[4] 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.
[6] For two years beginning from 1886, the attempted Abyssinian Shewa expansion led by Menelik II was pushed back by Hassan's militia.
[8][9] Several nobles from neighboring states such as the brother of Abba Jifar II the ruler of the Kingdom of Jimma backed Hassan's troops.
[10] 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".
[11] It is believed his resistance was inspired by the Sudanese Mahdist State akin to that of the Talha Jafar-led Muslim revolt in Wollo.