The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-12-08

The religious significance Of the insur-
rectiOn in the Soudan Is but imperiectly
understood by Christians, at least OF the
Western world, who fail to appreciate the
peculiarly eXpectant state Of Islam thai
has preceded it. One point showing this
misapprehension IS the general tendency
to understand the assumed name of the
leader of this instruction, Ell Muhdi-ln'
correctly given often as Mahdi or Mehdi-
as synonymous with the name given him
by his enemies. the False Prophet. FL
Muhdi is an Arab word, meaning simply
leader or guide, and was chosen by the
commander OF the revolving tribes Of the
Soudan, because il was the name which
Mohammedan tradition has given to q
hero destined about this time to restore tC
Islam its ancient and long forfeited glory
A few words concerning the origin and
nature Of this expectation may be Of come
interest now.
Among the popular beliefs Of the Ma
hommedan world, received by every sect
and creed therein, is that Of the cOnAng OF
second prophet or leader, pronounced by
Mahommet. The promise IS not found in
the Koran, but IN the Ahaditte, or
SAYINGS OF THE PROPHET,
recorded by his disciples. There are many
thousands Of the traditional sayings on
record, and large proportion of them are
acknowledged TO be spurious, but no dis.
putc has ever arisen concerning the genu-
ineness of the El-Muhdi prophecies. 1t is
related on the authority Of Abdallah Inn
Messaud that he heard the prophet say
when there shall remain but one day OF
the days Of the earth, God shall prOlong
that day and shall send forth from my
house a man bearing my name and the
name of my father (Mohammed Inn Alb
dallahl, and he shall purify the earth from
injustice and fill it with that which Is
right" This prophecy was also heard by
Ali Ibn Abu Taleb, the prophets son-in-
law, and by Habitat lbn 81 Yamen. Sol
man el Faris, who Is another witness de.
clares that he afterward approached the
prophet and standing before HIM asked :
From which of thy descendants, O apos.
tie of God, shall the Muhdi te?" And
the prophet, pointing TO his grandson,
Husseyn answered From this child shall
he come" Mohammed's son-ln-law, Ali,
also
PROPHEsIED OF THE MUHDI,
saying to his son, Husscyn, ~ swear to
thee, o, my son-I swear by my soul and
by my offspring and by Korbela and her
temple, that the day will come In which
our boards shall be dyed with blood And
| swear that af,erward God shall raise up
a man, the Muhdi, who shall stand in cur
place, the Lord Of mankind. He it is who
shall aveDge us; nay, he shall avenge thy
blood also, o. Husseyn. Husseyn was
atterwari martyred at KerDela There
fore, have patience.
For the blood of one man he shall shed
the blood OF a thousand, and he will not
spare them that have helped our enemies"
Another time ALI also said when the
Turks are In state of ferment, then look
Tor the reign of the Muhdi who shall rise
up and do righteously." This mention Of
the turks IS by prophetic license, they not
having come West until some centuries
had passed over Ais grave
Modern Moslem writers generally agree
In predicting the end of the world and the
resurrection Immediately after
THE APPEARANCE oE THE MUHDI,
and some OF them proceed to tell the signs
winch shall precede this final consumma
tion. The exact date Of his appearance IL
gwen oy many writers % the let Nohar-
ram NOV. l2), 1882 When that date sp-
proached all Islam was on the qui vlve.
ihefe were several pretenders to the Muhdl.
mp. Seek Mohammed e. Sanusy, Of