Askia Muhammad al-Hajj was the ruler of the Songhai Empire from 1582 to 1586. Despite not being Askia Daoud's choice as successor, he was elected Askia by the princes of Gao following his father's death. His older brother and rival claimant, Kurmina-fari Muhammad Benkan, was exiled to Timbuktu and later arrested. He appointed his brother al-Hadi in his place, but he soon rebelled and was also arrested. In December 1586, al-Hajj was deposed by his brothers.^[1]