His ship to safety. Sir Gawain Bell, who was the deputy to the last British administrative secretary for the government of Sudan, described his character: he was witty, light-hearted, and friendly, though he was introverted. He rarely left his home and spoke little. When he did speak, it was about history, the lives of men, and the economic conditions of the Middle East. He spoke with knowledge and extensive information, and he often repeated proverbs and religious incantations. Professor Hassan Negila also spoke of Sayyid Ali, saying: "While we were sitting before Sir Sayyid Ali Al-Mirghani, everyone stood up to greet him with respect and reverence. Each of those present approached him, kissing his hand, and he sat beside me with dignity and awe. While he was sitting, the notables of Sudan approached him, bowing and kissing the back and palm of his hand, begging for his satisfaction and good prayers. They also kissed the hand of his brother, Sayyid Ahmed. I bear witness that I have never seen faith like that which I saw imprinted on the faces of these people, evident in their gazes and manifest in all their movements. When we approached them with haste, devotion, and reverence, they kissed Sayyid Ali's hand and looked with a humble glance full of faith, reverence, hope for satisfaction, and good prayers. Among these notables were young men showing signs of strength and self-confidence, and among them were middle-aged men and elders whose beards showed streaks of white amidst black. Each of these young men and elders had authority over the tribes and clans who were loyal to them. Sayyid Ali was thin, short in stature, with delicate facial features. His eyes, with their intense sparkle, revealed much intelligence and cunning. He had a thin, delicate-lipped mouth, with a perpetual smile that made his attractive face always radiant. I have not seen any of the notables of Sudan with a body like his, even though he was the greatest in status. Professor Abul Hassan Ali Al-Hasani Al-Nadwi visited him in 1950 and was impressed by him and his views on preaching and guidance, and the influence of the Khatmiyya in preserving the religious orientation of youth. In reality, Sayyid Ali possessed many qualities that made him more qualified than others to lead the Khatmiyya order, which he later pushed into the arena of political life. It seems that this was a reason for the dispute between him and the sons of Sayyid Ahmed, as we will explain later. If we return to the dispute that occurred between the sons of Sayyid Muhammad Uthman (the closest), Sayyid Ahmed and Sayyid Ali, we can say that it was a dispute over influence. Ahmed Suleiman: Previous source, pages 781, 780. Hassan Negila: Glimpses of Sudanese Society, p. 205. Abul Hassan Ali Al-Hasani Al-Nadwi: Memoirs of a Traveler in the Arab East, first edition (Maktabat Wahba), p. 150. Printers: Al-Risalah Printing Press.