'jetty keeper' at the village of Bedre on Lake Eğridir, who played a central role in distributing the parts of the Risale-i Nur to the surrounding villages. He was the prayer-leader in the village mosque, and shared with Bediuzzaman a "seal of brotherhood", in the form of the second and third toes of one foot being webbed. And Hüsrev [^73] from Isparta, who had very fine handwriting and devoted himself entirely to writing out copies of the Risale-i Nur and to its service.

[^73]:Hüsrev Altınbaşak, in Son Şahitler, ii, 196-8.

Bediuzzaman's relations with his students were quite unlike the usual formal, distant relations between teacher and students or shaykh and followers. He considered himself to be a student of the Risale-i Nur the same as them, and besides having close personal relations with them — true to his belief in consultation — consulted them concerning all matters to do with the writing and dissemination of the Risale-i Nur. And just as he was awe-inspiring and utterly uncompromising in the face of unbelief and the enemies of religion, towards those who served the truth, he was most kind and compassionate. Bediuzzaman was also extremely modest with his students, and courteous, and personally would accept no superior position, or praise or adulation. "I don't like myself", he used to say, "and I don't like those who like me!" He would only accept praise in so far as it belonged to the Risale-i Nur or the Qur'an, Bediuzzaman also kept in constant touch with his students and an unceasing flow of letters passed between them. These thousands of letters were gathered together and form a substantial part of the Risale-i Nur. The following is part of a letter, from the collection of those written while Bediuzzaman was in Barla.

My brothers Hüsrev, Lütfi, and Rüştü,

In one respect — beyond my due — you are my students, and in one respect you are my fellow students, and in one respect you are my assistants and consultants.

My dear brothers! Your Ustad [Master] is not infallible. It is an error to suppose him to be free of error. One rotten apple in an orchard does not harm the orchard. And one worn coin in a treasury does not negate the treasury's value. If good points are reckoned as ten and bad points as one, it is fair in the face of the good points not to upset the heart and object because of the one bad point and error…

Understand this, my brothers and fellow students! I shall be happy if you tell me freely when you see a fault in me. If you hit me over the head with it even, I shall say, May God be pleased with you! Other sakes should not be considered in preserving the sake of the truth. I will accept it immedi-