Bediuzzaman Said Nursi’s Tajdid: In The Idea of Islamic Unity

 

By Necip Avcı

 

Bediuzzaman S. Nursi is one of the most important mujaddidin and scholars of the Islamic World until today, Islamic History recorded. He has succeeded to make tajdid in many fields to promote a good understanding of the Islamic teachings, through the Risale-i Nor Collection and its followers. He has realized tajdid and brought a new and fast acceleration to the development of the Islamic Society. These fields can be sum up as follows: tajdid in Faith, tajdid in social life, tajdid in the educational system, and also tajdid in the understanding of the concepts of brotherhood and the Islamic Union. These different fields of tajdid which sheikh Nursi has worked hard to develop are all parts of the same idea, and targets to awaken a sleeping civilization. This research paper will shed the light on the millstones of the idea of a new Islamic Union according to the understanding of the Imam Bediuzzaman S. Nursi.

‘’ The life is result of Unity (Vahdet) and Union (İttihad). Whenever this compound-like union is separated, the spiritual life also disrupts.’’ Our body is the closest and clearest example of this. As it survives by union of lots of organs, which have been created by more than three hundred trillions of cells, function together. Like this, today existence of all of us can be showed as evidence that we understand and accept the importance of union not only for a peaceful life but also for the happiness in both life (For Earth and For Hereafter).

Imam Bediuzzaman believes that the Islamic Union cannot be achieved by power, force and blood; in contrast, the union should start from the union of the smallest circle to the largest circle that individuals deal with in their personal and social life.

It can be said that one of the most important Icthihad and invention that Imam Nursi achieved is logically proofing and expressing of the circles that mankind has relations with them. After asked to him a question, in his reply, he clarified these circles like following:

‘’Life's capital is very little and the work to be done is much. There are spheres one within the other like concentric circles, from the sphere of man's heart and stomach, and that of his home and body, and that of the quarter in which he lives and his town, and his country and land, and the globe and mankind, to the spheres of animate beings and the world.

Each person may have duties in each of those spheres, but the important and permanent of these are those in the smallest sphere.’’ These sentences include passwords of a big revolution in the concept/idea of unity, especially Islamic Unity. Because, until these expressions it was believed that, Islamic unity can be realized by political agreement of Islamic governments. It was thought as ‘’Muslims should unite in on align against their common enemies’’ (Ayatullah Murtaza Mutahhari)

For the pervious ages, when swords were more powerful than WORDs, it may be possible, this idea may be valid.

However, after invention and developments of the too technologic tools, and over world spread different ideas and ideologies, if want to be successful to reach our targets, we have to know requirements of the ages this global world. A real unity is possible, firstly, persuading of Muslims’ hearts and minds to Islamic Union, then their bodies and environments and so on... This will give result of nation’s unity, Insha’Allah. Imam Nursi continues to his answer:

‘’While his least important and temporary duties may be in the largest sphere. According to this analogy, the largest and smallest are in inverse proportion. But because of the attractiveness of the largest sphere, it causes the person to neglect his important, necessary duties in the small sphere, busying him with unnecessary, trivial, peripheral matters. It destroys the capital of his life for nothing. It kills his precious life on worthless things. Sometimes, the one following curiously the struggles of the war comes to earnestly support one side. He looks favourably on their tyranny, and becomes a partner in it. (Nursi, B. S, The Rays, 223)

Also, Imam Nursi states in these sentences basic reasons of the biggest problem that because of not using of given abilities and feelings in true places, sprits and hearts stay in darkness. This results a community whose members are less sensitive in faith and religion, but more sensitive with material world. Thus they do not feel their need to compose a unity and help to other needy people.

Theoretically, previous ideas are logical and applicable, they sound nice. However, we have a problem that; How? What should be methods to apply these ideas to society?

To begin with, we should not forget that it is not age force, blood and fight anymore.

The tools to establish such a Union is strong belief, brotherhood and the cooperation between Islamic and Modern sciences. The methods to reach these goals are the expression the realities of belief and the Qur’an, persuasion, compassion and peace. The soul to keep the previous steps alive and valid is sincerity. In my opinion, in the light of Risale-i Nour, which is a valid tafseer of the Qur’an, we have to apply five steps to have a common and permanent unity idea in social level, not only political.

Firstly, in this age the most important issues are that the attacks are directly to the pillars of the belief by philosophy and science, according to the Supreme Sign Risale. The science, today we deal with base on materialist and denying the pillars of belief. Thus, this is more destructive because in old ages, denying conducted from illiteracy and belief was strong. However, today it comes from science and protection of belief is more difficult than past. To overcome this enemy, the realities of belief have to be proofed logically also. This age does not accept performing religious duties forcedly. It is time of persuade. Also this is easy way if we understand the messages of the Qur’an and apply them. As one of the main reasons of the creation of the universe is that. This universe clearly shows the manifestations of the Creator. By this way each reality of science can be used to understand The Creator by its name. Then nothing can block his HUZUR. And everything will be served to announce His Beautiful names.

Secondly, after elevating from pillars of belief, it is time of give medicines according to youth’s psychology and nature. To be successful on this, three steps should be covered and applied carefully (This can be realized by only being voluntary and gaining the sake of Allah, İhlas)

To begin with, as it is proofed in The Staff of Moses clearly, first step should be acting with MERCY. This means being in consciousness of the each young need these realities of belief. And for their both pleasure, someone should warn them and tell them the pillars of belief by a smooth language. There should not be any differences between any young individual, although s/he is in very bad conditions, spiritually.

Moreover, we should know a reality, logically expressed in A Guide for Youth, to cure or help to individual youth. This reality is, in these ages emotions are more dominant than the mind. Thus they can select a small/short present pleasure instead of huge ones in future. To overcome this, proofing of existence of Hell and Heaven may not be enough.

Because soul of young may say Allah is Gafur-ur Rahim and the Hell and the Heaven is far away and then may continue to stay in sins. To overcome, it should proof and showed that in each sin there is much more pain than its temporary pleasures simultaneously. Like this, in each good action there is much more pleasure that reminds the pleasure of the heaven simultaneously.

Finally, as told in The Tenth Letter, one of the another most important TILSIM can be used to gain youth is persuading them in ‘’Do not buying jams by the price of diamonds’’ This means as a being man-kind we have given very big capitals by which eternal life can be bought. If we spent these for only these temporarily life of the world and its short pleasures, then we will like people who buy the jams by paying the prices of the jewels and diamonds. Like this, by our given strong emotions like LOVE, INAT and HIRS. If these are used for this life only, for short time pleasures, we may lose eternal pleasures. Thus faces of these emotions have to be changed to the Eternal life.

Thirdly, after these steps it is time of showing the real aims of creation that increase humanity to the highest level. Because this ages of youth is real time for being followers of DAVAH. Thus, if we do not shoe real and rational targets they may be servants or followers of something other than really should be, like their evil commanded souls (Nefsi- emmare) or bad friends. These targets can be like this, for example, As Bediüzzaman mentioned in Eleventh Word;

The First is this: To weigh up on the scales of the senses put in your being the bounties stored up in the treasuries of Divine mercy, and to offer universal thanks.

The Second: To open with the keys of the faculties placed in your nature the hidden treasuries of the sacred Divine Names.

The Third: To consciously display and make known through your life in the view of the creatures in this exhibition of the world the wondrous arts and subtle manifestations which the Divine Names have attached to you.

The fourthly; after the previous realities it is time of converting the personal features of individual youth to society’s pleasure. One of the main targets to be helpful for society makes him to serve to pillars of the belief of others. This can be helping to the establishment of the İttihad-I Islam, Islamic Unity. This principle can be helpful for us:

‘’ Indeed The believers are brothers, to defend yourselves against those oppressors who would exploit your differences! Otherwise you will be able neither to protect your lives nor to defend your rights. It is evident that if two champions are wrestling with each other, even a child can beat them. If two mountains are balanced in the scales, even a small stone can disturb their equilibrium and cause one to rise and the other to fall. So O people of belief! Your strength is reduced to nothing as a result of your passions and biased partisanships, and you can be defeated by the slightest forces. If you have any interest in your social solidarity, then make of the exalted principle of "The believers are together like a well-founded building, one part of which supports the other" your guiding principle in life! Then you will be delivered from humiliation in this world and wretchedness in the Hereafter.”

Finally, all of the previous steps should give the consciousness of increasing the final step which is Sincerity. Because by this, the previous can be meaningful, worthy and permanent for both life. For this rule, which taken from 21st Flash, may be followed:

‘’YOUR FIRST RULE

You should seek Divine pleasure in your actions. If Almighty God is pleased, it is of no importance even should the whole world be displeased. If He accepts an action and everyone else rejects it, it has no effect. Once His pleasure has been gained and He has accepted an action, even if you do not ask it of Him, should He wish it and His wisdom requires it, He will make others accept it. He will make them consent to it too. For this reason, the sole aim in this service should be the direct seeking of Divine pleasure.’’

 

To conclude, if the previous steps are applied properly, Insha’Allah the result will be an achievement of the Islamic Unity; The most brilliant witness and proof of the validity of these ideas is the run of events in Turkey.