• Q and A

    Questions and Answers from the Risale-i Nur Collection
  • 1

Where Does Love Derive Its Value From?

 

Love is the raison d’étre of this universe.

O my selfish soul! O worldly friend! Love is the raison d’étre of this universe. It is also the bond between all things, and the light of existence and its life. Since man is the most comprehensive fruit of existence, a love so overflowing as to invade the whole universe has been included in the heart of that fruit, which is its seed or core. One who deserves such an infinite love may therefore only be one with infinite perfection.

Therefore, O soul and friend, there are in man’s nature two faculties, one being the means of fear, the other, of love. In whichever case, that love and fear is felt for either the created or the Creator. Fear of the created is a painful affliction, and love of the created, a troublesome pain. For you fear such things or persons that they neither have mercy on you nor accept your request. If this is so, fear of the created is a painful trouble. As for love of the created, those you love either do not care for you, or as is the case with your youth and your possessions, leave you without saying farewell. Do you not see that ninety-nine percent of lovers complain of their beloved ones. Because love of the idol-like worldly beloved from the bottom of one’s heart, which is the mirror of the Eternally-Besought-of-All, is unbearable in the view of the beloved ones and therefore rejected. For man naturally rejects and repels what is unnatural and undeserved. (Animal love is out of question here.)

 

This article has been adapted from Risale- i Nur Collection.