ThereisanancienttraditionintheMohammedanworld，tellingofamysteriousbeing，thelastinsuccessionofthetwelveholyImams，who，untouchedbydeathandwithdrawnintotherecessesofamountain，wasdestined，attheappointtedhour，tocomeforthagainamongmen。HistitlewastheMahdi，theguide；somebelievedthathewouldbetheforerunneroftheMessiah；othersbelievedthathewouldbeChristhimself。AlreadyvariousMahdishadmadetheirappearance；severalhadbeenhighlysuccessful，andtwo，inmedievaltimes，hadfoundeddynastiesinEgypt。Butwhocouldtellwhetherailthesewerenotimpostors？MightnotthetwelfthImambestillwaiting，inmysticalconcealment，readytoemerge，atanymoment，atthebiddingofGod？ThereweresignsbywhichthetrueMahdimightberecognised——unmistakablesigns，ifonecouldbutreadthemaright。Hemustbeofthefamilyoftheprophet；hemustpossessmiraculouspowersofnocommonkind；andhispersonmustbeoverflowingwithapeculiarsanctity。Thepiousdwellersbesidethosedistantwaters，whereholymenbydintofaconstantrepetitionofoneoftheninety-ninenamesofGod，securedtheprotectionofguardianangels，andwheregroupsofdevotees，shakingtheirheadswithaviolencewhichwouldunseatthereasonoflessathleticworshippers，attainedtoanextraordinarybeatitude，heardwithaweoftheyoungpreacherwhosesaintlinesswasalmostmorethanmortalandwhosemiraclesbroughtamazementtothemind。Washenotalsoofthefamilyoftheprophet？Hehimselfhadsaidso，andwhowoulddisbelievetheholyman？Whenheappearedinperson，everydoubtwassweptaway。
Therewasastrangesplendourinhispresence，anoverpoweringpassioninthetorrentofhisspeech。Greatwasthewickednessofthepeople，andgreatwastheirpunishment！SurelytheirmiserieswereavisiblesignofthewrathoftheLord。Theyhadsinned，andthecrueltaxgatherershadcomeamongthem，andthecorruptgovernors，andalltheoppressionsoftheEgyptians。Yetthesethings，’Too，shouldhaveanend。TheLordwouldraiseuphischosendeliverer；theheartsofthepeoplewouldbepurified，andtheirenemieswouldbelaidlow。TheaccursedEgyptianwouldbedrivenfromtheland。Letthefaithfultakeheartandmakeready。
Howsoonmightnotthelong-predestinedhourstrike，whenthetwelfthImam，theguide，theMahdi，wouldrevealhimselftotheworld？’Inthathour，therighteous’Wouldtriumphandtheguiltybelaidlowforever。’SuchwastheteachingofMohammedAhmed。A
bandofenthusiasticdisciplesgatheredroundhim，eagerlywaitingfortherevelationwhichwouldcrowntheirhopes。Atlast，themomentcame。Oneevening，atAbbaIsland，takingasidetheforemostofhisfollowers，theMasterwhisperedtheportentousnews。HewastheMahdi。
TheEgyptianGovernor-GeneralatKhartoum，hearingthatareligiousmovementwasafoot，grewdisquieted，anddispatchedanemissarytoAbbaIslandtosummontheimpostortohispresence。Theemissarywascourteouslyreceived。MohammedAhmed，hesaid，mustcomeatoncetoKhartoum。’Must！’exclaimedtheMahdi，startingtohisfeet，withastrangelookinhiseyes。ThelookwassostrangethattheemissarythoughtitadvisabletocutshorttheinterviewandtoreturntoKhartoumempty-handed。