Life and Times of Emir Abd El-Kader
This is a large book, 365 pages, and a bargain at the price. The author has taken great care in providing not only a chronological account but numerous details about the culture of the time in Algeria. You become not only informed about the emir's military role, but his birth, growing up, education and training by his father and as a Sufi mystic. He was a student of the theology of the great Sufi mystic Ibn 'Arabi. All of this brings the reader to a greater understanding of what the emir did, but why he did it.
This Emir lived in the 18OOs, and is known throughout Europe and the Middle East for his military prowess, but also his openness to individuals of other faiths and his incredible forgiveness of the French invaders and his willingness to protect Middle Eastern Christians and members of foreign consulates during a later, subsequent war in Damascus where he was exiled. This is not only a book about courage, but about compassion, respect for human rights and forgiveness; probably something the mystic took in his stride.
He wrote a couple of books and there are some biographical accounts of his life portrayed on You Tube, but probably in French or Arabic. There is also a book out about his spiritual philosophies called The Spiritual Writings of Amir Abd Al-Kader by Michael Chodkiewicz.
He was given honors not only by France, but by Greece, Turkey, the Vatican and received gifts of guns from the UK and US.
