Selected Readings from Bediuzzaman Said Nursi's Risale-i Nur

by Hakan Gok

Overview

The topics in this book emerged as a result of brainstorming with fellow academics in the summer of 2013. We have discussed ways to address the needs of people, especially youth, who face daily doubts thrown in their faces in modern society. Issues such as the existence of God, the reality of resurrection and the need for worship as well as common social behavioral problems such as greed, backbiting and racism are explained from the perspective of Bediüzzaman Said Nursi.

The aim of this book is to present a carefully chosen, digestible selection from Nursi's fourteen volume, 6000-page the Risale-i Nur Collection to beginners. I hope this book is going to be the very first step into the fascinating writings of Bediüzzaman Said Nursi for many first-time readers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781597849289
Publisher:	Paramus Publishing
Publication date:	10/07/2016
Pages:	298
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Hakan Gok is currently undertaking PhD research at Durham University. His PhD thesis is on ‘Philosophy of Religion: Atheism and Theism, Said Nursi's philosophy and Risale-i Nur'. He taught science at high school level in various countries including the UK. He completed his Masters Degree in Leadership and Management in Education in the UK in 2005. His interest in Said Nursi's writings led him to studying PhD in Philosophy at Durham University. Hakan is currently living in the UK and working on his book on 'The Arguments for the Existence of God'.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements 11

Preface 13

Notes on Sources 15

Chapter Locations 17

Notes on Spelling and Transliteration 19

Frequently used names and terms 21

About the Author 27

Introduction 29

Bediüzzaman Said Nursi: His Life and Discourse 37

The Old Said Period (1877-1916) 39

The New Said Period (1923-1950) 44

The Risale-i Nur (The Epistles of Light) 48

Nursi's Style 52

The Third Said Period (1950-1960) 53

Conclusion 54

Chapter 1 The Purpose of the Existence of Men and the Universe 59

Ego, Self and human "I" 70

Chapter 2 Problem of Evil and Suffering 75

Seeking refuge with God from Satan 78

Chapter 3 Divine Determining (Qadar) 83

A Question regarding Divine Determining: 88

Chapter 4 Materialism Vs. God 93

A Reminder 93

Introduction 94

Second Impossibility 96

Third Impossibility 97

The second way: It forms itself 97

First Impossibility 98

Second Impossibility 98

Third Impossibility 99

The third way: Nature necessitates it; nature makes it 100

First Impossibility 100

Second Impossibility 101

Third Impossibility 103

Chapter 5 Logic Behind Worship and Supplication 113

Virtues of worship ('ubudiyyah) 119

Virtues of performing five Daily Prayers (Salah) 123

Chapter 6 Resurrection and the Hereafter 127

Is God really capable of resurrecting the dead? 139

Third Fundamental Point 139

Summary and Result 143

Fourth Fundamental Point 144

A Subtle, Allusive Matter 144

An Allusive Point 146

The secret of this Allusive Point is as follows: 147

Chapter 7 Reading the Universe through the Lenses of the Qur'an 153

First Principle 153

Second Principle 155

Third Principle 156

Fourth Principle 157

On the virtue of Bismillah 161

Chapter 8 Fraternity, Greed, Enmity and Backbiting 167

On Fraternity 167

First aspect 168

Second aspect 168

Third aspect 169

Fourth aspect 170

Fifth aspect 173

Sixth aspect 176

On Greed 177

On Backbiting 181

Chapter 9 Sincerity 187

First Point 187

First Cause 188

Second Cause 189

Third Cause 191

Fourth Cause 192

Fifth Cause 193

Sixth Cause 195

Seventh Cause 196

On Sincerity-2 200

Your First Rule 201

Your Second Rule 201

Your Third Rule 203

Your Fourth Rule 204

Obstacles that destroy sincerity and drive one to hypocrisy 206

The first obstacle 206

The Second Obstacle that destroys sincerity 208

The Third Obstacle 209

A Confidential Letter to Some of my Brothers 209

Chapter 10 Remedies to the Sick 213

Message for the Sick 213

Warning and Apology 213

A Letter of Condolence on the Death of a Child 235

First Point 235

Second Point 236

Third Point 237

Fourth Point 237

Fifth Point 237

Chapter 11 Fasting of Ramadan 241

First Wisdom 241

Second Wisdom 242

Third Wisdom 243

Fourth Wisdom 243

Fifth Wisdom 244

Sixth Wisdom 244

Seventh Wisdom 245

Eighth Wisdom 247

Ninth Wisdom 248

On Thanking God 249

Chapter 12 Deceits of the Devil 257

First Satanic Tactic: Desire For Rank And Position 257

Second Satanic Tactic: Fear 260

Third Satanic Tactic: Greed 263

Fourth Satanic Tactic: Nationalist Feelings 266

Fifth Satanic Tactic: Egotism 272

Sixth Satanic Tactic: Laziness 275

Appendix 1 Chronology and Diagram of the Risale-i Nur Collection 277

A Chronology of the Risale-i Nur Collection 277

B Diagram of the Risale-i Nur Collection 278

Appendix 2 Names and Attributes of God 279

Appendix 3 Images 285

Appendix 4 Schools of Thoughts (Madhhahs) in Islam 287

Further Reading Books 289

Online resources 290

Bibliography 291

Index 293