Early Years
Imam Ahmad was born around 1507 in Zeila or in the district of Hubat located between Zeila and Harar, around the current town of Fugnan Bira. Ahmed initially lived in Harar during the reign of Sultan Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad but due to the Sultans unislamic rule, he left to Hubat. He married Bati del Wambara, the daughter of Mahfuz, governor of Zeila. When Mahfuz was killed returning from a campaign against the Ethiopian emperor Lebna Dengel in 1517, the Adal sultanate lapsed into anarchy for several years, until Imam Ahmad killed the last of the contenders for power and took control of Harar.
In retaliation for an attack on Adal the previous year by the Ethiopian general Degalhan, Imam Ahmad invaded Ethiopia in 1529. Although his troops were fearful of their opponents and attempted to desert upon news that the Ethiopian army was approaching, Imam Ahmad maintained the discipline of most of his men, defeating Emperor Lebna Dengel at Shimbra Kure that March.
Read more about this topic: Ahmad Ibn Ibrihim Al-Ghazi
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