Synopses & Reviews
An intriguing examination of the extraordinary–and little known meeting between St. Francis of Assisi and Islamic leader Sultan Malik Al-Kamil that has strong resonance in today's divided world.For many of us, St. Francis of Assisi is known as a poor monk and a lover of animals. However, these images are sadly incomplete, because they ignore an equally important and more challenging aspect of his life -- his unwavering commitment to seeking peace. In The Saint and the Sultan, Paul Moses recovers Francis' s message of peace through the largely forgotten story of his daring mission to end the crusades.
In 1219, as the Fifth Crusade was being fought, Francis crossed enemy lines to gain an audience with Malik al-Kamil, the Sultan of Egypt. The two talked of war and peace and faith and when Francis returned home, he proposed that his Order of the Friars Minor live peaceably among the followers of Islam–a revolutionary call at a moment when Christendom pinned its hopes for converting Muslims on the battlefield.
The Saint and the Sultan captures the lives of St. Francis and Sultan al-Kamil and illuminates the political intrigue and religious fervor of their time. In the process, it reveals a startlingly timely story of interfaith conflict, war, and the search for peace. More than simply a dramatic adventure, though it does not lack for colorful saints and sinners, loyalty and betrayal, and thrilling Crusade narrative, The Saint and the Sultan brings to life an episode of deep relevance for all who seek to find peace between the West and the Islamic world.
Winner of the 2010 Catholic Press Association Book Award for History
About the Author
Paul Moses, former Newsday city editor and senior religion writer, is a professor of journalism at Brooklyn College and the City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism. He was the lead writer on a Newsday team that won the Pulitzer Prize. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife, Maureen.
Reading Group Guide
1. Francis of Assisi was deeply affected by the trauma he suffered as a soldier and prisoner of war. How did these experiences shape his life? Can you think of people you know who became closer to God after a devastating experience?
2. It was important to Francis to obey church authorities, and yet he exposed their attachment to power and wealth by living a virtuous, simple, peaceful life. What can his example mean for us today?
3. What kind of leader was Sultan Malik al-Kamil? Did his religious faith shape the way he ruled? If so, in what ways? Does he offer any example for government leaders today?
4. In his Earlier Rule, Francis proposed two ways for his brothers to interact with Muslims: to live quietly and peaceably among them, giving witness without preaching; and to preach the Christian faith openly. Which method do you think Francis preferred? Does his example apply to us today?
5. Francis of Assisi and Sultan Malik al-Kamil lived in a time of constant warfare and violence. What can we learn today from the warfare they witnessed and their response to it?
6. Sultan al-Kamil displayed a great interest in Christianity, and Francis was very much affected by some of the Muslim religious practices he witnessed. At the same time, each was true to his own faith. What can we learn today from what is good and true in other religious traditions?
7. How can the story of the encounter between Francis of Assisi and Sultan Malik al-Kamil help today to improve relations between Christians and Muslims? Francis acted as an individual. How can individuals try to make a difference today in inter-religious relations?