Mahdist Movement Political Dimensions in Sudan: Islamic State Creation Religious Mentality during the Nineteenth Century (1884 -1881).

Abstract

This article examines the religious mentality in the nineteenth century Middle with reference to Mahdi movement political dimensions in Sudan during the early eighties. The study is organized into four sections which cover, historical background of the 19th Century Sudan, the emergence of the Mahdism in 1881 in Sudan, the political aspects of the Mahdist movement in Sudan, and local opposition against the Mahdist movement. The study key findings showed that the Sudanese Mahdi, Mohammed Ahmad, had been affected by number of factors shaping his religious mentality embodied in the idea of Mahdism. It was concluded that such mentality was evident in the political aspects the movement and local opposition. It was also revealed that those factors played such a vital role in the movement's prosperity that ordinary Sudanese people regarded Mohammed Ahmed, in sharp contrast to Mahdi-opposition loyal scholars (Ulama), as a savior capable of liberating Sudan from foreign rule.