Risale-i Nur

The Risale-i Nur Collection

The entire Risale-i Nur Collection from Sozler Publication
Author	Said Nursi
Original title	Risale-i Nur Kulliyati
Translator	Sukran Vahide
Language	Turkish
Genre	Tafsir
Publisher	Sozler Publication
Publication place	Turkey
Media type	Print (hardcover)
Pages	More than six-thousands

The Risale-i Nur Collection (Template:Lang-tr, Template:Lang-ota)is a tafsir (Islamic exegesis) on the Qur'an written by Said Nursi between the 1910s and 1950s in Turkey. In fact, this commentary doesn’t keep the ayah order in commenting on the meanings, unlike the methodology of classical Islamic exegesis. It rather has a scientific approach in dealing with the doubts about the basic doctrines and principles of Islam. This collection includes fourteen books and every book includes several chapters and every chapter is about a distinctive topic regarding the Islamic issues that are criticized and attacked by modernity or in particular, atheism and naturalism. So that, the primary purpose of the Risale-i Nur is the revitalization of the faith of the ordinary believers, along with the moral renewal. This magnum opus of Said Nursi is a deep reflection on the Quran that includes a rational analysis of the Islamic sources and reinterpreting it for the mentality of his age. However, it isn't just an exegesis but also it is a reflection of the author’s own life.

Main volumes (translated into English)

The Letters (Mektubat)

This second volume of the Risale-i Nur demonstrates the special relationship between Bediuzzaman Said Nursi and his students. In this Collection, Said Nursi replied to numerous and diverse questions posed by the students. Therefore, the Letters cover a lot of different subjects. For example, how death is a bounty; where Hell is situated; (The Letters 2004, p. 21-29). how the metaphorical love for individuals or for this world can be transformed into true love; (The Letters 2004, p. 28) explanation of where the Great Gathering and Last Judgement will take place; (The Letters 2004, p. 57) a letter of condolence on the death of a child;The Letters 2004, p. 100)the proof for prophethood of Muhammad; (The Letters 2004, p. 236)calling upon children to be kindly to their parents; (The Letters 2004, p. 308)calling upon believers to brotherhood and love and pointing out effective ways of preventing enmity against a believer; (The Letters 2004, p. 311)the best way in which believers can pray for each other; (The Letters 2004, p. 330) the importance of supplication (The Letters 2004, p. 353) and the numerous Qur'anic commands to offer thanks; (The Letters 2004, p. 428) the reality and benefits of true dreams. (The Letters 2004, p. 407) Moreover, The Letters provide helpful answers to many questions of Belief and Islam; they contain unique explanations of the truths of Iman and the mysteries of the Our'an which also illustrate the Qur'anic way of Knowledge of Allah manifested by the Risale-i Nur. For instance, Said Nursi explained some of the instances of wisdom in the fast of the blessed month of Ramadan (The Letters 2004, p. 466) and he offers important guidance to contemporary Muslims concerning issues ranging from nationalism (The Letters 2004, p. 379, 491) to Sufism. (The Letters 2004, p. 518) This collection includes the famous Nineteenth Letter which describes more than three hundred of the miracles of Muhammad. Even though this letter includes many hadiths and is more than a hundred pages in length based on traditions and narrations, it was written completely from memory without referring to any book “in a few days by working two or three hours every day, for a total of twelve hours.” (The Letters 2004, p. 116) The Letters also shed light on Bediuzzaman's own life in his numerous years of exile and the conditions during the early years of the Turkish Republic. (The Letters 2004, p. 83)

The Words (Sozler)

The Words is the first volume of the Risale-i Nur and consist of thirty-three independent parts or ‘Words,’ which explain and prove the fundamentals of Belief, including its myriad virtues and advantages. Included here are exposition of the Divine Names and Attributes in creation, the resurrection of the dead and the Hereafter, Prophethood and the Ascension, the Miraculousness of the Our'an, the angels, the immorality of man’s spirit, Divine Determining (fate or destiny), together with cogent discussion on the true nature of man and the universe, The wisdom of the specified times of the five daily prayers, and man’s fundamental and innate need to worship Allah. Each subject is explained with comparisons and allegories, and demonstrated with reasoned arguments and logical proofs. The most profound aspects of the truths of Iman, are explained in a way that everyone can understand easily. This work responds to the attacks against the Our'an in the name of science and philosophy, and demonstrates the rationality of belief in Allah. It shows beyond any reasonable doubt that man’s happiness and success both in this world and the next only lie in belief in Allah and knowledge of Allah.

The Rays (Şuâlar)

The Rays Collection contains among the key sections of the Risale-i Nur. Among these are: The Supreme Sign, which describes the testimony articulated by all the realms of creation to Allah's Necessary Existence and Unity, is an expression of the reflective thought which is the foundational basis of the way of the Risale-i Nur. Further explanations and proofs of Divine Unity, based also on recognizing and 'reading' the manifestations of Allah in the universe are set out in the Second, Third, and Fourth Rays in this book. While in addition to these questions (i) The Fruits of Belief - One hour is per day sufficient for the five obligatory prayers; The truth of death; true, pain-free pleasure is found only in belief in Allah, and is possible only through such Belief; A number of benefits of believing in the Hereafter which look to man's individual and social life; A reply to objections raised about repetitions in the Our'an; The fruits tasted in this world of belief in the angels. and (ii) The Shining Proof-Seeking knowledge of the Creator through His Attributes, knowledge, will and power put forward clear, proofs of the main 'pillars of belief.' Also included in this volume are parts of Bediuzzaman's defense speeches in the Courts of Denizli and Afyon, and the short letters and notes he wrote to his fellow-prisoners (his students) while incarcerated. As well as advising them about their defenses and directing the continuing work of the Risale-i Nur, essentially these letters were written to guide, encourage, and comfort his students during their ordeals, to remind them to be cautious in the face of their enemies and above all to maintain their solidarity and to strengthen their brotherly relations.

Signs of Miraculousness (İşârât-ül İ'caz)

This book is a very concise commentary on (i) Surah al•Fatiha- The aims of the Our'an; Peace); About Paradise; About Life, Death and the Resurrection of the Dead; The teaching of the Names. Its aim is to expound the Miraculous nature of the Qur'an's word order. For "the embroideries" of the positioning and arrangement of the Our'an's words demonstrate one aspect of its Miraculousness. Bediuzzaman Said Nursi was intent on demonstrating the conformity of the Our'an with reason and the modern physical sciences. In this way, he replied both to questions and doubts that arose in the face of scientific advances, and to demonstrate that, as the revealed Word of Allah, the Our'an has ever continuing relevance in contemporary life. Thus, though composed in the early period of Said Nursi's life, under trying conditions in 1913-14, this book contains in concise form, the ideas and truths that he subsequently elaborated in the Risale-i Nur, and in many respects is of the greatest interest and importance for the people of modernity. THE QUR'AN is the pre-eternal translator of the mighty book of the universe; the post-eternal interpreter of the various tongues reciting the verses of creation; the commentator of the book of the Worlds of the Seen and the Unseen; the revealer of the treasuries of the Divine Names hidden in the heavens and on the earth; the key to the truths concealed beneath the lines of events; the tongue of the Unseen World in the Manifest World; the treasury of the post-eternal favors of the Most Merciful and of the pre-eternal Addresses of that Most Holy One, that come from the World of the Unseen beyond the veil of this Manifest World; it is the sun, foundation, and plan of the spiritual world of Islam; the sacred map of the worlds of the Hereafter. Bediuzzaman Said Nursi articulates most succinctly that many verses of the Our'an that have been questioned in fact contain flashes of Miraculousness and numerous subtle points.

The Flashes (Lem'alar)

The Flashes Collection starts with 2 very poignant supplications- the famous supplication of the prophet Yunus showing its relevance for everyone today; and the famous supplication of the prophet Ayub providing a true remedy for all those who are afflicted by disaster. Like the first two volumes this Collection deals very compellingly with a number of diverse subjects. The primary purpose of the topics is aimed at expounding the various Qur'anic verses and its teachings concerning the fundamentals of Belief in a way that addresses modern man's understanding and is relevant to his needs. Some of the subjects discussed include seven predictions concerning the Unseen in the three final verses of Surah al-Fath; "The highway of the practices of the Prophet and antidote for the sickness of innovations"; the meaning of the phrase "I seek refuge from Satan the Accursed"; the reality of those things that captivate the human soul, and through severing attachment to them turns man's face to eternity; the Qur'anic principle of humility; Allah has included in all activity and striving a reward and pleasure; a supplication that illustrates the meaning of the Hadith "Die before you die"; On Frugality; On Sincerity- including the four rules for gaining and preserving sincerity; On Nature; Four instances of wisdom of the Our'anic injunction about the veiling of women, and a compelling and convincing discussion detailing the ways in which happiness of women in both worlds may be preserved by adhering to Islamic principles and practices; Message for the Sick; Treatise for the Elderly; On the Six Divine Names of Allah bearing the Greatest Name.

The Staff of Moses (Asa-yı Musa)

This book consists of two parts. Part One comprises 'The Fruits of Belief that discusses numerous aspects- One hour per day is sufficient for the five obligatory prayers; Death is a source of anxiety for man; true, pain free pleasure is found only in belief in Allah, and is possible only through such Belief; The necessity of spending one's youth chastely and on the straight path; The sciences make known the Glorious Creator of the universe with His Names, Attributes and perfections; The truths and proofs about existence of the Hereafter from Our Sustainer, our Prophet Muhammad (Upon Whom be Blessings and Peace), the other Prophets and earlier Scriptures, the Our'an, the angels and then the universe.; There are a number of benefits of Believing in the Hereafter that look to man's individual and social life; It is impossible to separate the pillars of Belief as each proves all of them, requires them, and necessitates them; A Flower of Emirdag - An extremely powerful reply to objections raised about repetitions in the Our'an; The fruits tasted in this world of belief in the angels Part Two comprises 'A Decisive Proof of Allah' and consists of eleven proofs of the truths of Iman. In the words of Bediuzzaman Said Nursi: "just as the staff of Prophet Musa (Upon whom Be Peace) caused twelve springs to gush forth and was the means of eleven miracles, so the present collection (The Staff of Moses) consists of the eleven light-scattering topics of 'The Fruits of Belief,' and the eleven certain proofs of 'The Decisive Proof of Allah' " thus, this book receives its name The Staff of Moses, and is a source of Iife-giving waters for the strengthening of one's faith.

1. The Epitomes of Light (Mesnevî-i Nuriye)
2. Reasonings (Muhâkemât)

Booklets

1. The Damascus Sermon (Hutbe-i Şâmiye)
2. Fruits of Belief (Meyve Risalesi)
3. A Guide for Youth (Gençlik Rehberi)
4. The Islamic Unity (İttihad-ı İslam)

Others (not translated)

1. The Barla Letters (Barla Lahikası)
2. The Kastamonu Letters (Kastamonu Lahikası)
3. The Emirdağ Letters (Emirdağ Lahikası)
4. Sikke-i Tasdik-i Gaybî
5. Âsâr-ı Bedîiyye
6. İman ve Küfür Muvâzeneleri
7. Münâzarat
8. Nur Çeşmesi
9. Sünûhât - Tulûât - İşârât
10. Nur Âleminin Bir Anahtarı
11. Dîvan-ı Harb-i Örfî
12. Nurun İlk Kapısı
13. Hizmet Rehberi
14. Fihrist

References

Nursi, Said (2004), "The Letters," trans. By Sukran Vahide, Sozler Nesriyat, Istanbul

External links

• SaidNur.com A comperehensive page about Said Nursi and Risale-i Nur Collection in many languages
• GencNur.com For More Information about the Risale-i Nur Collection
• Nur.gen.tr Risale-i Nur Collection in 52 Languages
• NurPublishers.com The service of risale-i nur institute of america
• Ru-Nur.com Pусский
• Rejhan.net Hrvatski i Bosanski
• NurNetwork.org International nur network
• LaluzDelafe.org/ - Español
• [1]- Risale-i Nur Collection in English
• Nursi Studies Academic Research Center
• Durham University Risale-i Nur Studies Downloadable english pdf files for two different translations
• Zahra Institute

See also

• Said Nursi