Chapter Four The Personality of Ibn Tumart and His Impact The Personality of the Mahdi: 1 The political and ideological revolution led by the Mahdi, which unleashed a conflict that resulted in victorious supporters and defeated opponents, and ultimately led to the fall of the Almoravid state and the rise of the Almohad state, has caused historians and scholars to differ greatly in describing his qualities, evaluating his personality, and judging him. This difference ranges from contradiction to a degree close to sanctity, describing him as the infallible Imam and the Mahdi. Others have lowered him to the level of sorcery, describing him as a "lying charlatan," an unjust oppressor who prevailed by falsehood, a king who ruled by injustice and trickery. Between these extremes are degrees of descriptions and judgments closer to moderation and further from bias.

The difference in evaluating the Mahdi's personality is not due to differing stances on him. Rather, some of these elements are shrouded in such ambiguity that the scholar finds himself facing a personality that resembles a puzzle. If he tries to diminish her, he finds aspects worthy of appreciation. And if he wants to elevate her, some shortcomings and suspicions appear to him. We will try in what follows to reveal the true features of this personality, starting from an evaluation of his words and actions. We mention among these, in particular, Al-Baydaq, Ibn al-Qattan, and the author of Sharh A'azz ma Yutlab.

This phrase became used in the Almohad state at the official level in the state's letters and its diwans.

In this direction, we can mention Ibn al-Athir and Ibn Abi Sultan al-Harawi.

131