St. Francis and Islam

1. St. Francis and Islam Francis of Assisi and al-Malik al-Kamil: Christian-Islamic Dialogue in the 13th Century

2. Giotto, St. Francis and the Sultan (1297-99) Upper Church, San Francesco, Assisi

3. Al-Malik Al-Kamil Nasir Al-Din Mohammad Ibn Al-Malik Al-Adil Ibi Bakr In AH 615 (AD 1218) Sultan Al-Kamil became the sole ruler after the death of his father in battles against the crusaders. He himself was known as a valiant warrior against the crusaders. He spent 70,000 dinars to repair the fortifications of Damietta. He completed the construction of the Citadel of Cairo and transferred his administration to it. Sultan Al-Kamil was described as a just ruler whose reign was one of great security.

4. Giotto, St. Francis Before the Sultan (1320-25) Bardi Chapel, Florence

5. Giovanni di Paolo, St. Francis Before the Sultan (c. 1450) National Széchényi Library, Budapest

6. St. Francis Meets the Sultan of Egypt (1457) cod. 1266, Museo Francescano, Rome

8. Blessed Francis two years before his death kept a Lent in the place of Mount La Verna in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, & the Blessed Michael the Archangel from the Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Virgin Mary until the September Feast of Saint Michael & the hand of the Lord was laid upon him. After the vision and words of the Seraph & the impression of the Stigmata of Christ in his body he composed these praises written on the other side of this sheet & wrote them in his own hand, giving thanks to God for the kindness bestowed on him.

10. The Praises of God • Written during Retreat in September 1224 • Kept by Br. Leo, who describes it • Contains many of 99 Names of Allah • On the back, a blessing of protection

11. Al-Quddûs Al-Ahad Al-Azîz Al-Qawiyy Al-Kabîr Al-‘Aliyy Al-Muqtadir Al-Malik Al-Muhyî Mâlik-ul-mulk ... Al-Wâhid … Al-Barr … Al-Hayy Al-Wadûd Al-Wahhâb ... Al-‘Alîm You are holy Lord, only God You do wonders You are strong, You are great, You are most high You are almighty King You Holy Father King of heaven & earth You are Three and One, Lord God of gods; You are good, all good, the highest good, Lord God living and true You are love, charity You are wisdom; The Holy One The Only One The Strong, Powerful The Great The Most High The Almighty The King The Giver of Life King of the Universe … The Only One … The Benevolent … The Living The Tender … All Wise

13. Benedicaτ τe dñs + cu sτodiaττe. τ osτẽdaτ faciẽ suã τibi + misereaτ˜ τui cõverτaτ vulτữ suữ ad τe + deττibi pacẽ dñs be ne o τe dicaτ f le

15. Illustrated Arabic Chronicle, Battle with Crusaders

18. A Blessing for the Sultan? • May the Lord bless you & keep you • May He look upon you with kindness • And have mercy upon you • May He turn His countenance to you and give you peace T The Lord well may say “weep”

19. Al-Malik al-Kamil (right) made peace offers during 5th Crusade, including return of Jerusalem to Christians. Offer rejected: Christians were defeated in battle. In 1239 he agrees to 10-year peace with Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II (left), placing Jerusalem under control of the Crusader Kingdom.

20. St. Francis of Assisi walked through the Crusader battle lines near Damietta in Egypt in 1219, entering into the presence of the Kurdish ruler of Egypt, al-Malik al-Kamil, and attempted to preach to him, without any notable results. But the sultan, a son of the famous Salah al-din (Saladin), was impressed by the piety and simplicity of the poor man of Assisi and let him return in peace to his fellow Christians. The later career of al-Malik al-Kamil featured a surprising detente with the Frankish invaders of the Muslim Middle East. He even returned Jerusalem to Crusader control. It is said that he gave to the Franciscans the custody of the Christian holy places. We need a new St. Francis today. We may also need a new al-Malik al-Kamil. Patrick J. Ryan, S.J., President Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja, Nigeria (America: Nov. 26, 2001)