Not only can today’s Muslims learn about the application of the true morality in political practice that the faith preaches, but the United States and European countries can also learn from the ignorance of local customs and beliefs by the French troops in Algeria when considering intervention.

El-Kader’s family went to great lengths to cultivate a well-rounded character for a son whose father was convinced he was bound for excellence. The young Emir learned the Koran by heart, became familiar with its interpretations, was trained in horsemanship, and thus became passionate about horses. El-Kader was married at the very young age of 15 and two years later he and his father undertook the journey to Mecca to perform hajj; a journey that took them two years.

In 1830, as the Turkish influence in the region was waning, the French invaded Algiers on June 14. The city, as Kiser describes it, was ‘administered through a complex balance of communal powers. Each community lived according to its own customary laws: Turks, Moors, Kougoulis, Jew, and Christians’. It is because of this that only 6,000 Turks were able to govern an area as big as France. The French had a different tactic. To quote one witness, a French soldier, “perhaps never, even in the age of the barbarians, has there been an occupation carried out with such disorder as that of Algiers”. Soldiers pillaged the city, the Turkish administrators began departing, and the order in the city transformed into anarchy.

While under the Turks the religious aristocracy was not allowed to arm. But under the French they regained some of their political influence. When the leaders of numerous tribes demanded of Muhi al-Din, Emir’s father, to be their sultan, he immediately passed this title on to his son. Upon receiving this new title, he quickly announced Jihad and worked to unite seven different tribes to this end. In 1837, he signed a treaty with the French in which they recognized his authority over most of Algeria. After they broke this treaty, El-Kader launched his offensive and until 1847, he managed to continuously attack, defeat, and harass the French soldiers.

The Emir finally reached terms for surrender with the French in 1847 on the condition that he would be allowed a safe passage to Egypt. This came after support for him among regional tribes had declined and they had succumbed to the French instead. Despite the agreement, Abd El-Kader was captured and imprisoned in France for four years, along with other fighters and their families. Through his faith, the Emir was able to maintain his poise and patience during his years in prison. He declined any privileged treatment, and continued in his studious ways while imprisoned. It was rumored that he was reading a translation of the Bible. He had a special way with admirers and visitors, and never failed to charm them. He became so popular among the French men and women that visits to him had to be restricted to only two per week.

In the final stage of his incarceration, he was put up in a chateau in Amboise. Upon release, he moved to Bursa, and finally settled in Damascus. There he stood up for and housed a number of Christians in his home when the civil conflict between the Druze and Christians in Lebanon spread to Damascus. Abd el-Kader remained in Damascus until his death in 1883. Today, he is remembered as one of the greatest Muslim leaders, and is extolled for upholding the ideals of his faith in both peace and war. It is rare in today’s media to read about the achievements of Muslim leaders written by Western authors. But Kiser’s book, not only chooses the right example that our generation could learn from, but allows the reader to draw parallels with today’s international scene and rethink the strategies of both Muslims and Westerners.