Published: April 30, 2009

On April 21, the Middle East Studies program at Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) hosted a lecture with author and Muslim scholar John Kiser, who discussed his book about Jihad and its meaning in modern political and social structures.

Kiser’s book is entitled “Commander of the Faithful: The Life and Times of Emir Abd el-Kader, A Story of True Jihad.” The event was held in the South Lounge at (FCLC), and lasted an hour and a half. Approximately 25 students attended.

“[Jihad] has been made into a dirty word because a small percentage of the Muslim world is waging Jihad in a manner that is predominantly illegitimate among most Muslims,” Kiser said. According to Kiser, some Muslims are leaving their faith due to the actions of terrorists who interpret Jihad as violent.

Kiser said Jihad is falsely portrayed due to “Islamaphobes” and American news, which he feels thrives on violence to produce entertainment.

The Jihad has two main principles, according to Kiser: one must acquire knowledge for efficient things, and one must know God’s presence within them. He said that once we understand God’s presence within us we can more fully understand our relationship with the universe.

“The Jihad teaches that only through higher knowledge do we gain wisdom to learn how to get along with another, [and that] obedience is the guidance of all virtue,” Kiser said. By adhering to the main principles of Jihad, this knowledge can be obtained, Kiser said.

Kiser related Jihad to Christianity. He said, “Jihad is something every Christian who says the Lord’s prayer is committed to; it is striving to live in a righteous way.”

Kiser’s book focuses on a 19th century militant and moral leader, Emir Abd el-Kader, who led his troops in battle for approximately 15 years against French invaders who were attempting regain treasure stolen by Mediterranean pirates. Emir’s life, according to Kiser,  was a prime example of the importance of Jihad in a modern political environment, as Emir upheld its teachings regardless of political turmoil. Kiser said el-Kader “gained fame as he created an aura of great moral authority and proved to be a resilient warrior.”

Kiser lived in France from 1995 to 1996 and said that he encountered Muslims for the first time in 1995. He said he learned of their Jihad and wanted to study Emir as a modern-day example of its execution.

A question and answer session followed the lecture during which lawyer and Muslim scholar John Lamb argued Kiser’s point of view on international relations.

“I think [it is] unfair to blame Islamaphobians for the bad reputation of Muslims. I studied the Muslim religion in Saudi Arabia in the ‘70s….in my view, it’s the fault of self-proclaimed Jihadists who seek revenge that Muslims have a bad reputation,” Kiser said.  Kiser acknowledged he is correct but said that these principles are not found in the Qur’an and their Jihad principles are flawed.

Kiser also responded to questions about whether some view el-Kader in a negative light. He noted that there are texts that call Emir a self-proclaimed prophet who was tyrannical toward those who rejected his authority.