THE RISALE-I NUR MOVEMENT
Having accepted the invitation from the Government Bediuzzaman
arrived in Ankara at the end of the Turkish war of independence. He saw the dreadful fitna that the believers
were exposed to and wrote;
“I went to Ankara in 1338AH. I realized that an extremely terrible
irreligious ideology was working to spoil and poison the faith of Muslims while they were enjoying the victory of the Islamic army over the Greeks. Alas! said I. This dragon is going to attack the tenets of faith.” [6]
Regrettably, this is exactly what happened.
As a result of their doubts concerning him the Government
sent Bediuzzaman from the city of Van into exile in the county of Isparta, Barla, he commented on this saying;
“I thank Allah, the Merciful and Compassionate, thousands of times and accepting this as a ni’mah (bounty) I can say: All their oppression and tyranny are like wood for the fire. What they do is to increase the desire to struggle and help illuminate the light of the Holy Qur’an. The light of the Holy Qur’an, which was spread with struggle under oppression, has turned this city - even most of the country - into a madrassah. They think I am a prisoner in this village of Barla. Contrary to the irreligious people, and what’s more, Barla has become the chair of lessons for Risale-i Nur and lots of places like Isparta have become madaaris of Risale-i Nur. ]7[بَر ِلْضَف ِْنم اَذٰه ِّٰهِلل ُدَْمْحلَا
Bediuzzaman started to compile Risale-i Nur in this small remote village placed in a hard to reach spot at the top of a mountain. These Nur Treatises, each of which is a Qur’anic recipe for the illness of this century and that helps the believers to gain the happiness of this world and the next, was spread all around Turkey by Nur Students. Furthermore,
Risale-i Nur has become a cure for the spiritual diseases of millions of people and has foiled the dark plans against Muslims. Ustad Bediuzzaman states the effect and the ultimate purpose of Risale-i Nur as follows:
Risalatun Noor does not repair just a small damage or a small house but a profound damage and a giant castle which is composed of mountain-sized stones and encompasses
Islam.
It does not just discipline one conscience or heart but it tries to cure (with the Principles and Marks of Islam (Sha’aer al-Islam) by I’jaz of the Qur’an and the medicine of the Holy Qur’an and faith) the conscience of the public which has been subjected to the attacks for a thousand years through many tricky means.
Undoubtedly, there needs to be endless remedies, massive evidence like mountains to cure these universal and horrific wounds and damages. In this century, Risale-i Nur, which stems from the I’jaz of the Holy Qur’an, performs this duty and causes the development
and growth of faith endless degrees. [8]
Getting the power from the Holy Qur’an, Nur Treatises and Nur Service has been successful by the help of Allah (SWT) in spite of the tyranny and oppression they suffered.
Bediuzzaman states the power and effect of the Qur’anic tafsir, The Risale-i Nur:
“The Risale-i Nur is an inextinguishable sun that will never be extinguished. It is such a noor that it is like fire when blown through, it becomes brighter than ever. When the opposition attacks
to stop and ban it, it spreads the truths of the Qur’an faster and faster. Risale-i Nur is a tafsir discovering the secrets of universe.” [9]
Bediuzzaman was repeatedly poisoned, jailed and exiled but this atrocity and oppression was not able to prevent him from being a healer and remedy to the wounds of the believers.
He did not pay attention to this oppression but challenged those oppressors in an interview with Esref Edip in 1952, at the age of 76, by saying as follows: “I wish I were exposed
a thousand times more than these oppressions so that the castle of faith would be safe.” This sentence shows us that his commitment to serving the Holy Qur’an and faith was as fresh as 50 years ago when he decided to dedicate his life to this service.
The Basics of Risale-i Nur Service:
Service of Faith and Qur’an
Ustad warned the society against the idea of atheism which came from abroad and developed in that age:
“Nothing grieves me but the dangers Islam is exposed to. These dangers used to stem from external sources and were easier to defend.
However, nowadays they stem from internal sources. Worms have invaded the main body and it has become harder to defend Islam. I am afraid society cannot bear this since they cannot recognize
the enemy. They suppose the most harmful enemy, which kills their heart and sucks their blood, as their friend. If the foresight
of society goes blind, the tower of faith is in danger. This is the only thing that grieves me.” [10]
“I observe that the governing minds are in great heedlessness. The weak pillars of non belief cannot carry the castle of faith. Therefore, I concentrate all my efforts and time on faith. God willing, I would like to put myself forward to the presence of Allah
(SWT) with this struggle. My entire struggle is nothing but this. I am talking about social life, spiritual existence of society, conscience and faith. I focus on the oneness of God and faith since those are the main pillars of the Islamic society. The day those pillars are shaken is the end of the society. [11]
“I have only one mission. We hear the sounds of the Bolshevik Owls in this time when I am close to the grave. That sound damages
the faith of Islamic society. They take the faith of society especially
youth and impose their ideas. I am fighting against these people with all my strength and inviting all Muslims especially youth to the faith.” [12]
The original and unique service style of Risale-i Nur is based on “a mild, polite and persuasive way” and Bediuzzaman
accepts himself as a first addressee in order to reach the objective stated above. Risale-i Nur is both a strong kalaam lesson and a holy tafsir which conveys the priceless jewels to humanity through proofs for minds and pleasures for hearts. It has the power of satisfying the spiritual needs of the present time and future as well as including richness of the Islamic world of contemplation.
On this aspect, this work has the power of removing all the objections against faith and the power of refuting the objectors.
The Principle of Persuasion
According to the Risale-i Nur, the Islamic world is facing
two dreadful incidents at the moment. The first is the proliferation of unbelief based on science and philosophy which stems from weak foundations of materialism. Secondly,
although humans are aware of the hereafter, they do prefer worldly fragile glasses to these heavenly diamonds as their emotions surpass their minds and hearts.
The prescription of the Risale-i Nur for these two dreadful incidents is:
In the past, the blasphemy was stemming from ignorance and removing it was easy. Since there was a submission of Muslims at those times, scholars’ words could immediately influence them. Unbelief has now become widespread and submission has disappeared. The only way to reach the minds and hearts of the people of this century is persuasion.
Risale-i Nur has proven faith matters with strong evidences and proofs and disproven opposite ideas and reinforced the faith of people by stating “the way to influence people of this century is persuasion not compulsion applied to savage people who never listen to other people”.
According to the Risale-i Nur, the only way of rescuing people addicted to sins is showing that faith and good deeds contain paradise and pleasures even in this world and that kufr and sins include sorrows likewise.
Tajdid Duty
Imam Bediuzzaman and Risale-i Nur introduced the Qur’an and its effectiveness in a way suitable for understanding
in this century. He and Risale-i Nur deserve the title given by Prophet (PBUH) in this hadith “Allah (SWT) shall raise for this Ummah at the advent of every century
a man who shall renew (or revive) this religion.” [13]
He states in his dream which prepared himself for the duty of renovation in this century for his acceptance as a renovator
which is also accepted by the scholars both in our country and in the Islamic world.
“I had a dream during the First World War and before that: I was under Agri Mountain which is also called Mount Ararat. Suddenly, that mountain exploded and its particles came apart all around the world. While I was in terror, I realized that my deceased mother was with me. I said to her:
O my dear mother, do not be afraid! This is Allah (SWT)’s will. He is both Merciful and Compassionate.
While I was in that condition, I realized that one person ordered me:
- Declare the miraculousness of the Qur’an!
I got up and realized that there will be an enormous explosion. After that explosion and revolution, the walls around the Qur’an will be broken and the Qur’an will directly defend itself. Moreover,
the Qur’an will be attacked and its concision will be steel armour for itself. I understood that I will be the one who will introduce this kind of succinctness (I’jaaz) although this is higher than me.” [14]
The high importance of the revival of religion stated in the narration of the hadith is on the account of revival in tenets
of faith. However, the most important and sacred of all is the revival in terms of preserving the tenets of faith. The revival of Shari’a and social life and Islamic politics come after this even in second, third maybe fourth place.
The narration of hadith focuses on the revival of religion comes from the revival of the tenets of faith. However, as the revival in Islamic social life and Islamic politics which is apparently wide and charming in terms of sovereignty is seen more important by many people and world-worshippers,
they look from that point of view and misinterpret
it...
Countless praises be to Allah (SWT) that the collective personality of the real Risale-i Nur students have done the duty of revival in terms of preserving the tenets of faith.
“Forty thousand people bear witness that Risale-i Nur has preserved
the faith of hundreds of thousands of people for twenty years by counteracting the attack of non-believers and atheism with
its effective broadcasting for this sacred duty.” [15]
In one of his letters, while he was ignoring himself since it was the time of collective personality, he points out the Risale-i Nur and collective personality of Risale-i Nur students in terms of revival of religion and stresses these points below:
“The merits that you see are not from me but Risale-i Nur. That is the real commentary of one reality of Holy Qur’an. Even though one mujaddid has been sent at the advent of every century who served religion and faith, the present time which is full of the attacks of non-believers in congregation requires a collective
personality as a mujaddid.
Since Risale-i Nur is most probably that mujaddid, those qualities do not belong to me but Risale-i Nur as I frequently mentioned before. My life could be accepted as a seed for it. What makes that seed a precious, fruitful tree is nothing but the inspiration of Qur’an and bounty of Allah (SWT). I was that seed and I germinated.
All value belongs to Risale-i Nur which is the meaning and commentary of the Holy Qur’an.” [16]
Distance to Politics
Imam Bediuzzaman always kept the Risale-i Nur Service and Nur students away from the politics which is based on lies. Since he thought that serving faith and knowledge via politics, in those stormy times, was useless and vain and accepted
faith service as first means to gain the hereafter, he accepted that working for it completely is more necessary than anything and said that:
“The greatest danger of Muslims in this century is that the heresy stemming from science and philosophy which spoils their hearts and damages their faith. The only solution for this is Nur and showing them Nur so that their hearts will be mended and faith will be rescued. If they were defeated by the mace of politics, those infidels would be hypocrites. A hypocrite is worse than an infidel. It means that politics does not mend hearts at the present time. If it is used, blasphemy transforms into a faction.
An impotent man like me cannot use both Nur and the mace together at this time. Since I have to serve via Nur in all my strength, I should not be interested in the mace of politics no matter how appealing it may be.” [17]
He turned the views of people which became blind by political bias from politics to Nur. He never debased the diamond-like realities of the Holy Qur’an to the value of glass particles, by not using them for propaganda of politics. He saw politics for benefit as a monster. To show the bad results of politics for benefit, he said that “ِةَساَيِّسلا َو ِناَطْيَّشلا َِنم ِّٰهللِاب ُذوُعَا ” I seek refuge in Allah (SWT) from Satan and politics”. Moreover, he never took part in political life.
Risale-i Nur is a Commentary of the Holy Quran
Commentary is described shortly as:” Exploring, expressing
and showing the secret meanings of the Holy Qur’an:
Abu Hamid Al Ghazali compares the Holy Qur’an to an ocean without a shore. There are pearls, rubies and jewels
in the deep of this vast ocean. The Commentary is a knowledge that reveals these secret pearls and realities. From this aspect, each book that explains the subtleties and realities of the Holy Qur’an is a kind of commentary. Many books have been compiled in this area in Islamic world. Bediuzzaman explains that Risale-i Nur is a commentary
in this way:
“Risale-i Nur is a very strong and real commentary of the Holy Qur’an. Since some careless people could not understand this reality
completely, I will explain it in details.
There are two kinds of commentaries (tafasir):
First is the known commentary that expresses, explains, and proves the phrases and the meanings of the sentences and words of the Holy Qur’an.
Second is the type of commentary that expresses, explains, and proves the truths of faith of the Holy Qur’an with strong evidence and proof. This type is of great importance. The first type of commentary
deals only with this issue briefly. However, Risale-i Nur is directly based on this second type and it is such a commentary that silences the most obstinate philosophers.” [18]
Another statement of the author: “Risale-i Nur, which is mostly inspiration and extracting coming to my heart from the Holy Qur’an’s bounty and aid” [19] is “directly a clear proof and a strong commentary and a bright flash of miracle and a ray of that vast ocean and a light of that sun and the commentary of the Holy Qur’an which comes from the source of the knowledge of the truths.” [20]
Bediuzzaman, who benefited directly from the Holy Qur’an while compiling Risale-i Nur, states how he wrote his books:
“Imām Rabbānī Shaykh Ahmad al-Farūqī suggests insistently in his letters:
“Make your qibla one” It means to follow only one master, do not get busy with others. The most important suggestion of him didn’t suit with my nature.
I thought much about which way to follow. However, I could not decide since each way has charming features. One way was not sufficient for me.
While I was thinking about that, it came to my heart that the head of those different ways, the source of those rulers and the sun of those planets is the Holy Qur’an. That is the real way to follow. Therefore, the most significant guide and the most sacred master is the Holy Qur’an. I clung unto it. Obviously, my inadequate and miserable ability cannot properly receive that abundance of the Real Guide, which is equivalent to the elixir of life. However, we can show that elixir of life with its abundance according to the degree of those who receive the truth through their hearts and reach a spiritual state.
That is to say, those Words and Noors which come from the Holy Qur’an are not only matters of knowledge which serve the mind but also matters of faith which serve heart, soul and spiritual state.” [21]
“The speaker in Risale-i Nur is not me but the reality on behalf of the signs of the Holy Qur’an. It tells the reality and truth. If you come up with something wrong, it is certain that, my ideas interfered and made it wrong unconsciously.” [22]
A strong Kalaam Lesson: Risale-i Nur
Knowledge of Kalaam (knowledge of theological rhetoric) has been described in two types in terms of its subject and purpose.
Knowledge of Kalaam according to its subject is knowledge
which gives information about the personality and attributes
of Allah (SWT), prophethood, the beginning and end of life, nature of the creations in terms of this life and hereafter according to Islamic Basics.
Knowledge of Kalaam according to its purpose is knowledge
which proves and explains Islamic creeds and beliefs by using accurate and absolute evidence and removing possible doubts.
Scholars summarize the purpose of knowledge of Kalaam and other Islamic Knowledge: “Provide the happiness of two lives”. At the same time, Muslim scholars stated secondary
benefits and purposes of knowledge of Kalaam as listed below.
Knowledge of Kalaam saves the faith of man from the imitation level and improves it to a verified, absolute and unshakable level. It shows people, searching for the truth, the true way and silences non believers and innovation (bid‘ah) supporters. Moreover, it saves the basic doctrines of the Islamic faith from being shaken by the doubts alleged
by non believers. Besides, it purifies the intention of man in worship and strengthens his belief.
Risale-i Nur includes the knowledge of Kalaam in terms of the purposes listed above. However, it differentiates from the knowledge of Kalaam in terms of its method. For instance, Kalaam uses “contingency and createdness” (huduth and imkan) to prove the Oneness of God whereas Risale-i Nur uses “order and purpose” which is the method of the Holy Qur’an and it shows a way to reach Allah (SWT) from every single thing.
Bediuzzaman expresses this feature of Risale-i Nur with an answer to one of his students:
“In your letter, you wanted to get a Kalaam lesson from me. You are already receiving that lesson. The whole Risale-i Nur collection
is composed of luminous and veracious Kalaam lessons. Some sacred Islamic scholars like Imam Rabbani said so: Someone in the end of time will express the knowledge of Kalaam, in other words, faith issues of Kalaam which is the way of people of the right in such a way that he will cause that Noor to spread more than all people of tariqah (Sufism) and the elect who witnessed the truth.” [23]
Opposition to Bid’as (Bad Innovations in Islam)
One of the main basics of the Risale-i Nur mission is to struggle with Bid’ah. Bediuzzaman says while explaining the Sunnah of Prophet (PBUH): “Innovations in principles
of worshipping are bid’ah. Since bid’ah are contrary to the verse: “ُْمكَين۪د ُْمكَل ُتْلَْمكَا َمْوَيْلَا This day have I perfected your religion for you” they are refused.”
Ustad Bediuzzaman does not accept the ones who support
bid’ah even as a friend:
“ The quality and condition of a friend is that he must definitely
and seriously support Risale-i Nur and its mission which is spreading the Noor of the Holy Qur’an and he must not support bid’ah and dhalalah (going astray) and benefit from Risale-i Nur. [24]
When I look to the past, I see luminous and bright caravans
of prophets, veracious people, martyrs, saints and pious
people who are going to eternal life through a massive
straight street by dissolving the darkness of future.
I immediately said Fasubhanallah (Glory be to Allah). Anyone with an iota of consciousness must know that not joining that luminous huge caravan which illuminates the future and goes in perfect safety is a great loss and disaster.
I wonder where a man can find noor, if he goes astray by inventing bid’ah. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) commanded so:
ِراَّنلا ِيف ٍةَلَالَض ُُّلكَو ٌةَلَالَض ٍةَعِْدب ُُّلك
After hearing this command how can some wicked people, whom deserve the title of “bad scholars”, go against the Marks of Islam (shaa’er) in a harmful and unnecessary way and see innovations possible and think it is beneficial? Those “bad scholars” might have been deceived by their momentary ideas. [25]
“Those “bad scholars” at the end of time, in which non-Qur’anic and foreign letters are taught of and innovations are made, are the ones who issue fatawa for innovations and support innovations” [26]
stating in the 18th Flash that Risale-i Nur is opposed to the foreign script, which is the greatest innovation used against Islam, and identifying one of the most significant duties of a Risale-i Nur student as preserving the Qur’anic Script.
In most of his letters, he states the same as follows “As well as preserving the truths of faith, Risale-i Nur has a duty to preserve the Qur’anic Script against innovations.” [27]
According to Bediuzzaman, supporting innovations is more than the major sins; it is the biggest of grave sins. In another letter, he mentions it as follows:
“You are asking about 7 grave sins. Grave sins are many. However, the sins called the biggest grave sins are 7. They are murder, adultery, alcohol, cutting the relations with family, gambling, perjury and supporting innovations which are harmful to religion.” [28]