Almohad propaganda and its role in justifying Ibn Tumart’s claim to Mahdism The pillars of the success of the Mahdi project by Ibn Toumart (d. 524 AH/1130 AD) -Reading in the methods and their effectiveness in light of the source texts

Abstract

       This article aims to shed light on the role of Almohad propaganda in shaping the historical narrative surrounding Ibn Tumart’s claim to the Mahdi, through a critical analysis of historical sources, particularly Almohad ones. This would give a certain objectivity to the scientific presentation of such a sensitive subject in light of the existing debate on the personality of Muhammad ibn Tumart in the past and present among historians. The article also attempts to place the incidents in their correct historical context by analyzing the methods and means used to strengthen, justify and legitimize the claim of Mahdism and what resulted from it by the claimant himself and then by his followers after him. One of the most important conclusions of the research is that the political propaganda that promoted the thought of Ibn Tumart and corrected his actions resorted to misinformation, deception, lying, distortion of facts, concealment of facts and also other means that were not limited by moral considerations or legal controls in order to justify the claim of Mahdism and the belief in its promoter and absolute obedience to its teachings