2017 Symposium Papers

PROBLEMATIZING THE MODERN CITY A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE FRAMEWORKS OF JACQUES ELLUL AND SAID NURSI

My aim in this paper is to present the concept of the “city” as a problem that is not only sociological in nature, but also theological. I have approached the concept from the perspective of the French historian and sociologist Jacques Ellul who defines it as a theological construct within a particular Christian worldview. The “city” from the Ellulian view is symbolic and represents an act of rebellion against God, and an arrogant desire to be independent of God and provide one’s own security. With this in mind, I aim to examine how this problematized and particular definition of the city as a corrupting force have parallels in the writings of Islamic thinkers, such as Ibn Khaldun and, focussed on in this particular paper - that of Said Nursi. I argue that like Ellul, the Nursian city has a dialectic counterpart with a city that is heavenly, that its current earthly problems lie in its being the most complete representative of aggressive materialism and negative naturalism.

April 16, 2019Hossein Turner

2017 Symposium Papers

ASSESSMENT OF NURSÎ' S IDEA AND OPINION (İÇTİHAD) ABOUT FORMATION OF PEACEFUL PERSON AND SOCIETY

The article focuses on the idea and opinion of Nursî about the formation of peaceful society. According to Nursî; betterments in the welfare and capability of people and the community are brought about to produce a peaceful and libertarian environment; and this is the environment in which the duties of the people are fulfilled. Nursî hence emphasized the importance of calmness in individual society and revealed that faith and Islamic values carry out great functions. According to him religion is a way of life in agreement with nature. For this reason Nursî's community model is one that is based on religion, centered around belief and Allah's consent to determine the correct actions when dealing with outer and inner world. Sometimes Nursî referred to functionality of God’s attributes in Risale-i Nur which expounds the fascination in the universe as a reflecton of Allah's name "Vedûd". Thus, macro and micro cosmic entities in the universe have gravitational forces in synchrony and fine

April 16, 2019Hayati Aydın

2017 Symposium Papers

Knowledge and Knowing in Islam (Comparative Study between Nursi and al-Attas)

One of the most fundamental aspects in the issue of Islamic civilization is the problem of knowledge. The problem is not only confined to the external factors that include the spread of the doctrine of secularism that desacralize Islamic knowledge, but also the complex internal factors that dwindled knowledge pursuance and development. The impact of these two problems has pervasively influences social, economical, cultural and political field in the Muslim world. Badiuzzaman Said Nursi and Syed Mohammad Naquib al-Attas are two prominent Muslim thinkers in the contemporary world who are concerned in explaining, explicating and formulating the process of knowing in sciences according to Islamic perspective. The two thinkers embark upon the conviction that modern sciences has been dominated by theories and principles derived from Western doctrine of secularism or by naturalist-secularist-atheist philosophers. This comparative study reveals that although they have the same concern they sho

April 16, 2019Hamid Fahmy Zarkasyi

2017 Symposium Papers

Brotherhood in Islam and Thoughts of Said Bediuzzaman Nursi

Islam has implications with all spheres of human life and shows humankind the best way to conduct their private, social, political, economic, spiritual and other fields of life with its values and principles.One of these principles is the Islamic ideal of brotherhood (ukhuwwah/أُخُوَّه). Whereas the first brotherhood concept ensures a rational ummatism of Mu’minun (one nationhood of believers), the second brotherhood concept upholds the base for peaceful and cooperative relation between Muslims and others. Thus, this later concept upholds the foundation of pluralism and multiculturalism in Islamic social, political, religious and cultural contexts. Al-Quran and Al-Hadith have abundant references to the ideals of Islamic brotherhood. These legal compendiums of Islam are indicative of the fact that Tawhid (unity of God) is the pillar of believer’s brotherhood. Besides, five fundamentals of Islam, such as Iman, Salat, Sawm, Hajj and zakat are also some provisions which play greater role

April 16, 2019Hafiz Muztaba Riza Ahmed

2017 Symposium Papers

THE ROLE OF POSITIVE ACTION IN COUNTERING TERRORISM

The issue of terrorism as a global problem occupies a large space in everybody’s lives nowadays. Thus, many researchers from different disciplines try to understand its origins, causes, objectives, effects and means of countering it. In countering terrorism, initially hard power has been used by countries all over the world as the main strategy for a long time. Turkey also has tried this strategy and it is found to be ineffective. Then, the countries decided to try soft power as an alternative approach for countering terrorism. To some extent, the use of soft power has been found effective for countering terrorism but the desired outcome has not been gained. With the increase of terror threats at global and regional scale researchers start to search for more effective methods in the fight against modern terrorism, which is really complicated to counter. In this context, this paper is an attempt to provide a new approach in countering terrorism, which is “Positive Action” proposed by th

April 16, 2019Mehmet Murat PAYAM

2017 Symposium Papers

A Faith Service to Reduce Environmental Degradation and Climate Change Effects

To date, despite establishment of local and global environmental protection institutions to better quality of life, lasting solutions to environmental degradation and climate change problem has not been realised. Quran and Sunnah contains high spiritual and positive actions on environment, resources use, efficiency and conservation teachings. However, many Muslim countries, communities, institutions, and organizations including universities have not succeeded to mainstream these noble teaching of Islam for the protection of environment and mitigation of climate change effects. Therefore, the first objective of this paper is to highlight the need to increase awareness on Islamic teaching, thought and positive action as illustrated by Bediuzzaman Said Nursi with the aim of mitigating problem of environmental degradation and climate change. Secondly, the paper also challenges the Muslims to comply with the Quran and Sunnah in protecting essentials blessings of God (water, air, soil, trees

April 16, 2019Ali Adan Ali

2017 Symposium Papers

Said Nursi and Moral Philosophy: a hermeneutical approach

The importance and significance that Said Nursi has left for posterity, covers fundamental concerns in various areas of knowledge, such as political, theological and philosophical . Considering the context of the author and the influence of his work, this study aims to make a hermeneutical approach to moral philosophy in Nursi’s text “the words” to analyze the way in which the author’s horizon of meaning is structured from religious and ontological categories that build the fundament of his narrative and discursive considerations.

April 16, 2019Isabel Muñoz-Forero

2017 Symposium Papers

Moderation (Wasatiyyah) As a Principle in Dealing with the ‘Others’ from the Viewpoint of the Risale-i Nur

This paper analyses the ideas of Said Nursi (1876-1960) on the importance of moderation (wasatiyyah) in the way of combatting extremism, wastefulness and radicalism, which are sharply escalating in our days both in the East and the West. The first part of the paper finds that, according to Nursi, moderation was the main principle of the Islamic way of life, capable to provide well-being and happiness for humanity. The next part of the paper highlights the positive role of moderation in creating unity and solidarity as a solution, which is capable to provide happiness and security for all humans regardless of their religious, ethnic or social backgrounds. It also suggests that Nursi identified nationalistic and patriotic sentiments as radical and extremist, which were artificially evoked among the Muslim nations and are alien to the Islamic approach of moderation. After studying the Risale-i Nur approach towards the followers of other mazhabs and non-Muslims, the paper concludes that Nu

April 16, 2019Elmira Akhmetova

2017 Symposium Papers

Said Nursi’s ideas and the modern political philosophy: some aspects of comparative perspective

The article is dedicated to analysis of Said Nursi’s political ideas and modern political philosophy. The political world has three-dimensional structure. 1) based on the fight and overcome the enemy, thus demonstrating conflicts within and outside the community, as well as showing the phenomenon of political friendship; 2) focused on the less intensive forms of conflict, trying to show the possibilities of cooperation and compromise, thereby laying the perspective of modern democratic renewal projects and actualizing the problem of tolerance; 3) showing a deep connection between politics and culture. When we try to find connections between ideas of Said Nursi and such kind political philosophy, we deal with some kind of comparative perspective in philosophy. And the author of the present article states that such comparative perspective in philosophy reveals not only the limitations of Western or Eastern way of thinking or their regional and cultural isolation, but also shows that this

March 28, 2019Dmytro Shevchuk

2017 Symposium Papers

TRADITION OF SABR (PATIENCE) AND THE POSITIVE ACTION: THE CONTRIBUTION OF SAID NURSI

The Risale-i Nur (Treatise of the Light), the most important Quranic commentary in republican Turkey, reconstructed Islamic thought by synthesizing miscellaneous Islamic traditions of thought to surpass the challenge of materialism emanating from the positivistic conception of modern science and society. The Risale preached a new way of living Islam as the epitome of insaniyet-i kübra (the greatest humanity). It posits its method of service (hizmet) to Islam as “positive action” (müsbet hareket), which means the patient and silent struggle to strengthen the essentials of Islamic belief (Iman) by peaceful means, noninvolvement in politics, and prioritizing religious zeal based on the principles of sincerity and brotherhood rather than a result-oriented course of action. The unique function of the Risale-i Nur in the renewal of belief (tajdīd) and revitalization (iḥya) of Islam inspired and compelled this method owing to the objective constraints imposed upon Muslim societies, and to s

March 28, 2019Ahmet Yıldız