The Wards of Said Nursi

The Wards of Said Nursi By Rawaa Mahmoud Hussain

My article is based on the one of Bediüzzaman Said Nursi’s most important books, ?which is titled: “The Words: the Reconstruction of Islamic Belief and Thought: 2005). Said Nursi was born in 1877, in the south-facing sloupe of a valley in the towering Taurus Mountains to the south of Lake Van. He passed his early years with his family in Nurs, where was a life close to the natural world. He was unusually intelligent, always investigating things, questioning and seeking answers. In November 1907, he set of for Istanbul for with the intention of obtaining official support and baking for his Islamic University, the Medresetü’z-Zehra. He was now around thirty years of age, and he established his reputation among the ‘ulama’ of Kurdistan (?ükran Vahide: 2011, pp. 3-4, 40). He began referring to himself as New Said after 1926, when he started to write the Risale-I Nur. Retrospectively, he referred to himself in his earlier days as Old Said. This marked the transition from his enthusiastic years actively involved with political and social events. Through reflections from his works like Qatr, Zerre, and later Mesnevi-i Nuriye, it can be traced that the New Said has emerged

in Istanbul, in 1922 to 1923. He later referred to his book as the seed of the Risale-i Nur. In 1925, he wrote Nurun ILK Kapisi, The First Door to Light. He was sent Isparta in 1926, where he started to write the major work of his life, the Risale-i Nur, the Treatise of Light. He was about 50 years old and was going through maybe the most significant transformation in his life. He was left with no book other than the Qur’an he carried (Ian S. Markham & Suendam Birinci Pirim: 2011, pp. 14-15). During 1934 – 1943, Nursi was taken from Barla back to Isparta, exiled to kastamonu, and taken to Ankara. In a court in Denizli, the Risale was analyzed in its entirety by a group of experts who approved that they were focused on faith matters and did not include anything challenging toward the regime. In 1944 the court ruled in favor of Nursi, his students, and 130 pieces of the Risale. He remained committed to social justice, but at the same time insisted that his students must not use violence. In 1960, he asked his students to take him to Urfa, a city in southeast Turkey. He chose this location to spend the last days of his life. On March 23, he passed away (Markham & Pirim: Ibid., pp.15-16). Nursi begins his book, “The Wards,” by indicating that the meanings of the word Ismillah (In The Name of God). He confirms that this word is the start of all good ?things, and it is mark of Islam, one constantly recited by all creatures through their tongues of disposition. It is blessed treasure, which transforms your boundless weakness and poverty by binding you to the Omnipotent and Merciful One’s infinite Power nd Mercy, into the most headed intercessor at His Exalted Court. When you say bismillah, you act in His name. It looks like a soldier acting in the state’s name, fearing no one, doing all things in the name of law and the state, and persisting against all odds (Nursi: Op. cit., pp. 3-4). Nursi points out that courage arises from belief in and loyal devotion to God. As with every bad action, cowardice arises from misguidance. Our ability to meet our endless demand is negligible. We are threatened with afflictions that our own strength cannot withstand. Our strength is limited to what we can reach, yet our sorrow and suffering, demands and wishes, are as wide as our imagination. Anyone not wholly blind to the truth understands that our best option is to submit to God, to worship, believe, and have confidence in Him. A safe road is preferable to a dangerous one, even one with a very low probability of safe passage. The way of beliefs leads one safely to endless bliss with near certainty; the way of unbelief and transgression meanwhile, is not profitable, and has a near certainty of endless loss. Happiness in this world depends upon submitting to God and being His devoted servant (Nursi: Op.cit., pp. 20-21). He indicates also that Prayer comforts the soul and the mind and is easy for the body. Furthermore, correct intention transforms our deeds and conduct into worship. Our short lifetime is spent the sake of eternal life in the other world, and our transient life gains a kind of permanence. The door to human happiness is representing by belief in All-Mighty and the hereafter, since such belief is used to reveal the universe and open the door to happiness. Beseeching the Provider in gratitude, patiently relying on the Creator, and seeking refuge in Him are invaluable medicines for all ailments. Heeding the Qur’an, abiding by its laws and praying are the light for the grave and a provision for the next life (Nursi: Op. cit.: pp. 26, 44). One of the main goals of “The Wards” is to emphasize the importance of faith. Nursi says: Belief is not restricted to a brief affirmation based on imitation; rather, it has degrees and stages of development. It is like a seed growing into a fully grown, fruit-bearing tree; like the sun’s image in a mirror or in a drop of water to its images on the ?sea’s surface and to the sun itself. Belief contains so many truths pertaining to God’s Names and realities contained in the universe that the most perfect science, knowledge, and virtue is belief and knowledge of God originating in a belief based on imitation can be refuted through doubts and questions raised by modern thought, belief based on argument and investigation has many degrees and grades of manifestation as the number of Divine Names. Those who attain certainty of belief coming from direct observation of the truths on which belief is based study the universe as a kind of Qur’an (Nursi: Op. cit., the editor forward, pp. XVI-XVII).