the mountains of Darn⦗1⦘—called the Snow Mountain—whose approach is a steep and narrow track.

Al-Yasaʿ writes in his Chronicle: “I know of no place more impregnable than Tinmal. It lies between two mountains, and no one can reach it except a mounted man; even he must at times dismount in treacherous spots and, in other places, cross on a single plank—once that plank is removed, the road is cut off. The way spans a full day’s journey.”

Ibn Tumart’s followers then began to raid and kill; their numbers multiplied and their strength grew. He thereupon betrayed the people of Tinmal who had sheltered him, ordering his closest confidants to put them to the sword. One of those ten intimates, the jurist from Ifriqiyah, protested: “What is this? A people who honoured us and gave us lodging—shall we kill them?!”

Ibn Tumart said to his companions, “This man has doubted my infallibility—kill him.” So they killed him.

Al-Yasaʿ adds: “Everything I recount about the Masmuda I either witnessed personally or received through multiple, reliable reports. Among Ibn Tumart’s last instructions to his clan was that, if they captured any Almoravid or anyone from Tlemcen, they were to burn him alive.

“In the year 519 AH he came out one day and said, ‘You know that al-Bashir—meaning al-Wansharisi—is an illiterate man who cannot stay on a mount, yet Allah has made him your bearer of glad tidings, privy to your secrets, and a sign for you. He has memorised the Quran and learned to ride.’ He then told him, ‘Recite,’ whereupon al-Bashir completed a full recitation in four days, mounted a horse, and rode it. The people were stupefied and deemed this a sign of their own foolishness.

“Ibn Tumart then addressed them and recited: ‘so that Allah may separate the wicked from the good’ (Qur’an 8:37), and: ‘Among them are believers, but most of them are defiantly disobedient’ (Qur’an 3:110). He declared, ‘This Bashir has insight into souls; he is divinely inspired.’”