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The narratives of “Sahelistan” terrorism reveal a degree of historical myopia. In the case of Boko Haram, a jihadist sect in northeastern Nigeria, these narratives ignore ancient rivalries between the Borno Empire and the Sokoto Caliphate. Furthermore, narratives of modern terrorism tend to place ancient episodes of rebellion under the banner of radical Islam. Such narratives situate contemporary jihad within a global perspective while ignoring the insurgents’ local context. In response, this article deconstructs representation of the ancien peril of Mahdism or the contemporary terrorism using Rabih Fadlallah and Sheikh Hayat as examples. The author analyzes repetitions and differences between insurgencies to explore Islam’s profound changes in Borno State.