The prophet went to the door and intoned the Adan.
A hundred Arabs obeyed the call to prayer, and with faces turned toward Mecca, they joined in the prayer offered by the Mahdi.
When the prayer was over Mohammed Ahmed said to the soldiers:
“Go thou and tell thy master, Rauf Pasha, that it is he who must obey me.”
The captain of the Egyptian soldiers made reply:
“We have orders to take you to Khartoum, and that we shall do.”
The standard bearer unfurled his flag, and the sun shone on the crescent emblazoned on the blood-red banner of Egypt.
“Allah is with me,” said the Mahdi, devoutly. “Fight not against your Imaum.”
The soldiers laughed and called on Mohammed to surrender.
“By the great Allah and the illustrious prophet, the Mahdi will never surrender!”