Imam Hassan's state dominated modern day southern
Ethiopia in the 1800s through expansion towards all of
Hadiya,
Gurage and some parts of
Oromo territory, Islamizing most of the population by 1876. Hassan would extend invitations to
Islamic scholars from
Ifat to engage in proselytization efforts within his realm. According to Ethiopian historian
Lapiso Gedelebo, Hassan ruled the region amidst two rivers;
Omo and the
Awash. For two years beginning from 1886, the attempted Abyssinian
Shewa expansion led by
Menelik II was pushed back by Hassan's militia. Hassan had obtained the support of local
Gurage,
Wolane,
Silt'e,
Arsi Oromo and other Muslims in the region. Several nobles from neighboring states such as the brother of
Abba Jifar II the ruler of the
Kingdom of Jimma backed Hassan's troops. However Abba Jifar himself refused, replying to Hassan's request in joining him for jihad with the following:
"I am not a soldier of holy wars and in my country there are no zawaya". It is believed his resistance was inspired by the Sudanese
Mahdist State akin to that of the
Talha Jafar-led Muslim revolt in
Wollo. ==Death==