What religious practices shaped Muhammad Ahmad al-Mahdi's beliefs?

Muhammad Ahmad al-Mahdi’s religious beliefs were primarily shaped by his transition from orthodox religious studies to a mystical interpretation of Islam within the Sufi tradition.1

Key influences on his religious development included:

• Sufi Brotherhoods: He was educated in the Sammāniyyah order, where he practiced self-denial and religious asceticism, eventually secluding himself on Abā Island to focus on his spiritual life.21
• Study of the Qur'an: He centered his faith on the Qur'an, aiming to reform Islam and return it to the pristine form practiced by the Prophet Muhammad.21
• Concept of the Mujaddid: He viewed himself as a mujaddid, or "renewer" of the faith, a role traditionally associated with the end of an Islamic century.23
• Rejection of Orthodoxy: He purposefully distanced himself from the legalistic and "unappealing" orthodoxy represented by the Egyptian ulama, whom he considered to have lapsed into heresy and unbelief.21

Ultimately, his mission was to purify Islam and destroy governments he believed defiled the faith.14