Most of the old historians presented this lineage in the form of acceptance, in a range between mere permission, understood from the absence of objection or challenge, which is the position of moderates like Al-Marrakshi and Ibn Khaldun.

I found in the handwriting of Ali bin Abi Talib, and Ibn Khallikan says: "I found on the back of the parchment of Al-Gharib Al-Ayn, a copy of the lineage of the mentioned, so I transcribed it as I found it." And Ibn Khaldun comments when mentioning Sulayhan in the lineage, saying: "In reality, many of his descendants are among the Masamida and the people of Al-Sus..." which implies a justification for the authenticity of the prophetic lineage attributed to Ibn Tumart. He also commented in the introduction, after discussing the callers to the prophetic lineage in the Maghreb, saying: "And the first of them, with this chapter, is the Mahdi of the Almohads, who is linked to the Alawite lineage. The Mahdi was not from the lineage of leadership in his people, but rather he became their leader after his fame for knowledge and religion and the entry of the Masamida tribes into his call. He was also from the middle-class lineages among them." This indicates his conviction in this lineage.

However, some historians, especially the later ones, presented this Alawite lineage of Ibn Tumart in a way that reveals their doubt, and some even expressed their denial and rejection. Al-Dhahabi says: "He claimed to be a Hasani Alawi." And Ibn Khallikan prefaces the mention of the lineage by saying: "It is as the historians mentioned for their state, Muhammad bin Abdullah." Then he comments on it by saying: "And it was said that he claimed this noble lineage."

Al-Marrakshi, Al-Mu'jab: (16) Ibn Khallikan, Wafayat al-A'yan: (17) Ibn Khaldun, Al-'Ibar: (18) Ibn Khaldun, Al-Muqaddimah: (19) Al-Dhahabi, Tarikh al-Islam al-Kabir: (20) Ibn Abi Zar', Rawd al-Qirtas: (21)