still, the picture seemed unclear to leaders farther from the fighting. was usman a "mujaddid" (reformer), or was he the "mahdi", a saviour figure who would create an ideal muslim society? in 1805 or 1806, the fulani leaders at guringa assembled a delegation to visit usman and find out. adama's pious reputation and familiarity with hausaland made him a natural fit for the mission.