Ahmad Gurey was a key contributor to the majority-Muslim control of three-quarters of Ethiopia from 1529 to 43.
Gurey's resistance against Portuguese invasions was unmatched in the region, even though Islam had entered Ethiopia in the 7th Century, influencing its nomadic tribes across the Red Sea and slowly spreading inland across the eastern and southern parts of present-day Ethiopia.
In the African continent, where slavery had been normalized by several powers, Islam gained popularity and many Muslim rulers emerged as decisive forces, challenging the old power structures. The Christian monarchy in Ethiopia was challenged by many Muslim rulers who attempted to take control of trade routes that connected the Red Sea. Gurey is remembered for his fierce leadership and the strong fight he put up against the old Ethiopian monarchy and its main backer, the Portuguese Empire.
Conquering his Muslim subjects, Gurey faced steadfast figures such as Cristovao da Gama, son of famous Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama.
Lebna Dengel, the Emperor of Ethiopia, received support from Cristovao, while the Ottoman Empire supported Gurey.
In addition to being a skilled military leader, Guray was also an Imam and served as a general in the Sanaag region of Somalia. The birthplace of Gurey was located at Fiqifulye, sanaag, which is a port town in north Somalia. His father died in a small village called Fiqifuliye. Guray's tribes were Dholbhante, Nalaye Ahmed has siblings called Adam ibn Ibrahim al Ghazi and Muuse Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al Ghazi. His real name was Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al Ghazi. He was nicknamed Gurey, which translates to 'the left-handed one' in Somali.
On April 4, after exchanging messages and staring at one another for a few days, Gama arranged his troops into an infantry square and attacked the Imam's lines, defending against successive waves of Muslim attacks with muskets and cannons. After Imam Ahmad was wounded in the leg by a chance shot, the Portuguese and their Ethiopian allies attacked the disorganized Muslims, who suffered losses but were able to reform next to the river on the distant side. The multi-ethnic population of Adal is a testament to Imam Ahmad's leadership skills, as evidenced by this achievement.
Imam Ahmad was bolstered by the arrival of new troops in the following days. Gama realized the importance of quick action, forming a square again on April 16 and directing it towards Imam Ahmad's camp. Despite their increased determination two weeks earlier, the Muslims' horses nearly broke the Portuguese square, but an opportunity explosion of gunpowder traumatized the Imam's horses, causing his army to flee in disorder. Castanhoso regrets that we didn't have enough horses to finish the victory, as the King was carried on men's shoulders in a bed, accompanied by horsemen, and they fled in random order.
The arrival of Bahr negus Yeshaq reinforced Gama's march southward, and he came within sight of him ten days later. The rainy season prevented Gama from engaging Ahmad for a third time. Gama followed Queen Sabla Wengel's recommendation and set up a winter camp in Wofla near Lake Ashenge, still in sight of his opponent.
Realizing that the success of an army was determined by its firearms, the Imam offered assistance to his fellow Muslims. According to Abbé Joachim le Grand, Imam Ahmad received 2000 musketeers from Arabia, and artillery and 900 picked men from the Ottomans to assist him. Gama's force was reduced to 300 musketeers because of injuries and other duties. After the rains ended, Imam Ahmad attacked the Portuguese camp and, using the weight of numbers, killed all but 140 of Da Gama's troops. Gama was badly wounded and captured with ten of his men. He was executed after declining an offer to save his life if he converted to Islam.[18]
The survivors and Emperor Gelawdewos were able to join forces and, drawing on the Portuguese supplies, attacked Ahmad on February 21, 1543, in the Battle of Wayna Daga, where their 9,000 troops managed to defeat the 15,000 soldiers under Imam Ahmad. Gama's death led to the mortal wounding of a Portuguese musketeer who killed the Imam.
Bati del Wambara's wife managed to escape the battlefield with a small group of Turkish soldiers, and they returned to Harar where she rallied her followers. Intent on avenging her husband's death, she married his nephew Nur ibn Mujahid on the condition that Nur would avenge Imam Ahmad's defeat.