"Do you not say, 'Oh, how I have fallen short in my duty to Allah, and indeed I was among the mockers,' or say, 'If Allah had guided me, I would have been among the righteous,' or say when they see the punishment, 'If only I had another chance, I would be among the doers of good.'" [Quran 39:56-58]. It is also known that the one who knows the greatness of Allah, and fears Him, is more deserving of being appointed by Allah to guide others to Him and to invite them to what is with Him. If he does not obey and submit in all matters, Allah and His Messenger will fight him. When my answer reaches you, and you are believers submitting to Allah, then cease the hostilities. If you have claims against them, be patient until Allah judges between you and them, and He will give everyone his due. Peace, Rabi' al-Awwal, year 1299 AH.

Gordun and Ibn al-Basseer We mentioned what happened with the Amir Ibn al-Basseer and his call to the Mahdi in the Malawiyyin and other parts of the Jazira, and that he was in a difficult situation. The government sought to arrest him.

When Gordun arrived in Khartoum, he wrote a letter to Ibn al-Basseer informing him of his recognition of the Mahdi's authority over western Sudan, and that the Jazira was outside his sphere of influence. He stated that his call to the Mahdi in those lands was contrary to the agreement, and that if he had to accept the Mahdi's sovereignty, he should leave the Jazira and join those. The letter was given to a messenger by Amir Gordun, who was originally from those who were captured by the government from the rebels.

When the letter reached Amir Ibn al-Basseer, he gathered his advisors and read the letter to them. They said in one voice that it was a kind of sorcery and a type of magic, and that we...