Abdullah Yegin
 

By Ersan Akyuz

Abdullah Yegin was a high school student when he visited Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, kissed his hand and became one of his students. Bediuzzaman used to call him “The big brother of the Nurcus.” Between the years of 1936 and 1943, Said Nursi was forced to stay in Kastamonu. In one of Abdullah Yegin’s visits, he asked a question to Said Nursi as follows:

“Our teachers do not speak of Allah. Can you describe our Creator to us?”

Soon after this question and answer became the Sixth Topic of the Fruits of Belief in the Risale-i Nur. When Said Nursi was in Kastamonu, Abdullah Yegin read “The Words” and “The Supreme Sign.” He used to attend Said Nursi’s lectures whenever he had a chance. For this, Abdullah Yegin was suspended from school for 6 days and his house was searched thoroughly by police but nothing was found.

In Bediuzzaman’s letters he refers to Abdullah Yegin as “Abdullah from Arac.” Because he was involved in the Risale-i Nur movement, he became one of the brothers who had to defend himself in court the most. He was imprisoned for months each in Urfa, Gaziantep, Ankara and Adana however he managed to get acquitted.

Besides his military service, he spent a while in Urfa and when he heard Said Nursi had arrived in Urfa, he went to visit him. When he walked into the hotel room of Ipek Palas Hotel, Said Nursi grabbed his hand and said “Don’t worry. Atheism has died. Now they can’t do anything.” Abdullah Yegin and some other brothers would take turns to attend to Said Nursi’s needs. Said Nursi passed away at approximately 3AM. Said Nursi’s funeral prayer took place at Ulu Camii.

Abdullah Yegin is known for writing an Ottoman to Modern Turkish dictionary called “Yeni Lugat.” It is especially useful for those who are reading the Risale-i Nur for the first time.