATES.NET.AE>
Subject: Re: Almahdi & The Nuba ... a query ?

Hi

To start with why did he travel initially from North (his homeland) towards West??? Sudan is full of minorities (and no minority is not facing a sort of overlooking )...If he was looking for the support of whom he might considered his people or kins then why went so far? ..At that time several nubian groups had already settled around Khartoum and nearby localities... To me it seems that all areas in between his home land and where he settled used to have their own Religious Leaders (Sharief the teacher of Mahdi himself was one of those leaders)..He tried to find an area with no such leaders..!! After all he seemed to me as a politician who was trying to promote his ideas ..I belive his movement was a political one and not just a religous one..Sufi Schools had played a more prominent and effective role in shaping the Islamic face of Sudan far more then Mahdism.. Why he didn't travel East (Beja's area who are ethenically related to the Nubian in the North and sometime ruled all Nubia and Egypt..??)

regards

abubakr


Message-ID: <199609060116.CAA02622@zeus.cygnet.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 6 Sep 1996 02:08:21 -0500
Sender: Discussion forum on NUBIAN <NUBIA%SAKSU00.BITNET@VTBIT.CC.VT.EDU>
From: "Abdullahi F. ELMahdi" <aelmahdi@CYGNET.CO.UK>
Subject: Re: Almahdi & The Nuba ... a query ?

Dear netters

salam

Ahmed Akasha Khalil wrote:

Why Did Mohammed Ahmed Al-Mahdi, When he was feeling weak and almost abandoned by his friends, take refuge with the Nuba of Nuba Mts. in particular and no other group?? Is it because these were an oppressed minority or were there any other "covert " reasons for this action??

The Mahdi decided to immigrate to Gadier after he received the order from the prophet (PBUH), according to his letter dated 27 January 1882 (7 Moharam 1299), to all his followers, "The prophet ordered me to order all our followers to immigrate to Gadier". But the reason why he decided to leave Aba island, because he didn't feel secure any more especially after the battle of Aba, and the murder of Abu Elsoud, this was in 17 of Ramadan 1298, which equivalent to the famous battle of Badar Elkobra.

ElMahdi was never felt weak, he won that battle, and he wanted to spread his teachings peacefully, and prepare a strong army to liberate Sudan from the Turks and then all the Moslem countries.

He contacted the leader of the nuba at that time (I forget his name), and asked him if he is able to protect him and support his call, the leader responded positively and provided a shelter and secure place for the Mahdi and his followers, until the number of the Mahdi's followers grow to several hundreds, he started to liberate Bara, ElObied .....

I don't believe that the Nuba were minority at that time, they were isolated, and safe from the Turks, until the Mahdi came they started to communicate with the other tribes, The Mahdi was supporting the minorities on one of his letters to sheikh Salaman he asked him to stay with the Falata (which were more oppressed than Nuba).

I hope I gave you the information you need.

salam

Abdullahi ElMahdi