Ibn Tumart

Muhammad ibn Tumart (b. c. 471/1078 or 474/1081, Igiliz in the Sus, Masmuda Berbers – d. 14 Ramadan 524/21 August 1130) was the religious reformer who founded the Almohad (Muwahhidun) movement. Having studied Ash'arite-Ghazalian theology in the Islamic East, he preached a rigorous doctrine of tawhid rejecting anthropomorphism and in 515/1121 proclaimed himself the Mahdi, launching war on the Almoravids. His movement was turned into an empire by his disciple Abd al-Mu'min after his death, which was concealed for a time by his inner circle. He died in Ramadan 524/1130 and was buried at Tinmel in the High Atlas; the Great Mosque built there by Abd al-Mu'min in 548/1154 became an Almohad pilgrimage sanctuary. The death year (524/1130) is undisputed. (Source: TDV Encyclopedia of Islam "İbn Tûmert" and "Mehdî b. Tûmert"; en.wikipedia "Ibn Tumart".)