represented by the violence and cruelty of the Almohads. Many historians followed the example of Ibn al-Qalanisi, especially the historians of the Marinid state and those Eastern historians who transmitted from them.

Perhaps the tricks that the Mahdi used to gain supporters and ensure their loyalty and adherence to him had some influence on some of his Almohad successors. For historians mentioned in this context that Abd al-Mu'min ibn Ali, wanting to attract admiration and support, took a bird and a lion, trained them until they became tame. The bird was taught to say, at a sign placed for it: "Victory and empowerment to Abd al-Mu'min, Commander of the Faithful." The lion was taught to wag its tail and rub against him whenever it saw him. Then Abd al-Mu'min gathered the Almohads, addressed them, urged them towards unity and solidarity, and warned them of the consequences of rebellion and discord. While he was doing this, the lion's keeper released his lion, and the bird's owner whistled for his bird. The lion wagged its tail, and the bird announced victory. The attendees were amazed by this and saw it as a miracle for Abd al-Mu'min, which increased their insight into his affairs and their steadfastness in their allegiance. One of the poets composed in this regard: "The lion roared, and the bird announced victory for you with me, when the enemy was defeated."

And if we attribute to the Mahdi's call such negative manifestations, for which we have set bad precedents, then we also attribute to it other negative manifestations, not because we set bad precedents for them, but because they were not safeguarded, and principles were not instilled in them that would serve as a shield.

Among these manifestations is the hereditary system of rule that the Almohads followed, which is considered strange to Islamic teachings, even if it is not strange to Islamic history. And if this We had previously suggested that most of these tricks were fabricated about the Mahdi. (See above, p. 171) See: Al-Salawi, Al-Istiqsa, Vol. 2, pp. 140-141.