{"id":39899,"date":"2025-01-02T05:16:05","date_gmt":"2025-01-02T02:16:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sudanevents.com\/?p=39899"},"modified":"2025-01-02T05:16:05","modified_gmt":"2025-01-02T02:16:05","slug":"imam-abdulrahman-al-mahdi-a-nation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sudanevents.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/02\/imam-abdulrahman-al-mahdi-a-nation\/","title":{"rendered":"Imam Abdulrahman Al-Mahdi: A Nation"},"content":{"rendered":"
By Professor Ezzeldin Omar Musa<\/strong><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
It was customary for the “Father of the Press,” Ahmed Youssef Hashim, to host social gatherings in his new house in Khartoum 2\u2014a newly established upscale neighborhood\u2014during the early 1950s until his passing in 1958. These gatherings were akin to a salon attended by a select group of intellectuals, literary figures, and politicians, though not on a regular basis. Among those I recall attending were Al-Mahjoub, Haleem, Al-Mardi, and Dawood Abdul Latif. Occasionally, Abdulrahman Mukhtar would join with updates from the newspapers, before his marriage to Umm Salama\u2014Ahmed Youssef\u2019s niece\u2014and prior to founding Al-Sahafa newspaper. These sessions were intellectual and political forums that, through the influence of some attendees, shaped or supported significant events.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
As a fortunate youth within the family, I had the privilege of witnessing some of these sessions. This was due to my relation to Aba Al-Qasim Hashim, Ahmed Youssef\u2019s nephew through his modest aunt Salha Mohammed Musa, and because my father, Ahmed Mohammed Musa, was Ahmed Youssef’s cousin. I was attending Khartoum Elementary School (now the Baraka Tower), separated from Ahmed\u2019s newspaper office, New Sudan, by the expanse of Ibn Jazeera Square. Whenever there were guests, we would accompany him. This continued as much as circumstances allowed until his passing\u2014may he rest in peace.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Many memories remain from those days, and I begin with one: the day leader Al-Azhari informed Parliament of his intention to declare Sudan\u2019s independence the following day. I vividly recall that day. I was 19 years old, and many people flocked to Ahmed Youssef\u2019s house, including regular attendees of the salon from Parliament and its surroundings. Anxiety and tension filled the air regarding the events that would unfold the next day if national consensus wasn\u2019t secured for Al-Azhari\u2019s declaration of independence in Parliament. Fears loomed heavily over Khartoum.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Speculation centered around the possibility of the Egyptians opposing the move, potentially fracturing the National Unionist Party. The British feared the emergence of an African leadership, especially with the rise of Nasser, Nkrumah, Sekou Tour\u00e9, and Nyerere. Concerns grew about their possible manipulation of the Independent Bloc (Al-Ummah Party) or the southern parties. The general belief was that the Independent Bloc held the key to the outcome. If they supported the proposal, success would follow. If not, those apprehensive of Al-Azhari\u2019s leadership might exploit the situation, potentially sparking unrest.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
That afternoon, a group\u2014including Al-Mahjoub and Sheikh Al-Mardi, two of the most prominent politicians of the era\u2014rushed to prevent any crisis. The atmosphere in Khartoum that evening was tense and fearful. However, by sunset, Ahmed Youssef and his companions returned with their spirits lifted, their faces glowing, and smiles spreading across their lips. They shared the news: the great Imam Abdulrahman Al-Mahdi had risen to the occasion, affirming his commitment to the project of independence, regardless of who declared it. He dispatched Al-Sadiq, Mamoun Sharif, and Al-Nugdallah to coordinate the announcement with Al-Azhari, emphasizing that the critical matter was the declaration itself, not who made it.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Years later, in 1980, Mahmoud Al-Fadli recounted the same story to me. At the time, Al-Fadli was aligned with Al-Azhari and described the prevailing anxiety, fears of conflict, and the collective sigh of relief when the Imam\u2019s delegation brought the good news. Hearts were reassured, confidence restored, and joy spread throughout Khartoum as the city awaited the dawn of a new era.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
The following day, the nation stood united because the Imam, a towering figure, embodied the essence of unity. He was Sudan, and Sudan was him. It\u2019s no surprise that he wept as Sudan\u2019s flag was raised, with tears streaming down his face.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
This \u201cnation\u201d of a man was Sudan in every sense: in building the Ansar sect, symbolized by the crescent of the north embracing the spear of the south; in his political party, which was open to all Sudanese striving for independence under the motto, \u201cEvery Ansari is a member of the Ummah Party, but not every member of the Ummah Party is an Ansari.\u201d He attracted countless educated Sudanese, both from the Ansar and beyond.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Moreover, this Sudanese \u201cnation\u201d opened his home and heart to alleviate people\u2019s hardships, earning the saying: \u201cAbu Aluwa\u2019s Fatiha is handled by Abu Abdu.\u201d His home became a sanctuary for writers, poets, artists, and intellectuals, especially during his annual birthday celebration on the first day of Eid Al-Fitr. Al-Mahjoub\u2019s ode to him, \u201cThe feast has arrived; where is the joy and celebration?\u201d, remains a testament to the values embodied by the Imam\u2014the \u201cnation\u201d of Sudan.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
So, when will we study this legacy? Or are we condemned to diminish our great figures\u2014our \u201cSudan\u201d and our \u201cnations\u201d\u2014into polarizing, destructive binaries? How far we have fallen, to the point where even shame despises us.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
How magnificent you are, O Imam, O towering figure, O human, O symbol, O Sudan, O nation! Embracing you lifted us to the stars, inspiring us to strive toward greatness.<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Professor Ezzeldin Omar Musa It was customary for the “Father of the Press,” Ahmed Youssef Hashim, to host social gatherings in his new house in Khartoum 2\u2014a newly established upscale neighborhood\u2014during the early 1950s until his passing in 1958. These gatherings were akin to a salon attended by a select group of intellectuals, literary …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":39900,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39899","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opinion"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sudanevents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39899","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sudanevents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sudanevents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sudanevents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sudanevents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39899"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sudanevents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39899\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":39901,"href":"https:\/\/sudanevents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39899\/revisions\/39901"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sudanevents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/39900"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sudanevents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39899"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sudanevents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39899"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sudanevents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39899"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}