Emir Abd el-Kader is a Spiritual Enlightenment Leader

Gordon Meriwether, Editorial Columnist/meriwether3@verizon.net
Published: October 1, 2009

I was born a slow reader, always struggling to keep up in classes and retain the content of the assigned material. I compensated for this disability by using various tools such as highlighting, annotating and even transcribing key passages for retention and reference. I managed to push my way through college, the Navy, and graduate school with this technique.

One would think I wouldn’t enjoy reading as an adult after all these years of this self imposed duress.

To the contrary, I love to read. My slow meticulous reading process allows me to enjoy every word as a literary tapestry carefully crafted by a skilled writer eager to challenge my thought process. I am entertained, re-reading paragraph after paragraph of the work to make sure I understand the content, recording my thoughts and insights, highlighting the key passages for future reference.

And when I find an author who has put a similar effort to challenge and enlighten the reader, he or she earns my immediate respect and endorsement.

Such is a book by John Kiser that I briefly mentioned in an earlier editorial I titled The Emir of Sperryville. I bought and read his book, “Commander of the Faithful: The Life and Times of Emir Abd el-Kader” (Monkfish Book Publishing, 11/08). To those who know a great deal about Islam and those who know little other than what he or she has been told in the media, this book is a must read.

The Emir Abd el-Kader would challenge the Dali Lama for pure spiritual enlightenment.

I was intrigued by not only the way this Algerian prince militarily battled the invading French to their knees in the early 1800’s, but also his unwavering commitment to the humanity of his fellow man, including his enemy.

To those who are chasing spiritual enlightenment, whether you are Christian, Jew, or Muslim, following this man of God through his life of dedication and commitment is a testimony you can’t afford to miss.

If you just want an adventure story or if you want to be challenged to think about the truths of our one God, about what we have in common as peoples of faith, about the intellectual common ground of living together, about the good soul inherent to all of God’s people…this is your book.

Finishing “Commander of the Faithful,” I threw myself into his earlier work “The Monks of Tibhirine: Faith, Love, and Terror in Algeria” (St. Martins Press, 2/02), which describes the life, loves and death of Trappist Monks living high in the Atlas Mountains of Algeria in the 90’s. I cannot begin to describe how this book moved me with the power of their faith. Another must read for seekers of the truth.

John Kiser is coming to Camelot for a discussion of his book, “Commander of the Faithful,” (and maybe a bit on “The Monks”) at the Culpeper County Library on Sunday, Oct. 4 at 2 p.m.

My own experience with John has demonstrated not only his total emersion into his subjects, but also his belief that these great men actually live through his work.

Through John they tell their story to a world that has lost the inherent tolerance that our one God has promoted and demanded.

I invite you all to join me on Sunday to experience the adventure of a lifetime. See you at the library…

Meriwether’s column runs every other Thursday.