of civilization that was preventing it. What he wanted to make plain was that the onus lay with them, but added that he only pointed out their faults "to deliver them from laziness." "If you want constitutionalism to come quickly, build a railway out of learning and virtue so that it can mount the train of attainment and achievement called civilization, and riding on the seeds of progress, surmount the obstacles in a short time and greet you. However quickly you build the railway, it will come with the same speed." [^203]

[^203]:Nursi, Münâzarat (Ott. edn.), in Asar-ı Bedi'iyye, 410-411.

It is appropriate here to relate the following anecdote: during his travels through the region, Bediuzzaman had arrived at Urfa from Diyarbakir. He then set out to make a tour of the surrounding area and returning to Urfa, addressed a large gathering in the courtyard of the Yusuf Pasha Mosque. He began his address by describing how in one of the places he had visited, a villager he had questioned on the state of local agriculture had replied: "Our ağa [feudal landlord or tribal chief] knows" to whatever he had been asked. Bediuzzaman had told him: "Well, in that case, I shall talk with your intelligence which is in your ağa's pocket!" and had proceeded to explain that he should not refer everything to the ağa but should be enterprising and have initiative, and himself be informed about all the matters concerning the village. He made this the basis of his address. [^204]

[^204]:Şahiner, Said Nursi, 136.

It can be seen from these examples that Bediuzzaman wanted to impress on the people that the way forward now lay in their own hands. The sovereignty of the nation was this. When asked about the position of their chiefs and leaders, for traditionally tribal society had been dominated by the chiefs, elders, and religious figures, he replied as follows:

Each era has its own rule and ruler. According to your terminology, an ağa was necessary to make the machinery of the former era run. Thus, the era of despotism's immaterial rule was force. Whoever had a sharp sword and hard heart rose. But the era of constitutionalism's spring, spirit, force, ruler, and ağa is truth; it is reason, knowledge, the law, and public opinion. Whoever has a sharp mind and luminous heart will rise, and only he. Since knowledge increases as it advances in years and force decreases, medieval governments, which rely on force, are condemned to extinction. But since the governments of the modern age rely on science, they shall manifest immortal life.

Bediuzzaman was not attacking the chiefs and elders as such by speak-