Who are the True Heirs of Bediuzzaman Said Nursi?
By Ali Nureddin, MalaysiaNur
In his book titled Munazarat, Bediuzzaman Said Nursi answers a question regarding the secret Freemasons and proselytes: (1)
Q. “Why do you disfavour them in general? Whereas they seem to be concerned about our well-being?”
Bediuzzaman gives the following excellent answer which offers a lesson to everyone, especially to the believers of today:
A. ‘No corrupter will say “I am a corrupter”. He will always appear to be righteous. Or it is that he sees ‘evil’ as ‘good’. Yes, nobody will ever say, “My ayran is sour.”(2) So do not take anything without ‘hitting the touchstone’. For there are many worthless words in the market. In fact, do not completely accept even my words in good faith, just because I have said them. Maybe I am also a corrupter or I am corrupting without knowing. Therefore do not allow every spoken word to enter the heart. Let my words here remain in the imagination and hit them with the touchstone. If they turn out to be gold, keep them in your heart. If they turn out as copper, return them to me, adding as much gossip and curses as you wish.’
After reading these strong cautions, let us now take our touchstone and consider the arguments that have recently been taking place on an important topic. Who are the true successors of Said Nursi?
In the book “Emirdag Lahikasi”, Bediuzzaman states the following: “I have appointed four or five persons as my absolute heirs among those who know my method of action completely and have observed it closely. If I were to die or remain unconscious, may they perform my method of service to the Nur knowingly and completely. For now, I instruct Tahiri, Sungur, Ceylan, Husnu and a couple more persons, as my absolute heirs.”(3) (See the Photo 3)
Again in his testament in Emirdag Lahikasi, Said Nursi records the names of his representatives in publishing of the Risale-i Nur, who he refers to by saying, “I instruct my twelve heroic brothers” (4) (See the Photo 4)
Additionally, in his letter in The Rays, he refers to Husrev Altinbasak as, “… a hero of the Risale-i Nur, like Husrev. Since he takes my place and is an important representative of the Risale-i Nur’s collective personality” (5)
Living Official Heirs of Bediuzzaman
From the list Bediuzzaman enumerates, in the Risale-i Nur, as his representatives, the ones remaining. These are Abdullah Yegin, Husnu Bayram, Said Ozdemir, Salih Ozcan and Ahmed Aytimur. (Mustafa Sungur was an absolute heir and passed away in late 2012.) Husnu Bayram is the only living absolute heir and others are Nursi’s representatives for printing and publishing of the Risale-i Nur.
Photo 2, Said Nursi’s living official representatives.
In the light of official statements, it is possible to draw the following conclusions: These heirs had the grasp of Bediuzzaman’s method. They manage the Quranic services of the Risale-i Nur with loyalty and without deviation. They have the true right to speak officially on behalf of Bediuzzaman. To print, publish or to change Nursi’s work without the permission or acceptance of these honourable persons will not only be an extremely serious legal offence, but will carry with it the burden of responsibility in the hereafter. Such a ”Nurcu” activity, that fails to carry their consent, is bound to be ridden with errors.
Who cannot act as Heirs?
On the other hand, we find people who might want to compete with Said Nursi and his method. Others wish to gain credibility by labelling themselves as direct representatives with expressions like, “…continuing the service of Bediuzzaman” or “…influenced by him,” even though their names are never expressly mentioned in the Risale-i Nur Collection. These people are either idiots or immature “child sheikhs” (sabiy-yi mutasayyih), causing harm without knowing. Or, seeming to be “righteous” they covertly aim to pollute the Risale-i Nur. The simple question to confront their claims with is: “Can you provide incontrovertible proof that you are the official heir of Said Nursi?”
Also, by using the touchstone that we have been holding since the beginning of the article, let us genuinely evaluate the activities performed by various groups in the name of Islam. If these activities are contrary to Islam to begin with, and while they warrant questioning of the authenticity of their Muslim identities, we can easily deduce that their systems and their leaders have no connection with the Risale-i Nur whatsoever.
To conclude, there are many words and claims circulating in the market of ideas. It is thus obligatory for Muslims to filter and clean out the influence of the secret Jews/freemasons and other enemies of Islam within. Accordingly, establishing a Unity of Islamic Republics, which is one of the “life visions” of Said Nursi, is the only way to stop the bleeding of the ‘oppressed’ and of Muslims around the globe!
Photo 3, Ustad Nursi’s “absolute heirs” (mutlak vekil) in Emirdag Lahikasi.
(1) Munazarat, p. 13-14, Envar Nesriyat (The Debates). (S- Neden bunların umumuna fena diyorsun? Halbuki hayırhahımız gibi görünüyorlar. C- Hiçbir müfsid ben müfsidim demez. Daima suret-i haktan görünür. Yahut bâtılı hak görür. Evet kimse demez ayranım ekşidir. Fakat siz mihenge vurmadan almayınız. Zira çok silik söz ticarette geziyor. Hattâ benim sözümü de, ben söylediğim için hüsn-ü zan edip tamamını kabul etmeyiniz. Belki ben de müfsidim veya bilmediğim halde ifsad ediyorum. Öyle ise her söylenen sözün kalbe girmesine yol vermeyiniz. İşte size söylediğim sözler hayalin elinde kalsın, mihenge vurunuz. Eğer altun çıktı ise kalbde saklayınız. Bakır çıktı ise çok gıybeti üstüne ve bedduayı arkasına takınız, bana reddediniz gönderiniz.)
(2) A Turkish phrase. “Ayran” is the yogurt drink.
(3) Emirdag Lahikasi-II (The Emirdag Addendum), Sozler Publ. pg. 204. (..tam tarz-ı hareketimi bilenler ve yakından görenler içinde, dört-beş adamı mutlak vekil yapıyorum. Ben ölsem veya hayatta şuursuz kalsam, nurlara karşı hizmetimin tarzını bilerek tam yapabilsinler. şimdilik Tahirî, Sungur, Ceylan, Hüsnü ve bir-iki adam daha mutlak vekilim olarak vasiyet ediyorum.)
(4) Emirdag Lahikasi-I (The Emirdag Addendum), Sozler Publ, pg. 125. (..oniki kahraman kardeslerime vasiyet ediyorum.)
(5) Sualar, (The Rays), Sozler Publ., pg. 437 (Husrev Altinbasak’s legacy has continued, with his community working tirelessly to preserve Quranic scripture by inscribing the Risale-i Nur in the original Ottoman language.)
Photo4, Said Nursi’s representatives’ names given below the page.