Emir Abdelkader

Emir Abdelkader was an Algerian Islamic Scholar, Political and Military leader who led a war against the French invaders in Algeria which he resisted for 15 years, he is also is the founder of modern Algerian state he was called the “Modern Jugurtha” by the French. In Algeria he is considered as a symbol of the Algerian resistance against the French colonialism.

Above Image (Emir Abdelkader)

Family and Origins

Origins

The family of Emir Abdelkader are the descendants from Idrisid dynasty who ruled Morocco and Al-Andalus (Spain), Abelqawi I are the ancestor of Emir Abdelkader who came from Morocco and settled in Fort of Bani Hammad near Setif after the conflict heated in Marrakech. The Family of Emir was known for knowledge and Jihad which gained respect from the people around, Muhieddine father of Abdelkader gained influence over the tribes that was located in western Algeria. Muhieddine married four wives and he had six children, Abdelkader was the fourth child and his mother Zahra daughter of Sidi Mohammed Ben Doha Al-Hassniya was the third wife of  Muhieddine.

Above Image (Fort of Bani Hammad)

Family Tree

Emir Abdelkader son of Muhieddine son of Mustafa son of Mohammed son of Mokhtar son of Abdelkader son of Ahmed Al-Mokhtar son of Ali son of Ahmed son of Abelqawi son of Abdelkader son of Ahmed son of Mohammed son of Abdelqawi son of Messaoud son of Taawus son of Yaqub son of Khaled son of Yousef son ofAhmed son of Bashar son of Mohammed son of Al-Akbar son of Abdullah son of Hassan Abelqawi son of Ahmed son of Mohammed Ben Idris Al-Asghar son of Idris son of Hassan Al-Muthana son of Hassan son of Fatmia daughter of of Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him).

Early life

Emir Abdelkader was born in the town of Mascara near Oran (western Algeria) on Tuesday 6^th September 1808, his family originally from Amazigh (Berber) tribe of Beni Ifren which they were part of the Zenata tribe, also his family are descendants from Idrisid dynasty which they are descendants of the Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him).

Above Image (Emir’s house)

Emir grew up in a religious, knowledgeable and cultural environment he was also taken a great care from his father which he tried to raise him in a way that he could be able handle all the responsibilities and to able to lead his family after his death, that is the reason the Emir Abdelkader was only taken care by his father and nobody else.

Above Image (Zawiya)

When the Emir reached at the age of four he joined the Zawiya (Religious school) of his father in Mascara, he was genius at very young age where he taught to read and write at the age of five which allowed him to study Tafsir (Interpretation of Quran) and Haddith (Teachings of the Prophet). At the age of 12 he became a Hafez (memorized whole Quran by heart), the Emir loved to sit in library of his Zawiya and to read Islamic books regularly. After two years the Emir was qualified enough to give lectures in Masjid about different Islamic jurisprudence. After when finished his religious education he father encouraged him to start his military training which was like riding horses, shooting and sword combat, also he joined horse racing competitions which was organized at that time.

Above Image (Zawiya)

When the Emir was properly grown physically and mentally his father decided to send him to Oran so he can continue his education, so he joined the school that was managed by Sidi Ahmed Ben Khoja the Emir studied in that school for two years where he learned different subjects like philosophy, numeracy, geography and politics he also studied Islamic jurisprudence deeply on the hands of Sheikh Ahmad bin Taher Batawe who was a famous scholar at his time.

The Emir returned to his home in Mascara after when he stayed in Oran for two years (1821-1823), his father Muhieddine decided to marry his son Abdelkader after when he seen his becoming a young man that is physically and mentally grown, he was arranged to marry his cousin Lalla Kheira she was a girl of beauty and good manners then the Emir decided to merry her and his wedding was organized in a Islamic way and his age was at that time 15 years old.

In spite of the wealth which the family of Abdelkader had, they did not use if for enjoyment and luxury but they lived a simple and modest life at all time. The hobbies that the Emir loved  to do when finishing his religious duties was to go to forest for hunting, he used to take three servants with him and go for hunting birds, gazelles and other wildlife animals.

House arrest

The Turkish Authority in Algeria was not comfortable with meetings that was held by the Emir’s Father Muhieddine and the talking that was going on there so they decided to put Muhieddine and his son Abdelkader under house arrest in 1821 in Oran, the Emir lived in Oran for while which made him join the Scholar Council where he learned Arabic literature, poetry and science. The Emir adapted to the city life and society he was also watching the corrupted Turkish rule so he was wondering if there are any way of reforming and developing the country.

Journey to the Arab World

After two years, the Turkish authority has allowed Muhieddine and his Abdelkader to go to perform Hajj (pilgrimage) after the intervention of some nobles like Mustafa Ben Ismail and other nobles. Muhieddine and son Abdelkader started their journey staring in 1825 from Oran then through Médéa until they reached Tunisia where they joined delegation of pilgrims.

Above Image (Mohammed Ali Pasha)

Abdelkader was 18 years old when he travelled with his father to the Arab world, then after 15 days they reached Egypt at the city of Alexandria where they rested there for few days, then they continued until they reached Cairo where they met the ruler of Egypt Mohammad Ali Pasha who was a leader that had an excellent administrative and military skills, they also had a chance to meet Egypt’s grand Islamic scholars. Abdelkader and his father Muhieddine left Egypt but they are carrying in themselves good memories during their stay in Egypt they were also impressed by the quality of life and development in different aspects of life there, not like in Algeria where the Ottomans controlled everything there by military force.

Above Image (grave of the Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him)

After when they left Egypt they headed for Mecca in order to perform Hajj and he also visited the grave of the Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him) they encountered Sheikh Shamil the Caucasian leader after that when they finished Hajj they travelled to Baghdad in Iraq where they visited many Islamic scholars and governors there they left Baghdad for Damascus then they returned back home to Algeria.

The Emir and his father Muhieddine went for hajj for the second time and during their stay in Egypt they celebrated the Prophet Mohammed’s (Peace Be Upon Him) birthday. When they returned home to Algeria the Turkish authorities has finally allowed the Emir and his father Muhieddine to return to their hometown in Mascara.

Above Image (Kaaba is a holy masjid for Muslims)

When they returned to Mascara in 1828 the people of the town were waiting in order to welcome them, so when they arrived they celebrated with people of the the town, Emir Abdelkader and father Muhieddine missed their family and people after two years of absence. The Emir was so interested in reading philosophy books like Plato, Pythagoras and Aristotle, also sometimes he used to read history books like Era of the Caliphs and Islamic empires.