Bediüzzaman Said Nursi and The Risale-i Nur

 

By wordpress.com

 

Said Nursi (1876-1960), the most influential Islamic scholar in modern Turkish history, is
the inspiration behind the hugely popular Nur community. Guided by his masterwork, the
Risale-i Nur, Nursi’s followers shun political ambition, focusing instead on a revival of
personal faith through study, self-reform and service of others. Nursi lived through the
upheavals that led to the establishment of a vigorously secular Turkish republic in place of
the dismembered Ottoman caliphate. Nursi was educated through the medrese system in
the traditional Islamic disciplines but also mastered modern Western philosophical and
scientific ideas in order to address the challenges Muslims face now. In some ways the
Risale-i Nur functions as an interpretation of the Qur`an for the contemporary world;
millions within and outside Turkey have found solace in that interpretation.

Bediuzzaman opened up a new, direct way to reality (haqiqat) and knowledge of God
which he described as the highway of the Qur’an and way of the Companions of the
Prophet (PBUH) through the ‘legacy of Prophethood” which gains for those who follow it
‘true and certain belief.’ He did not ascribe the writings to himself, but said they
proceeded from the Qur’an itself, were ‘rays shining out of from [its] truths.’
Thus, rather than being a Qur’anic commentary which expounds all its verses giving the
immediate reasons for their revelation and the apparent meanings of the words and
sentences, the Risale-i Nur is what is known as a mânevî tefsir, or commentary which
expounds the meaning of the Qur’anic truths. For there are various sorts of commentaries.
The verses mostly expounded in the Risale-i Nur are those concerned with the truths of
belief, such as the Divine Names and attributes and the Divine activity in the universe, the
Divine existence and Unity, resurrection, prophethood, Divine Determining or destiny,
and man’s duties of worship. Bediuzzaman explains how the Qur’an addresses all men in
every age in accordance with the degree of their understanding and development; it has
a face that looks to each age. The Risale-i Nur, then, explains that face of the Qur’an which
looks to this age.

“Our enemies are ignorance, poverty and conflict.
We shall wage holy war against these three enemies
with the weapons of Industry, Learning and Unity”

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