Egyptian Sudan 12 Muhammad Ahmad and the Revolution As for Ahmad al-Mahdi, he was the son of a carpenter who studied religious sciences in Khartoum and followed the Sammaniyya order. He resided with his carpenter brothers on Abba Island, where his students and followers increased. In the year 81 [AH, likely 1881 CE], he proclaimed the Mahdiyya, and urged his companions to rise with him to support religion and wage jihad in the path of God, as many do. When news of him reached Raouf Pasha, the Governor of Sudan, he sent to him asking about his proclamations and claims. He replied that he was the awaited Mahdi. So, Muhammad Bey Abu al-Su'ud, one of his aides, was dispatched to him. He met him in Qara and asked him about his claim. He replied: "I am the Mahdi, I am the one in authority." Abu al-Su'ud returned to Raouf Pasha and recounted the story of Muhammad Ahmad, so he sent two battalions to arrest him. Muhammad Ahmad had gathered his followers. When the soldiers descended to the riverbank with infantry, they were not on guard, and the Mahdi feared the consequences, so he fled with those who were with him to Jabal Qadir. Muhammad Sayyid Pasha, the Governor of Kordofan, intended to pursue Muhammad Ahmad, but Raouf Pasha prevented him and sent him to Abba Island to investigate the killing of the soldiers. When Muhammad Ahmad settled in Jabal Qadir, he asked the Governor of Kordofan, Rashid Bey, to march against him. Raouf Pasha refused him, but he went with four hundred soldiers. It is said that upon his arrival at the Mahdi's headquarters, he gathered eight thousand men and attacked Rashid Bey, killing him and capturing his men, and destroying the rest. The government dismissed Raouf Pasha and appointed Abd al-Qadir Pasha. It is said that upon the arrival of Abd al-Qadir Pasha, Jikar, the acting governor, prepared a force led by Yusuf Pasha al-Salimi. When Muhammad Ahmad met Yusuf Pasha with an army of 15,000, he defeated and killed him (May 29, 1882). When news of his victory spread, people feared him and began to migrate to him. The revolution extended to Sennar and its governor, Hussein Pasha Shukri, and from there towards the Blue Nile. On May 11, 1882, Abd al-Qadir Pasha arrived in Khartoum and began fortifying it.