The Abd el-Kader Education Project

ElKader, Iowa Oneblue is developing the unique Abd el-Kader Education Project with high school teachers in the town of Elkader, Iowa, named after an Algerian Muslim leader in 1847 and widely recognized today as the George Washington of his country. High School students participate in a yearly competition to read and reflect on the life of Emir Abd el-Kader using the acclaimed new biography by John W. Kiser, Commander of the Faithful. Students with the best essays are awarded scholarships. The first place winner and his or her teacher are honored with a trip to Washington, DC for a tour of the city and a special reception courtesy of the Embassy of Algeria. The project is expanding participation in the yearly Elkader essay contest to high schools throughout Iowa, regionally and nationwide by developing teacher training workshops in collaboration with Barbara Petzen, Education Director of the Middle East Policy Council (MEPC) who leads the TeachMideast program. Abd el-Kader was honored in his day by President Abraham Lincoln, Pope Pius IX, Queen Victoria and countless non-Muslim and Muslims alike for his courage in defending Christian lives according to Islamic traditions of fighting a 'just' war despite the French occupation of his country and his exile to Syria.  An excellent article by Louis Werner, "Prince of Brotherhood", in the current issue of Saudi Aramco World provides an overview of this compelling figure with accompanying photographs, a sidebar about the yearly essay contest in Elkader, and a classroom teacher guide. Abd el-Kader is an important historical figure worthy of revival because he was a devout Muslim and follower of Islamic law who confounds western stereotypes of Muslims and is a model of exemplary leadership that is needed in the Muslim world today. His conduct during war, peace, betrayal and exile is widely considered by Muslims to represent a life that reflects the true meaning of jihad--the daily struggle to live righteously in war and peace and not succumb to the demons of anger, hatred and revenge. Abd el-Kader project in Pakistan's Madrasas A parallel effort is being led by the International Center for Religion and Diplomacy in the use of an Urdu translation of John Kiser's Commander of the Faithful by madrasa teachers and students in Pakistan. This provides an unusual opportunity for global discourse about alternative views of jihad and offers students alternative Islamic interpretations of jihad which condemn militant violence. Pakistani students are encouraged to write essays based on the book and earn scholarships toward higher education in the United States. This project is directed by Azhar Hussain, ICRD Senior Vice President for Preventive Diplomacy, who conducts madrasa teacher training workshops in Pakistan. The ICRD is currently developing curricular materials for teacher training and student education to be accessed via the internet as part of this project. Abd el-Kader project in Universities and Muslim Schools The project encourages American Muslim educators in the US to consider the example of Abd el-kader as a leader who embodied true Islamic principles in his approach to occupation and war. Oneblue engaged dozens of US Muslim school teachers at the Annual ISNA Islamic Society of North America Education Forum to provide ideas on how to integrate Commander of the Faithful into their classroom curricula and allow students to participate in a yearly essay competition. Oneblue promotes use of Commander of the Faithful in American colleges and universities, including University of Virginia, George Mason University, George Washington University, Georgetown University, Fordham University, University of Nebraska, Merrimack College, Gettysburg College, Wesley Seminary and Eastern Mennonite University, among others. For more information, please contact John Boyer: john@oneblue.org