Risale-i Nur
Encyclopedia
The Risale-i Nur Collection is an approximately six-thousand-page tafsir
(Islam
ic exegesis
) on the Qur'an
written by Said Nursi
between the 1910s and 1950s in accordance with the mentality of the age. Since in our age faith and Islam have been the objects of the attacks launched in the name of so called science and logic, Bediuzaman Said Nursi therefore concentrated in the Risale-i Nur on proving the truths of faith in conformity with modern science through rational proofs and evidence, and by describing the miraculous aspects of the Quran that relate primarily to our century. This collection now has millions of readers both in and outside of Turkey. Thanks to the Risale-i Nur, the Turks managed to maintain their religion despite the most despotic regimes of the past decades. Although its author faced unbearable persecution, imprisonment, and exile, while no effort was spared to put an end to his service to faith, he was able to complete his writings compromising the Risale-i Nur and raise a vast group of believers who courageously opposed the oppression and preserved the dominance of Islam in the country.
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 and he offers important guidance to contemporary Muslims concerning issues ranging from nationalism to Sufism. 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 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 .
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.
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.
Tafsir
Tafseer is the Arabic word for exegesis or commentary, usually of the Qur'an. Ta'wīl is a subset of tafsir and refers to esoteric or mystical interpretation. An author of tafsir is a mufassir .- Etymology :...
(Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic exegesis
Exegesis
Exegesis is a critical explanation or interpretation of a text, especially a religious text. Traditionally the term was used primarily for exegesis of the Bible; however, in contemporary usage it has broadened to mean a critical explanation of any text, and the term "Biblical exegesis" is used...
) on the Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
written by Said Nursi
Said Nursî
Bediuzzaman Said Nursî ,commonly known as Bediüzzaman , which means "The Wonder of the Age" was a Muslim scholar who wrote the Risale-i Nur Collection, a body of Qur'anic commentary exceeding six thousand pages. . He was born in Nurs, a village in the Ottoman Bitlis Province in eastern Anatolia. He...
between the 1910s and 1950s in accordance with the mentality of the age. Since in our age faith and Islam have been the objects of the attacks launched in the name of so called science and logic, Bediuzaman Said Nursi therefore concentrated in the Risale-i Nur on proving the truths of faith in conformity with modern science through rational proofs and evidence, and by describing the miraculous aspects of the Quran that relate primarily to our century. This collection now has millions of readers both in and outside of Turkey. Thanks to the Risale-i Nur, the Turks managed to maintain their religion despite the most despotic regimes of the past decades. Although its author faced unbearable persecution, imprisonment, and exile, while no effort was spared to put an end to his service to faith, he was able to complete his writings compromising the Risale-i Nur and raise a vast group of believers who courageously opposed the oppression and preserved the dominance of Islam in the country.
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 ; how the metaphorical love for individuals or for this world can be transformed into true love ; explanation of where the Great Gathering and Last Judgement will take place ; a letter of condolence on the death of a child ; the proof for prophethood of Muhammad ; calling upon children to be kindly to their parents ; calling upon believers to brotherhood and love and pointing out effective ways of preventing enmity against a believer ; the best way in which believers can pray for each other ; the importance of supplication and the numerous Qur'anic commands to offer thanks ; the reality and benefits of true dreams .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 and he offers important guidance to contemporary Muslims concerning issues ranging from nationalism to Sufism. 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 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 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 Words (Sözler)
- The Staff of Moses(Asa-yı Musa)
- The Epitomes of Light(Mesnevî-i Nuriye)
- Reasonings(Muhâkemât)
Booklets
- The Damascus Sermon (Hutbe-i Şâmiye)
- Fruits of Belief (Meyve Risalesi)
- A Guide for Youth (Gençlik Rehberi)
- The Islamic Unity (İttihad-ı İslam)
Others(not translated)
- The Barla Letters (Barla Lahikası)
- The Kastamonu Letters (Kastamonu Lahikası)
- The Emirdağ Letters (Emirdağ Lahikası)
- Sikke-i Tasdik-i Gaybî
- Âsâr-ı Bedîiyye
- İman ve Küfür Muvâzeneleri
- Münâzarat
- Nur Çeşmesi
- Sünûhât - Tulûât - İşârât
- Nur Âleminin Bir Anahtarı
- Dîvan-ı Harb-i Örfî
- Nurun İlk Kapısı
- Hizmet Rehberi
- Fihrist
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
- http://www.erisale.com/index.jsp?locale=en#home- 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
Download Books
- NurunSozu.com Books in English - Words, Rays, Flashes, Letters - (doc)
- NurunSozu.com Books in Arabic - Arapça - عربى (doc)
- NurunSozu.com Risale-i Nur for Mobile Phones - Java