L’EMIR LETTRE DOUBLE D’UN MYSTIQUE

Abdelkader ibn Muhieddine, known as the Emir Abdelkader or Abdelkader El Djezairi, was an emblematic figure of the early struggle against the French colonial invasion. Although world-renowned for his skills as a military and political leader, he was also a poet and a brilliant orator; an Islamic scholar and a Sufi who received a traditional education in theology that he furthered later through passionate debates with the most noted masters, which cemented his religious enthusiasm as well as his erudition. The latter are unfortunately crucial aspects of his life and personality less known or acknowledged by the average readers (especially the francophone ones). Hence the relevance of our approach explained and advocated in this article, as an attempt to shed light on this unsung facet of the Emir‟s atypical journey, by delving into the roots of his mystical inclination that shaped his belief system, a mixture of incredible intellectual qualities and genuine humanistic views admired by his contemporaries, whether it be friends or opponents. In fact, Abdelkader‟s devotion both as a Sufi practitioner and a follower was such that he asked to be buried with his great master Sufi Ibn Arabi in Damascus.