In a town like Elkader, a small, predominantly white community, it would seem unlikely that anyone would grow up learning about cultures and religions from the opposite end of the globe. However, thanks to Timothy Davis, this statement can be, and in my case, is true. In John Kiser's book, Commander of the Faithful, Kiser shows us how Davis' choice to name Elkader after an Arab gave his settlement a deep connection to an entirely different civilization. This connection serves as a channel through which we can learn about and better understand their culture and religion, even though we are completely separated geographically. It is necessary to expand this connection and learn from it because people nowadays have a strong stereotype of Muslims, even if they know very little about them. By learning about Abd el-Kader and his cultural tolerance, humanitarian nature and spiritual strength we can understand more about his people as a whole, rather than assuming that they are all like the terrorists who get the publicity. Abd el-Kader grew up treasuring knowledge and spirituality. By the age of 8 he had memorized the Quran and was considered more intelligent than most members of his tribe. In 1825, when he was only 17 years old, he and his father set out on the pilgrimage to Mecca. It was during this trip that Abd el-Kader began to show signs of his humanitarian spirit. In return for a question about his lineage he replied, "Do not ask about a man's genealogy, but about his character, his life and his deeds. Drink the water. If it is pure, so is the source," yet he was known to be a descendant of Abraham. This shows that even at a young age he was a very wise individual. It was evident early on that Abd el-Kader had the character of a leader and the morals of a... middle of paper.... ...had been his enemies because of the people who had been his allies. I truly believe it is a gift from the desert. Abd el-Kader's life as a whole can be simplified into one phrase: true jihad. His life, his goals, and his actions throughout life were all focused on that one purpose: to fight for the cause of God. He believed in the word of God and the law of God and held to it, but he did not let himself consume. Along with his intense spirituality was his strong humanitarian morality. He believed in the preservation of human life and felt the need to help all those in difficulty without discrimination. He held to this morality so strongly that he risked his own life to save those who had once been his enemies. I think today can be, and should be, a symbol of hope: the hope that there will continue to be people like him whose strong sense of morality and justice continues to do great things..