Muhammad Ahmed ibn-Seyyid Abdullah
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Muhammad Ahmed ibn-Seyyid Abdullah (otherwise known as The Mahdi or Mohammed Ahmed) (1845 – 1885) was a Sudanese revolutionary.
Mohammed Ahmed was born in 1845, and was a distant descendant of the Prophet and was the son of an indegent boat-builder. In 1881, he declared he was "The Mahdi" or expected one. The Mahdi was foretold in the hadith. Mohammad was able to convince the Sudanese, due to their infatuation with Sufism. Sufism was introduced to Sudan by fugara, or wandering holymen.
Mohammed Ahmed used a V-shaped gap in his teeth to prove he was the Mahdi. Mohammed Ahmed gathered Ansar, or followers. His followers were organised and willing to die.
The Mahdi's followers killed British General Charles Gordon in 1885 and placed his head on a pike. The Mahdi installed the first extremist Muslim regime in Sudan, all alcohol, swearing, dancing, and jewelry was banned, and all women had to be veiled.
The Mahdi soon grew fat from date wine and had to be carried around by strong Ansar. He died shortly after, out of obescity.