The Fourth Premise

 

 

Fame attributes to one something that one does not own.

It is a characteristic of humanity that in order to show something that is not known as noble or valuable, it is attributed to one who is famous for having or doing similar things. In other words, in order for any words, actions, or attitudes to be justified or at least not discredited, people attribute them to a famous person. They even attribute to that single one some good thing belonging to a whole nation. However, that person will reject that gift which is wrongfully attributed to him. For if an artist who is famous for a form of art or a particular skill and able to see what is beyond the apparent beauty is shown something that does not have any artistic beauty and is told that it belongs to him—an act which means wronging this person in the eyes of others—he will reject it with contempt. Yet, in accordance with the rule that the existence of something requires the existence of all of its parts, in order to find an excuse for the image, people try to attribute this artwork to that person in order to demonstrate that that person truly possesses whatever has been attributed to him; people will also assign to this person exceptional abilities, such as extraordinary greatness, power, and intelligence. Thus this person takes on a superhuman form in the minds of people. If you want an example, look at the image of Zaloglu Rustem11 in the minds of Iranians. Since he was famous for his bravery, his persona has been blown out of all proportion; to him has been attributed almost anything that is a cause of pride for the Iranians. As one lie usually leads to another lie, such great bravery appropriates to itself a life filled with other extraordinarily praiseworthy accomplishments, a very high, admirable stature, and many other laudable characteristics. Reflected as an imposing image on the wall across from the fire of imagination in which it was fed, the image says, “I am a person who represents all my people; I am even a whole people manifested as a single person.” Such an approach adds to itself many legends and is circulated among the people, the image growing as strange as an ogre. Such tales cause other tales conformable to it to appear.

O you who want to see this reality in all its clarity! Pay attention to this premise, for the door to false beliefs opens with the reality explained here, while the door to verification is closed by it. Also, the courage to invent new things and develop new opinions based on the essentials of the Religion, as recorded in the classical works of the scholars of the earliest times, is lost in this wasteland. If you like, ask Molla Nasreddin Efendi,12 “Do all those humorous anecdotes and sayings attributed to you really belong to you?” He will answer, “All those anecdotes and sayings comprise volumes. Saying and experiencing all of that would take a very long life. Besides, whatever I have said and done is not humorous and wise. If you assigned one fortieth of this to me, it would be enough. I do not want the rest, for the rest changes my natural and proper subtlety into something artificial.”

Thus, from this root many false beliefs and myths grow like weeds and stifle the power of truths.

 

CONCLUSION

Attributing to anything or anyone more good than God has attributed to them is not a positive move, nor does it mean that you have done them any good. A single grain of truth is preferable to a bumper harvest of false imaginings. We must be content with defining something or someone with the good God has accorded them in creation and the virtues they have. Anything that enters a community should not destroy the order of the community. The honor of a thing lies in itself, not in its lineage. Fruit displays the nature and quality of the roots. Any produce, no matter how valuable it is, added to someone else’s produce usually damages the latter’s worth, and may even cause it to be sequestrated.

Based on all these criteria, I say: It is sheer ignorance and a great fault to attribute some fabricated Traditions to the distinguished Companions, such as ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas13 in order to encourage people to do the religious acts or to discourage them from indulging in prohibited things. Truth is “wealthy” enough not to need such attributions, and its light is enough to illuminate hearts. Authentic Traditions are sufficient for us to interpret the Qur’an, and we are content with accurate narratives weighed on the scales of reason.

 

Said Nursi

11 Zaloglu Rustem is an Iranian mythical hero who can be seen as the counterpart of the Roman Hercules or the Greek Heracles. (Trans.)

12 Molla Nasraddin or Nasreddin Khodja was a thirteenth-century Muslim religious figure who was famous and remembered for his wisdom, legendary wit, funny stories and anecdotes. (Trans.)

13 ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (619-687) was a cousin of Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings. He was extraordinarily well-versed in Qur’anic exegesis, as well as an authority on the Sunna of the Prophet and Islamic Jurisprudence. (Trans.)