We will first briefly discuss the concept of the Mahdi in general before Ibn Tumart presented it. The concept of the Mahdi among Muslims: The concept of the Mahdi, as known in the Islamic world, is based on the belief in an awaited man whose lineage traces back to the Prophet's family (Ahl al-Bayt). He will be a savior for the Ummah from injustice and tyranny, filling the earth with justice after it has been filled with oppression. He is called the Mahdi because God has guided him, and he has been guided. This idea had parallels in Eastern religions. The Jews, as their prophets foretold, believe in the appearance of a savior who will be sent by God to atone for humanity's sins. Many Christians believe in the second coming of Christ to save the world from human injustice and the killing of one's brother. The Mongols believe that Timur Lenk or Genghis Khan will return as promised to liberate them from the yoke of Chinese rule. We also find this concept of the awaited savior in ancient Egyptian religion, Persian mythology, and Chinese and Indian culture. Among Muslims, this idea clearly emerged during the Umayyad era. Its appearance was among the Shi'a, when Kaysan, the freedman of Ali ibn Abi Talib, claimed that Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah had not died but had gone into occultation and would return to establish justice and remove injustice and tyranny. This meaning became fundamental to all other Shi'a sects, except for the Zaydis, regarding the concept of the awaited Mahdi from the lineage of the Prophet's family, who would come to save the Ummah from the oppression of rulers. This belief became deeply ingrained in the hearts of the Shi'a until it became part of their creed. As the saying about the awaited Mahdi spread and was promoted by the Shi'a as part of their creed, a similar saying emerged among the Umayyads, known as the saying about the Sufyani. Its origin is attributed to Khalid ibn Yazid ibn... (See previous discussion on page 52). The theory of Imamate among the Twelver Shi'a: See: Ahmad Mahmoud Sobhi (53). See: Ahmad Amin, Dawn (54) and onwards. For details on the Mahdi doctrine among the Shi'a, see: Al-Kulayni, Al-Kafi, 3/236 and onwards. And Muhammad Reza Al-Muzaffar, 'Aqa'id al-Imamiyyah, 1/341 and onwards.