Abd el-Kader

Abd El-Kader (1808-1883) was an Algerian emir and sultan, man of politics, soldier, a theologian and writer-poet.
From a very young age, he received an education in Sufism, through a study of the Koran and the main principles of the physical and moral sciences, geometry, astronomy, horse riding and the art of weapons.
After embarking on some travels, on the instructions of his father, he went to war to fight the French colonial army and returned victorious, becoming, as a consequence, a sultan. Preaching ‘Holy War’, he continued his fight against the French, before entering into negotiations with them for a ceasefire.
However after a period of peace, hostilities broke out again. Abd El-Kader was eventually imprisoned in France where he spent time in Pau and Amboise with his large family and entourage, gaining a certain notoriety and respect. He was preaching a creed of non-disruption of French operations in Algeria when he was freed in 1852 by Napoleon III.
Returning to Damascus, he taught theology at the Omeyyades Mosque.
He dedicated the end of his life to good works, the study of scientific and sacred texts and to meditation.

He is the author of “Le Livres des Haltes” (The Book of Pauses) - a profound work on the inner spiritual path.