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Commander of the Faithful: The Life and Times of Emir Abd el-Kader
A rousing biography and history of world hero Abd el-Kader's resistance to the French colonization of Algeria.
"A dramatic story . . . any number of episodes could inspire novels . . . impossible to read without thinking of more current events."—The New York Times
"A valuable and timely reminder . . . of that rare figure: a bridge between East and West."—Times Literary Supplement
This well-researched and compelling biography of the Muslim warrior-saint who led the Algerian resistance to French colonization in the mid-nineteenth century sheds light on current US involvement with a global Islam. The most famous "jihadist" of his time, Abd el-Kader was known equally for his military brilliance and his moral authority. His New York Times obituary called him "one of the few great men of the century."
"A dramatic story . . . any number of episodes could inspire novels . . . impossible to read without thinking of more current events."—The New York Times
"A valuable and timely reminder . . . of that rare figure: a bridge between East and West."—Times Literary Supplement
This well-researched and compelling biography of the Muslim warrior-saint who led the Algerian resistance to French colonization in the mid-nineteenth century sheds light on current US involvement with a global Islam. The most famous "jihadist" of his time, Abd el-Kader was known equally for his military brilliance and his moral authority. His New York Times obituary called him "one of the few great men of the century."
361 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
November 20, 2008
Commander of the Faithful is narrative history built on the life of a devout Arab jihadist, Abd el-Kader, who resisted French colonization of Algeria for fifteen years (1832-1847) and then was imprisoned in France for five years, only to become a cultural hero of sorts in France (and elsewhere in Europe) and finally, exiled to Turkey and Syria for the remainder of his life, where he gained still more fame as an Islamic scholar and, ironically, protector of Christians in Damascus.
The piquancy of this book is the contrast between Abd el-Kader's religious-based nobility and French exploitation and duplicity...those years of jihad and the years of jihad we are living today...and the seemingly endless effort that must be devoted to understanding differences between "Western" worldviews and Islamic perspectives.
Through the figure of Abd el-Kader, John Kiser has excavated many of the same misunderstandings, or complete lack of understanding, that divided Europe from the Muslim world 150 years ago and continue to do so today. The fundamental crunch point, of course, is the role of religion in the rule of man--the inability of religiously inspired rulers to yield or compromise, the inability of secular rulers to understand the benefits of religious rule, and the lack of intellectual effort that underpins the communication gap between the two sides.
Abd el-Kader was a prodigy of scholarship, so his biography betrays no lack of intellectual effort, either as a leader of his people, or in dialogue with his French adversaries. His problem, however, was the spotty contact he was able to make with French soldiers and politicians able to comprehend, translate, and deal with his socio-religious requirements. Whereas his perspective was theological and tribal, the French perspective was imperial and commercial. France wanted to ingest and exploit Algeria. Abd el-Kader didn't think France had a right to seize and destroy a land given to his people by God.
That's a fairly fundamental difference, and it accounts for the fifteen year hit-and-run, slaughter or be slaughtered struggle between Abd el-Kader's Bedouin constituency and a series of French generals and armies.
As we read Kiser's book, we are in a familiar zone--the zone of jihad--but not a zone of aggressive terror so much as defensive assault, and not a zone of Muslims condemning Europeans but rather of Europeans condemning, aka civilizing, Muslims.
The broader backdrop to this tale, expertly etched in throughout the narrative, includes European pretensions to controlling pieces of the decaying Ottoman empire, a process that began in the mid 19th century and continues to this day, but the sharpest focus is on the chivalrous Abd el-Kader, and for me, the intriguing question of a personality emerging out of religious practice, a somewhat impersonal "self" defined not as Westerners define self (an amalgamation of developmental and hereditary factors) but rather as an interpretation of religious strictures hammered into shape by overarching events and daily devotional requirements.
For all the time Kiser devotes to Abd el-Kadar, he does not generate a portrait that "familiarizes" this figure, i.e., makes him "one of us." To me, that's a plus--an honest degree of respect for the hard-edged differences not only between those times and these, but also between personalities shaped by the collective ethos of religion and personalities shaped by the individual ethos of secularism.
The piquancy of this book is the contrast between Abd el-Kader's religious-based nobility and French exploitation and duplicity...those years of jihad and the years of jihad we are living today...and the seemingly endless effort that must be devoted to understanding differences between "Western" worldviews and Islamic perspectives.
Through the figure of Abd el-Kader, John Kiser has excavated many of the same misunderstandings, or complete lack of understanding, that divided Europe from the Muslim world 150 years ago and continue to do so today. The fundamental crunch point, of course, is the role of religion in the rule of man--the inability of religiously inspired rulers to yield or compromise, the inability of secular rulers to understand the benefits of religious rule, and the lack of intellectual effort that underpins the communication gap between the two sides.
Abd el-Kader was a prodigy of scholarship, so his biography betrays no lack of intellectual effort, either as a leader of his people, or in dialogue with his French adversaries. His problem, however, was the spotty contact he was able to make with French soldiers and politicians able to comprehend, translate, and deal with his socio-religious requirements. Whereas his perspective was theological and tribal, the French perspective was imperial and commercial. France wanted to ingest and exploit Algeria. Abd el-Kader didn't think France had a right to seize and destroy a land given to his people by God.
That's a fairly fundamental difference, and it accounts for the fifteen year hit-and-run, slaughter or be slaughtered struggle between Abd el-Kader's Bedouin constituency and a series of French generals and armies.
As we read Kiser's book, we are in a familiar zone--the zone of jihad--but not a zone of aggressive terror so much as defensive assault, and not a zone of Muslims condemning Europeans but rather of Europeans condemning, aka civilizing, Muslims.
The broader backdrop to this tale, expertly etched in throughout the narrative, includes European pretensions to controlling pieces of the decaying Ottoman empire, a process that began in the mid 19th century and continues to this day, but the sharpest focus is on the chivalrous Abd el-Kader, and for me, the intriguing question of a personality emerging out of religious practice, a somewhat impersonal "self" defined not as Westerners define self (an amalgamation of developmental and hereditary factors) but rather as an interpretation of religious strictures hammered into shape by overarching events and daily devotional requirements.
For all the time Kiser devotes to Abd el-Kadar, he does not generate a portrait that "familiarizes" this figure, i.e., makes him "one of us." To me, that's a plus--an honest degree of respect for the hard-edged differences not only between those times and these, but also between personalities shaped by the collective ethos of religion and personalities shaped by the individual ethos of secularism.
January 17, 2015
An enjoyable and easy introduction to an amazing life. The book is strongest in the first third, showing his upbringing and describing Algerian society in that period, and in the last third, when his exile and travels involved him in many important and unexpected events. Meeting Imam Shamil the Chechen Mujahid at the opening of the Suez Canal! The middle third is awful, for obvious reasons. Anti-colonial resistance in the 19th century only went one way. I'm not spoiling anything to tell you that the Emir didn't defeat the French.
The author is thoughtful and sympathetic toward the Emir but clearly sees his work as a sort of interfaith or intercultural rapprochement. This leads him to make much of a lone righteous Catholic priest's involvement for example, or to downplay the brutality of the French occupation. In one instance, the reader is first informed of the intentional massacre - live burial - of thousands of unarmed women and children by the French in a footnote! It is admirable that the author doesn't assign blame or seek a villain and yet "mistakes were made" is an awfully bloodless way to approach a colonial occupation that eventually took the lives of one Algerian in ten. If the goal of the book is to allow a Western, non-muslim audience to overcome their preconceptions and appreciate the Emir as the noble and righteous mujahid that he was, it succeeds. But it stops short of giving a full reckoning of the times.
The author is thoughtful and sympathetic toward the Emir but clearly sees his work as a sort of interfaith or intercultural rapprochement. This leads him to make much of a lone righteous Catholic priest's involvement for example, or to downplay the brutality of the French occupation. In one instance, the reader is first informed of the intentional massacre - live burial - of thousands of unarmed women and children by the French in a footnote! It is admirable that the author doesn't assign blame or seek a villain and yet "mistakes were made" is an awfully bloodless way to approach a colonial occupation that eventually took the lives of one Algerian in ten. If the goal of the book is to allow a Western, non-muslim audience to overcome their preconceptions and appreciate the Emir as the noble and righteous mujahid that he was, it succeeds. But it stops short of giving a full reckoning of the times.
October 19, 2015
This was a really interesting book! Emir Abd el Qadir (may God have mercy on him) really displays how the true Muslim should act when at war or peace. The book reads more like a novel than a historical textbook, which some readers may find appealing. Kiser does a great job of telling the story of this amazing man. The only problems that I would have liked to see corrected is more dates. Sometimes it was a bit hard to follow what the sequence of events were. Although he wasn't mentioned very much, the Daghestani freedom fighter, Imam Shamil (may God have mercy on him) and Emir Abd el Qadir have a lot in common. They did correspond by mail and even met when on pilgrimage to Mecca. To compare the similarities I would recommend reading Lesley Blanch's Sabres of Paradise on Imam Shamil. There is a Muslim tradition that says that every century there will be a great man that will lead the Muslims back to the right path. I truly believe that after reading this book that Abd el Qadir was that man.
February 4, 2009
An excellent book! A riveting history of a great Muslim Algerian "freedom fighter" who fought French colonialists with strength, grace, and statesmanship. In his retirement, he took up arms to protect Christians. He was the ultimate man and gained admirers from all over the world, including Abraham Lincoln, who sent him personalized handguns! If you have a chance to read this fine book, please take it!
November 23, 2025
Do you want to know where Emir Abdelkader was and what he was doing at a given time? Then this book is for you. Do you want to know anything about his personality, greater motivations, tactical considerations, reasons for choosing specific decisions, or anything about the cultural context that goes beyond tired cliches about Algerian tribal society or Muslims? Then I suggest you find a different book, although sadly you might have to learn French or Arabic.
This book is accessible enough for the average reader, true, and that reader will learn some things about Algeria that they might not have known before. But the author seems to delight in giving the reader a taste of the Orient to exoticize instead of seriously attempting to evaluate Algerian society. This was unsurprising, of course, after I read the line in the introduction beseeching American readers to read this book given its value in the wake of invading Iraq, in order to understand a society, which he claims, has changed little in the last 200 years.
If this book has any value, it’s the lessons that can be gained about France and French society at this time in history. French politics, in its various factions and richness, is somewhat fleshed out in the book, although most characters get slimmed down to basic archetypes. Still, it’s much better than the treatment of Algerians, including the supposed subject of the book. Maybe the author didn’t have great access to sources other than French ones. But he clearly lacked the historical imagination needed to construct history around the sources— which is the basic role of the historian. Otherwise, we’re just reading the sources with a bit of chronological placement, which I felt increasingly as the book went on after reading yet another letter from one French dignitary to another.
If you’re a historian of Algeria, I’m begging you, please write a book about the Emir. Readers in English deserve to know more about him than that he was just religious and serious about the Law.
I gave it two stars because I learned that the Emir lived in Turkey for a bit before continuing to Damascus.
This book is accessible enough for the average reader, true, and that reader will learn some things about Algeria that they might not have known before. But the author seems to delight in giving the reader a taste of the Orient to exoticize instead of seriously attempting to evaluate Algerian society. This was unsurprising, of course, after I read the line in the introduction beseeching American readers to read this book given its value in the wake of invading Iraq, in order to understand a society, which he claims, has changed little in the last 200 years.
If this book has any value, it’s the lessons that can be gained about France and French society at this time in history. French politics, in its various factions and richness, is somewhat fleshed out in the book, although most characters get slimmed down to basic archetypes. Still, it’s much better than the treatment of Algerians, including the supposed subject of the book. Maybe the author didn’t have great access to sources other than French ones. But he clearly lacked the historical imagination needed to construct history around the sources— which is the basic role of the historian. Otherwise, we’re just reading the sources with a bit of chronological placement, which I felt increasingly as the book went on after reading yet another letter from one French dignitary to another.
If you’re a historian of Algeria, I’m begging you, please write a book about the Emir. Readers in English deserve to know more about him than that he was just religious and serious about the Law.
I gave it two stars because I learned that the Emir lived in Turkey for a bit before continuing to Damascus.
April 14, 2011
I picked up the book because I read somewhere that a small town in Iowa called Elkader was named for the emir. Yes, Iowa. I was floored by that. After reading the biography, I realized it was perfectly sensible for the founder of Elkader to name the town as such. The emir seemed to win over the hearts and minds of all those with whom he crossed paths, particularly the French. Kiser has done us a great service by writing a popular biography (that reads almost like a novel) on the brilliant Algerian hero. It would do a great deal of good if Muslim American kids grew up with an awareness of this magnanimous and humble figure; but beyond that such a biography would help break down stereotypes, and potentially build constructive dialogue, if introduced to a mainstream audience.
June 28, 2015
Incredible leader, humanitarian, man and above all, Muslim. Emir Abd el-Kader is the living embodiment of the Prophet's teaching. His character seduced an entire nation, his magnanimity seduced his former prisoners, his bravery in battle terrified his enemies and his resilience against the face of adversary and his unnerving patience when faced by betrayal and failure is at the zenith of human perfection.
If you are a human being, read the life of Emir Abd el-Kader. Saint, Poet, Monk, Scholar, Diplomat, Warrior, King, Friend, Father, Husband, Imam, Humanitarian and above all, a shining beacon of the legacy of Muhammad peace be upon him.
May his soul find peace in the company of the beloved.
If you are a human being, read the life of Emir Abd el-Kader. Saint, Poet, Monk, Scholar, Diplomat, Warrior, King, Friend, Father, Husband, Imam, Humanitarian and above all, a shining beacon of the legacy of Muhammad peace be upon him.
May his soul find peace in the company of the beloved.
April 20, 2026
This book is not on the subject of Sufism. Yet, the most significant observation I am left with upon completing it has to do with what it means to be called a Sufi these days compared to those of the past. The understanding of what it means to be a person of tasawwuf is corrupted—hijacked, if you will—especially by some state-sponsored Neo-traditionalists. Our idea of what constitutes Sufism does not align with what people of such caliber stood for historically. Your modern-day Sufi is one who calls for focusing on the self alone. He calls for being an apolitical, anti-revolutionary quietist who delegitimizes political activism, calling instead for obedience to rulers and legitimizing the modern state by prioritizing peace over justice; all of this makes up your 21st-century Sufi.
And this brings us to the main subject of this book: Emir Abdelkader, who was a Sufi and a warrior. He was a Sufi who made peace when called for and who did not shy away from fighting when necessary. It was not just Abdelkader; if we were to look into the past, one can find many such individuals who were men of the book, men of learning, and men known for their asceticism and piety, who also wielded the sword.
The colonial period gives us a long list of names of men who donned the Sufi garb but were not afraid to fight. Imam Shamil, Ma al-Aynayn, Omar Mukhtar, and the subject of this book, Abdelkader, are just a few such names. Now, the trajectory of their struggle against the powers varied. Some, like Abdelkader, accepted peace after years of fighting. For others, like Omar Mukhtar, the fight continued—no matter the cost—until they won or were defeated.
But whichever path it was, there was honor and justice in these men, especially toward those they had at their mercy.
In a way Abdelkader was a 19th century version of Saladin for they both had much in common.
Like Saladin, the Western world has a fascination with the Emir.
Like Saladin, the Emir was known for being generous.
Like Saladin, the Emir had personal desires and ambitions for political power.
Like Saladin, the Emir waged war against fellow Muslims in the name of unification.
Like Saladin, who had a naive faith in the oaths the Crusaders gave him, the Emir was also very naive in his praise and positive perception of the Western world.
And it is this last bit that is critical to understanding why the Emir's detractors and opponents would see him as a betrayer.
After all, he did spend significant time in France—prisoner or not—and he did rub shoulders with the likes of Charles Henry Churchill, a precursor to the Zionist movement. He was also inducted into the Freemasonry brotherhood, which had members such as Voltaire, whose regard for the "Mahometan" religion was nothing short of vitriolic contempt. Other figures in his orbit included men like Richard Francis Burton, a man whose actions brought even the so-called "civilized" Western world to shame through his scandalous reputation, and women such as Jane Digby, a libertine whose past was equally filled with notoriety. Further ammunition can be found by his fiercest opponents, past or present, who feel that his having made peace with the French rather than going down with a fight was not pragmatism but the action of a traitor.
Despite all this, when it came to matters of religious rulings and commandments, he did not sugarcoat his beliefs, as can be seen in his reply when asked regarding the matter of Dhimmis post-Tanzimat reforms. Then again, it was alleged that he had five wives (going against the Quranically prescribed one to four); this could be untrue, but it is possible as well. After all, he was human—not perfect, but flawed like the rest of us.
In regards to the book, writing is much like a novel but could have been a lot shorter.
And this brings us to the main subject of this book: Emir Abdelkader, who was a Sufi and a warrior. He was a Sufi who made peace when called for and who did not shy away from fighting when necessary. It was not just Abdelkader; if we were to look into the past, one can find many such individuals who were men of the book, men of learning, and men known for their asceticism and piety, who also wielded the sword.
The colonial period gives us a long list of names of men who donned the Sufi garb but were not afraid to fight. Imam Shamil, Ma al-Aynayn, Omar Mukhtar, and the subject of this book, Abdelkader, are just a few such names. Now, the trajectory of their struggle against the powers varied. Some, like Abdelkader, accepted peace after years of fighting. For others, like Omar Mukhtar, the fight continued—no matter the cost—until they won or were defeated.
But whichever path it was, there was honor and justice in these men, especially toward those they had at their mercy.
In a way Abdelkader was a 19th century version of Saladin for they both had much in common.
Like Saladin, the Western world has a fascination with the Emir.
Like Saladin, the Emir was known for being generous.
Like Saladin, the Emir had personal desires and ambitions for political power.
Like Saladin, the Emir waged war against fellow Muslims in the name of unification.
Like Saladin, who had a naive faith in the oaths the Crusaders gave him, the Emir was also very naive in his praise and positive perception of the Western world.
And it is this last bit that is critical to understanding why the Emir's detractors and opponents would see him as a betrayer.
After all, he did spend significant time in France—prisoner or not—and he did rub shoulders with the likes of Charles Henry Churchill, a precursor to the Zionist movement. He was also inducted into the Freemasonry brotherhood, which had members such as Voltaire, whose regard for the "Mahometan" religion was nothing short of vitriolic contempt. Other figures in his orbit included men like Richard Francis Burton, a man whose actions brought even the so-called "civilized" Western world to shame through his scandalous reputation, and women such as Jane Digby, a libertine whose past was equally filled with notoriety. Further ammunition can be found by his fiercest opponents, past or present, who feel that his having made peace with the French rather than going down with a fight was not pragmatism but the action of a traitor.
Despite all this, when it came to matters of religious rulings and commandments, he did not sugarcoat his beliefs, as can be seen in his reply when asked regarding the matter of Dhimmis post-Tanzimat reforms. Then again, it was alleged that he had five wives (going against the Quranically prescribed one to four); this could be untrue, but it is possible as well. After all, he was human—not perfect, but flawed like the rest of us.
In regards to the book, writing is much like a novel but could have been a lot shorter.
August 20, 2022
Very nice and well written book about the life of emir abd el kader, the rebuilder of the modern Algerian state from an American point of view. I personally liked the book even though I found that the book focused more about the life of the emir after the 20 years of its war against the invading French troops, the author uses more the European resources rather than Arab or Muslim sources,maybe because of the availability of translation, but I generally liked the book because it showed the human side of the emir and his noble rare qualities during and after the war.
January 1, 2019
Attended author's book signing. Had the pleasure to listen to Kiser's life experience and passion for Algeria and the history of El Emir.
July 2, 2019
Pretty good book about a great man. However some of the content seems to be speculation.
900-999-geography-history
November 11, 2019965.03
November 7, 2021
Well researched and evenly laid book about a man whose life can be a guiding light for current times. Kiser has put in a lot of effort to put together an honest account of history....
December 24, 2017
A very well researched book that reads so smoothly.
Read
May 28, 2024Insanely interesting biography, very cool dude fr
September 14, 2022
This is an excellent account of Emir Abd el-Kader's life! It's clear that the book involved a great deal of research. Kiser is also a really good writer, and the book is quite an entertaining read. He focuses especially on the political aspects of Abd el-Kader's life.
If you're interested in how this book compares with two others, Emir Abd El-Kader: Hero and Saint of Islam and The Compassionate Warrior: Abd El-Kader of Algeria, then take a look at my post, where I go over the advantages and disadvantages of each of them..
If you're interested in how this book compares with two others, Emir Abd El-Kader: Hero and Saint of Islam and The Compassionate Warrior: Abd El-Kader of Algeria, then take a look at my post, where I go over the advantages and disadvantages of each of them..
May 23, 2017
A refreshing book. The Emir's life as a resistance fighter, religious scholar and a noble exile were inspiring and there are plenty of lessons to be drawn from it.
The author seemed a little too fawning at times about the Emir and occasionally "takes his side". The man however is impressive and this can be forgiven. It resonates with my general mindset and worldview so I'm not sure how much of this is just bias on my part.
The last one or two chapters of the book had some rather embarrassing typos which should have been caught by an editor.
The author seemed a little too fawning at times about the Emir and occasionally "takes his side". The man however is impressive and this can be forgiven. It resonates with my general mindset and worldview so I'm not sure how much of this is just bias on my part.
The last one or two chapters of the book had some rather embarrassing typos which should have been caught by an editor.
March 29, 2015
An informative read notwithstanding the usual orientalist assumptions and underpinnings which taint a work of this nature. The work seemingly sponsored by an interfaith initiative seems to flow in that manner and serves as a useful subtext towards understanding some prevalent trends in our own times. Authored along the lines of a novel it lends itself nicely to a gentle read based on modern history.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews