NASSER EDDINE (Alias:Étienne Dinet).

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*INTRODUCTION 
*NASSER EDDINE DINET (Alias: Etienne Dinet) , Having the great privilege  about a decade ago of visiting both his Museum and Mausoleum at the city of BOU SAADA 210 kms south-east of Algeria. 

Born in Paris in 1861 Alphonso-Étienne Dinet studied in some of the finest art schools of France. On finishing his formal military service he dedicated his time to his art and in 1884 had the opportunity to travel to the south of Algeria. And so begins his lifelong love of Algeria and his eventual conversion to Islam. Over the next few years he returned to Algeria many times and takes to learning Arabic through a course of study in the UK. His work, which is of the Impressionist school, is displayed across various Parisian galleries and journals. He is most famous for his studies of Algerian and Islamic culture and a real vividness can be seen.   

Meddah Aveugle Chantant L’epopee du Prophete (Blind Madeeh singing Journey of the Prophet)

It was his 1902 work L’Arabe en prière (The Arab in prayer) that initiated the process that lead to his conversion to Islam in 1913 which incidentally causes him to lose some close friends . He subsequently adopts the name Nasr’Eddine Dinet – Defender of the Deen. As he was spending a large part of every year in Algeria, he purchased a property in 1904 which became his permanent base.  During the war years he became politically active and strove to improve conditions for the Algerians who were fighting on the side of their colonialists  France.  He succeeds but not after much criticism of the ruling party yet his efforts lead to the founding of a new hospital. 

Arabs in Prayer

Because of his command of Arabic he was able to research and publish a literary work entitled ‘Life of Mohammed The Prophet of Islam’ which is dedicated to the Muslims who had given their lives during the war. The dedication reads ‘This work is dedicated by the author-painter and his Arab collaborator to the memory of the valiant Moslem soldiers particularly those of France and England who, in the sacred cause of right, justice and humanity have piously sacrificed their lives in the Great War of the Nations.

In April 1929 he undertakes his only Hajj to the House and completes a book on his journey “Pilgrimage to the House of the Holy Allah”. It was only a few more months after his return that he was to pass away due to heart failure and be buried in the Algiers mausoleum he built for his family. The love and respect that the local people had for him was evident when over 5000 came to his burial.

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 NASSER EDDINE 'S MUSEUM AT BOU SAADA- ALGERIA