Role of Ibn Tumart's Charismatic Leadership in Almohad's Victory

Muhammad Ibn Tumart (sixth AH century), as a faqih, was recognized as the leader of oppositionists by staying at mosques, teaching followers and saying that Almoravids are inconsiderate in executing Islamic laws (sharia). Using his personal characteristics that was based on his charismatic leadership, he caused changes in follower's values and acquired their cooperation. He then created the required background and basis for claiming to be Mahdi and representing the myth of Moroco's society and strengthened his charismatic character and made himself more similar to the myth by symbolization, performing semi-miracles, claiming to be from Ali's dynasty and to be impeccable. After Almohad movement's victory, because of contrasts between charismatic authority and traditional and rational authority, it was forced to create some institutions to deal with these. Although these institutions strengthened sense of belonging to group in their followers, but it put charisma in downhill of becoming something regular and usual and finally led to its destruction. This article is aiming to examine Muhammad Ibn Tumart's charismatic leadership and how it became something regular by analyzing Max Weber and other theorist's theories about charismatic authority.