Emir Abd al-Qadir and the International Red Cross

There are two busts side by side in the headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva, Switzerland. One is of Henry Dunant, the Swiss Calvinist and humanitarian activist who founded the Red Cross in 1859. The other is Emir Abd al-Qadir, the Algerian warrior, scholar, holy man whose most feared weapon in his struggle against French armies invading North Africa was his humanity. Dunant was awarded the first Nobel Peace Prize in 1864. At the time of death in 1883, Abdelkader had won the accolades of the world for his chivalry on the battlefield, restraint, moral courage and humanitarian spirit.

Horrified by witnessing the suffering of twenty thousand unattended wounded and dying soldiers on the battlefield of Solferino in 1859, Dunant became obsessed with the need for countries to develop voluntary relief societies to care for wounded soldiers. While doing business in Algiers, he learned of Emir Abd al-Qadir’s chivalrous conduct on and off the battlefield during his seventeen year struggle against a French occupation that began in 1830. After more investigation, Dunant counted him as one of the inspirational sources of what became the Geneva Code of Conduct.

The emir, he learned, initiated the first prisoner exchanges with the French, forbade decapitation of French soldiers who were wounded or surrendered on the battlefield. He insisted on respectful treatment of French prisoners, had their wounds treated and gave them the same rations as his own men.

• From https://www.johnwkiser.com/emir-abdelkader-al-jazairy_a-hero-for-humanity.php

Ways to use this book

Parents who wish to provide to their children a true story of an inspiring life would like this book. In addition, this book could be used in history classes, social science classes, and by groups interested in interfaith/inspirational literature.

This title will be of particular interest to Muslim families in general because the Emir was deeply inspired by the Sunna, the character of the Prophet of Islam.  The Emir is considered by Muslims the world over to be of a saintly status.  The Emir was buried next to one of Islam’s greatest spiritual masters, Ibn Arabi.

Interfaith organizations would be inspired by a Muslim who protected both Christians and Jews from almost certain death at the hands of an angry mob by bringing them into his home.

Films and Documentaries about the Emir Abd al-Qadir

• The Return of the Emir Abd el-Kader

  (1966): This short newsreel documents the return of the Emir’s remains to Algeria, presenting him as a heroic national figure. 

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Photos of the Emir Abd al-Qadir

(click to enlarge)

Emir Abd_Al_Qadir in Damascus

Emir Abd al-Qadr full length portrait

Emir Abd al-Qadir protecting Christians in Damascus

Recent poster portraying the Emir

Selected books and academic publications:

Ph.D Thesis: “Amir Abd al-Qadir al-Jazairy: Mystical Hermeneutics, Theology and Metaphysics in His Kitab al-Mawaqif” (click to read)

biography: Emir Abd el-Kader: Hero and Saint of Islam (Perennial Philosophy)

Biography: Commander of the Faithful: The Life and Times of Emir Abd el-Kader

Anthology of the Emir’s writing: The Spiritual Writings of Amir Abd al-Kader

Contributor Biographical Information

John Kiser (Author of the Biography upon which this book is based)

John Kiser is the author of five books, including Communist Entrepreneurs: Unknown Innovators, The Monks of Tibhirine: Faith Love and Terror in Algeria, and most recently, Commander of the Faithful: A Story of True Jihad, a biography of the Emir Abd al-Qadir that served as the source for this children’s book. Commander is the third book of an Abrahamic trilogy that began unwittingly with Stefan Zweig: Death of a Modern Man. John Kiser is a former international technology broker. He has an M.A. from Columbia University in European History and an MBA from the University of Chicago. He lives in Virginia with his family.

Tamar Miller (Author)

Tamar Miller has been an innovator and ally working on social benefit campaigns for over four decades. Her work spans a wide spectrum, including introducing contemplative practices to faculty at Harvard and MIT through the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society. At Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, she served as Director of Leadership Development and later as Executive Director of the Institute for Social and Economic Policy in the Middle East. Tamar holds a B.A. in Philosophy and Judaic Studies, a Master of Social Work from Yeshiva University, and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University. She raised three daughters in Cambridge, Massachusetts U.S.A. and is now grandmother to five little ones, whose futures inspire her pursuit of peace.

Afeefa Syeed (Author)

Afeefa Syeed is a cultural anthropologist who served as senior advisor at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). She is currently a research associate with the Cambridge Institute on Religion and Global Affairs, senior fellow at the Institute for Global Engagement, and advisory council member at the Center for Women, Faith and Leadership. Her work includes religion and development, gender inclusion, countering extremism, and integrating cultural context into development and diplomacy.

 Demi  (Illustrator)

Demi came from a long line of famous Boston artists which included both her mother and grandfather. Her great-granduncle, Richard Morris Hunt, in fact, founded and directed the American Institute of Architects – himself designing the base of the Statue of Liberty and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC.

A Fulbright Scholar, Demi is the award-winning author of over 300 bestselling children’s books, including Jesus, al-Ghazali, Rumi, Muhammed, Cyrus the Great, the Psalms of David, and Saint Francis of Assisi.  Her titles have sold over five million copies.  Gandhi and The Nightingale were named New York Times Best Illustrated Books. Major exhibitions of her work have been held in numerous museums in the US, including the Los Angeles County Museum and the Time/Life Gallery in New York City.