Which groups supported Muhammad Ahmad al-Mahdi's revolt against Egyptian rule?

Muhammad Ahmad al-Mahdi’s revolt against Egyptian rule was supported by a diverse coalition of groups, each motivated by their own grievances against the existing administration:

• The Ansar: These were the Mahdi’s primary followers, named after the early companions of the Prophet Muhammad. They viewed him as a divinely guided reformer who would herald an era of righteousness.12
• Holy Men (Faqihs): These religious figures had long been dissatisfied with the legalistic and perceived unappealing orthodoxy imposed by the Egyptian administration. They supported the Mahdi to purge the Sudan of what they considered faithless influences.12
• Merchants: Formerly involved in the slave trade, these individuals had suffered significant economic losses due to government campaigns against the trade. They joined the movement in hopes of reasserting their economic position.12
• Baqqarah Arabs: These cattle-herding nomads from Kordofan and Darfur served as the shock troops of the Mahdist army. They were vital to the revolution, driven by a deep hatred for government taxation and authority.12