#### Istanbul

Istanbul

Bediuzzaman was given a hero's welcome on his return to Istanbul. Enver Pasha introduced him to the leading military personnel in the War Ministry saying: "Do you see this hoja? This was the person who withstood the Russian Cossacks in the East!" He received invitations from prominent pashas and dignitaries, or was visited by them. He was offered various positions and honours, and was awarded a War Medal. Molla Süleyman, one of his students, recounted the following exchange:

"I read of Bediuzzaman's return in the Tanin, and visited him in Sultan Ahmet and kissed his hand. Later Enver Pasha, the Minister of War, invited him to visit the War Ministry, He said to him there: 'How are you? What are you doing these days, hoja?' Bediuzzaman replied: 'If you are offering me work for some worldly gain, I do not want it, but if any duties related to knowledge and learning fall to me, that would be different. But for now I am in need of rest, for I received much harsh treatment and suffered great hardship while I was a prisoner.'" [^280]

[^280]:Şahiner, Said Nursi, 182-3.

Also at this time Bediuzzaman was endeavouring to have his Qur'an commentary, Signs of Miraculous, published. Wanting to show his appreciation of the work and of Bediuzzaman's service in the War, Enver Pasha offered to publish it for him. So Bediuzzaman suggested he might get the paper. Not easy to find in war-time Turkey. Thus, Enver Pasha provided the paper for Signs of Miraculous, and Bediuzzaman had it published. [^281]

[^281]:Ibid., 183; Şualar, 385 (Eng. tr.: Rays, 453).

Bediuzzaman was given no opportunity to rest and regain his strength. On 12 August 1918, the Darü'l-Hikmeti'l-İslamiye, a learned council or Islamic academy, was set up in association with the Şeyhü'l-İslam's Office, and without his knowledge Bediuzzaman was appointed as the nominee of the Army. However, before continuing, in order to understand better the problems this institution faced and Bediuzzaman's attitude towards it, and indeed all his thought and activities at this time, we include here a brief outline of the main events of these difficult years.

#### An Outline of Events from 1918 to 1922

An Outline of Events from 1918 to 1922

By bringing the Ottoman Empire into the War on the side of the Central Powers, the leaders of the Committee of Union and Progress had secured its final demise. For on its defeat the victors and Britain in particular were able to realize their long-cherished designs of finally breaking up the Otto-