Mahdi

American  

[mah-dee] / ˈmɑ di /

noun

PLURAL

Mahdis

1. the Muslim messiah, an expected spiritual and temporal ruler destined to establish a reign of righteousness throughout the world.

2. any of various claimants to this role, especially Muhammad Ahmed, who established an independent government in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan that lasted until 1898.

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Mahdi British  

/ ˈmɑːdɪ /

noun

1. the title assumed by Mohammed Ahmed. ?1843–85, Sudanese military leader, who led a revolt against Egypt (1881) and captured Khartoum (1885)

2. Islam any of a number of Muslim messiahs expected to convert all mankind to Islam

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Other Word Forms

• Mahdism noun
• Mahdist noun

Etymology

Origin of Mahdi

First recorded in 1790–1800, Mahdi is from the Arabic word mahdīy he who is guided

Example Sentences

Mahdi also said police had closed 137 shops and grocers and 18 restaurants for repeated violations of the religious dress code, and had sent out messages to some 3,500 businesses warning them to comply.

From Washington Post

He says American troops destroyed the tombs as they searched for weapons hidden by the Mahdi Army, a Shiite militia led by Moqtada al-Sadr.

From Washington Post

It’s hard not to cry when remembering the final conversation I had with my Uncle Mahdi before he died outside his homeland.

From Los Angeles Times

Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis also is killed in the attack, bringing tensions between the U.S. and Iraq to a fever pitch, and later fragmenting rival Shiite camps.

From Seattle Times

The forum was hosted by Mahdi Leroy J. Thorpe Jr., a social worker who in 1988 formed a Shaw neighborhood watch patrol called the Red Hats.

From Washington Post