How Did I Not Know This Story?

Via Making Light, the extraordinary story of Abd el-Kadar, 19th century warrior, hero, freedom fighter, a man of extraordinary courage and faith. He fought against the French occupation of his land, forging a nation out of the disparate tribes and faiths there, treating his prisoners a decency that was remarkable for the times (or ours). He became an international celebrity for it, and years later, when Christians were being massacred in Damascus el-Kader was responsible for saving something like 10,000 of them, giving them sanctuary in his own house, then helping them to get away. He was given the Legion of Honor by the same French who had been his mortal enemies years before. He did all this because it was the right thing to do, because his faith in Allah told him that this was how men treated each other.

This is one of those stories of history that makes you wonder what else you don't know about your fellow men, past, present, and future. May his memory be a blessing to all the generations to come. This was a great man.