Ibn Tumart

Who was Ibn Tumart?

Abu Abd Allah Muhammad Ibn Tumart was a Muslim Berber religious scholar, teacher and political leader from southern Morocco. He was the founder and spiritual leader of the Almohad movement, a puritanical reform movement launched among the Masmuda Berbers of the Atlas Mountains. Ibn Tumart launched the open revolt against the ruling Almoravids during the 1120s. After his death, his followers, the Almohads, went on to conquer much of North Africa and Spain. He is also known as El-Mahdi in reference to his prophesied redeeming.