New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-11
Ell MAHDI, THE "GUJDE.
THE NEVER-FAILING MAHOMETAN BE-
LIEF IN A LEADER OF THE
FAITHFUL.
HOW MAHDIsM HAS FIoURIsHED THROUGH THE
or GORDON WHO POSED As THE

CENTURIES MAIIOMEr ACHMET. THE SLAYER
or GORDON WHO POSED As The
PROPHET IN THE soUDAN
The downfall Of Mahdism" is n phrase which
has been used often in the last few days TO char
acterize the importance OF the victory Of SIR Her
bert Kitchener British and Egyptian troops in the
Soudan But Mahdism has been down many times
In the course OF the centuries and it Ia per
sistert in its habit of resurrcctng itself The pres
ent triumph Of the English In the Nile region may
indeed have effectually crushed the Khalifa Ab-
dullah who declares himself tho vlce-rorent OF the
Mahdi but II has always been the rule In Tslamism
Tor another Mahdi TO appear upon the defeat OF a
predecessor The failure OF a so-called Mahdi 70
accomplish his plans and conqucsts is generally
construed by the faithful TO mean that he must
have been false prophet. and they turn ever hope
fuily 10 tho future for the real Mahdi to appear
Mahomctanism is widespread religion and the
next claimant to the title OF Mahdi may come from
Il place FAR distant from the Soudan-from Persia,
Arabia India: or, In short from any country where
there are followers Of the Prophet
The belief in the coming OF III Mahdi. the proph-
et or guide" who Is to bring Justice to the earth
and wage "1ehad" or holy for the true faith
has been. almost from the beginning OF Mahomet-
anism. one OF the most persistent and influential
points in the religion. II has taken different forms
according to the particular Crceis Of the two and
seventy Earring scots" OF Islam. but the essential
idea has never been Ions warning since about half
a century after the death OF the Prophet II is
noteworthy that the Koran does not mention the
Mahdi and many students OF the subject there
fore conclude that Mahdisu Is a later development
q tho faith. coming kind II consoiatory belief
and hope 10 the Moscms after the FIRST flush Of
Mahomct's triumph had faded ana the new creed
had s,a-f,acG IA .is march OF coma ieSt.
STRENGTHENING THE BELIEF OF THE
FAITHFUL.
When the reed for the belief in Matdi was felt
tradition WAS not lacking to satisfy The faithful
that the Great Prophet himself had fo-stci1 the
appearan, of q leader Had not Mahomot said. ac-
cordinG To Mosem writer's. Even though time
shall have but one day more to last, God will call
UP man OF my family who Will MI the earth with
justice. as It Is now filed with hiquty." and had
he not given further particulars regarding the
signs and manner Of the Mahdl5 coming? Thus In
spite ~ the Korans omission Of any reference 10
tho future "Sui.c," there were abundant legends
TO attribute 90 Mahomet he pred ct!on Of HIS ap-
ucarauce When he comes the long-eXpected
leader Is 20 convert the whole worldly force, If
ncccs-ary-aud the Moslcms have never been slow
t. resort to the sword to Mahomctnnlsn. Then
when the earth IS aiod with rShtoouaness. the end
o. the world g. 10 come. AMI the last days are TO
be preceded by eight lesser and seventeen
"rrea trr' signs.
II has been said that. though the iGea OF ey-
pcctcd Eahdi roiafcs arr rs pcrva'ci al Islam.
the various scots have differed widely n their no.
tons as 10 when aad how he should come. Conse-
qlenty There JAS been long succession OF claim
ants Co. fhr i.r.r q. 'rrly MInonctan county.
IT, P,rsiare. s,t, .t.rr f1 tnr Shitc scot. apply
the term p. Na..l d.. th..r twelfth Imam ruler.
who i ta, n.atl century disc ppeared In cave near
Bagdad an. wAose corniu. again they still look
for he Was the last '.neal descendant o. the fam
Yy OF Az This reverence for the Aides. or Imam
frsr De.
~ Islam and has gained fof them the name 81
Schisfrr tics They regard the first three Calphs
elected after the death % Mahomet As usurpcrs
and acknowledge only Al. Tho fourth Ca.ipA. cousin
and son-in-laW ~ Tho Prophet. ~ tho first Imam or
lawful hsad OF the Church. From Al ana h'S vile
Tatma, the daughter 81 Mahomet. The linc o.!
Imarns extended down 10 tho twelfth. who disap-
peared IN the BagdaA cave Not until he Is rein
carnatod according 10 the Shies will the true
Mahd appear But tae Shiltes represent about
l5pJD Mahometaus while the great body of the
orthodox the four Sunni sects numter 100000
They revere the first threc Callphs equally with
Al ana their IDEA q: Fl Mahdi instead ~ being the
Shnte conception ~ a divin" incarnation. Is that
the predicted leader Is 20 be a mortal messenger OF
God whose coming WAS clearly foretold by Ma
honet. Thus TO them any powerful leader Of the
faith. who fulns some conditions expected OF III
Mahdi and who demonstrates ability in carrying on
the holy war appeals with force.
THE DESIRE FOR POLITICAL POWER
With the fanaical devotion 20 their religion there
f. mingled also a thoroughly human and worldly de-
sire for political power. that the Mahdisis are
frequently ready waive details OF religious quad
0cation in a leader who shows that no can hold
and sway the many Wild tribes Of Asia and Africa
and use them as Instruments for attacking the
Europcan or Western non Mahomctan world The
Mahometan armies Of tho present wage warfare on
much the principles "a those which the
mud. af established
i he nndels refuse either 70 accept me religion OF
mi 20 slay them by any all Of the warIke means
AZ their command flow powerful a factor this
Sanatieal Mosem zeal has been in OF the pres
cnt century may DE appreciated ~ recalling the
horrors Of tho Indian mut!ny and the sunerings or
the British Khartoum expedition Of 1874. under Cen
The most famous Mahd OF modern times was the
MahGi OF the Soudan. Mahomet Achinet' or An'1 ,i
known best 10 the world NJ the man whose WIZ
hordes vanquishe1 and ,lew Gordon. Mahomct
Achmet was born IN 1913 at loneoia; MS arr arr,
name being Abdallah. and his mothers ANNA
These details Of the highest slgniicancc r., 20
Mussumans for their ancient traditions stated lnat
ne true Mahd should bear the name OF the Fr1pne,
and mat tho names OF his father ana mother shon,u
be the same those Of the fret Mahome ~ PR Par
cnts so far the prophecy appeared 20 De iu'i'e'
ali the names corresponding as required
AN INTELLECTUAL MAHoMET
The Young Mahomet showed marked intellectual
ability when twelve years old he knew the Koran
bv heart After tho death Of his father. his two
elder brothers, recognizing his talent, furnished MN
means 10 study under Mahometan professors. near
Khartnum After the completion OF his education ne
settled down quietly In retired place ana TOT
0fte.n vears took no active part In the affairs or
the world This period corresponding to the hiteen
wears meditation OF the Prophet and the neighDor-
ing tribes OF the faith grew To regard Nfnomrt
Achmet AZ the predicted champion OF their re-
Ipion The year 1900 Of the HeGira Qss0 which
MANY traditions had set for the final triumph or
Islam. was almost at hand. Mahomet Achmet
would then be just forty years old. ana forty was
the age at which the Prophet began his WORK All
signs favored him. and when he sent out mission
10 Ia. snpikg of the various tribes or der
wishes announcing that he was the expected
Mahdi he found thousands OF fierce ana fanaticai
mon ready 10 follow him The Soudan was TO rise,
declared the new Mahdi and Mahometan dominion
vas TO come Raouf pasha. then Governor Gcner-
al OF the Soudan AT Khartoum upon hearing OF this
new agitator. sent two hundred men to seize him IL
l. reported that this troop arrived about midnight AZ
tho Mahdl's nut. where they found n band OF
dervishes dancing and calling upon the name OF
Allah one of the officers OF the troop fired and
i.nl.d dar which the entire hand.