12/10/2025
Amir 'Abd al-Qadir was from the greatest men living in his time. Just like Imam Shamil - he was a great scholar, a mujahid, and a Sufi. When the French invaded Algeria, the Amir led a jihad against one of the best equipped armies in the world - and he defeated them. For over 15 years, his warrior held the French up and stopped them taking over Algeria until he was imprisoned.
When he moved to Damascus, he witnessed a riot taking place against the Christians so he and his soldiers fought to protect them, and they made their homes shelters and places of refugees. They starved so Christians could eat. His men gave up their lives to save them. When people threatened to kill the Amir for his lack of cooperation, the Amir told his warriors - 'Protecting these Christians is just as virtuous than we fought to protect the Muslims in Algeria.' When Imam Shamil heard about this, he tearfully wrote a letter and said, 'You have put into practise the words of Rasūlullāh ﷺ by showing mercy to creation.'
