The future of the Khatmiyya Tariqa under the leadership of Sayyid Muhammad Uthman al-Mirghani: It is very clear that major political and social variables have organized the country in the last four decades, affecting the formation of the Sudanese religious and intellectual mind, often completely. It has changed many aspects of Sudanese life, altered concepts and values, and created a new generation with a different understanding, a different thought, and a different vision and perspective from previous generations. These great transformations that have encompassed Sudanese life have certainly changed familiar ways of living, strengthened some groups and weakened the influence of others. He who thought himself strong a decade ago or more may not have this feeling now, and many political, religious, and social gatherings may need many revisions. We mentioned this discussion as a prelude to our discussion about the circumstances the Khatmiyya Tariqa is currently experiencing. However, we would like to address the reality of the Khatmiyya Tariqa through our discussion of its current leaders, their roles, and their existing and hoped-for impact. Among the most prominent current leaders of the Tariqa is Sayyid Muhammad Uthman al-Mirghani.

Introduction to him: He is Muhammad Uthman bin Ali bin Muhammad Uthman (the second) bin Muhammad al-Hasan bin Muhammad Uthman (al-Khatm or the first). Sayyid Muhammad Uthman was born in [redacted] and his mother is Sayyida Fatima bint Sayyid Ja'far bin Sayyid Bakri bin Sayyid Ja'far (the owner of the famous diwan praising the Prophet, peace be upon him) bin Sayyid Muhammad Uthman (al-Khatm). He has a full sister, Sayyida Nafisa, whom Sayyid Muhammad al-Hasan (the second) bin Sayyid Ahmad bin Muhammad Uthman (the second) married. Sayyid Muhammad al-Hasan is based in Kassala and died in the eighties of the last century, and this is important. At one point, Sayyid al-Hasan (the second) became a strong competitor to the influence of Sayyid Muhammad Uthman (the younger), as will be explained later. He has a full brother, Sayyid Ahmad, who married into an Egyptian family. Sayyid Muhammad Uthman married the daughter of his maternal uncle, Sayyid Muhammad Uthman bin Ja'far bin Bakri bin Ja'far bin Muhammad Uthman al-Khatm, who is the sister of Sayyid Muhammad Sirr al-Khatm (Sharq [redacted]).