A cap of the type worn by the people of Mecca, large and open in front.

He wears a garment of fine cloth, reaching to his left shoulder, extending beyond his knees, and a cloak of striped cloth. He wears a girdle of silk or a girdle of silk, and shoes resembling those of the people of Mecca, made in Sudan. Their wearing was specific to the Arabs and the poor, and it was called "al-shaqiyana," meaning the garment of the wretched. This name was replaced with "al-sa'idana," meaning the garment of the happy. He carries on his left arm or shoulder a long spear made of brass, covered with leather, or a spear of the type known as "khayzuran."

These are the descriptions of the Mahdi. We have mentioned them here, and we have seen many pictures said to be of him, but they are all imaginary and far from reality, as far as heaven is from earth. Therefore, we have not included a picture of him in this book, as we have not found a single one that matches any of his attributes. Likewise, all pictures of the Mahdi are also imaginary and not close to reality at all.

The Mahdi had one hundred and ten women. He called four of them "Mothers of the Believers." One of them was 'Aisha bint Idris, originally from the land of Dukkuru in Western Sudan. He married her in the mountains of Kordofan. Her previous husband was killed in battle, and she was married to Yusuf Pasha al-Shalali, whose name was Adam al-A'is. He was also married to Zaynab bint al-Di. After her husband was killed, she married the Khalifa Sharif.

The Mahdi used to say that 'Aisha bint Idris was the equal of 'Aisha bint Abi Bakr, may God be pleased with her. She bore him a daughter named Zahra', whom Ya'qub, the brother of the Mahdi, married.