these two keen diamond swords", they had presented the Fifth Ray as an apparent reason and deceived the government into moving against them. [^250]

[^250]:Nursi, Şualar, 265 (Eng. tr.: Rays, 340).

Bediuzzaman's response to these covert moves to subvert the course of justice show what a brilliant tactician he was, and also his extraordinary grasp of the situation, although he had been for several months in total isolation in the prison. He took them by storm. He had sent to seven departments of government copies in the new letters of The Fruits of Belief and the defence speeches, and all the parts of the Risale-i Nur to the Ministry of Justice. [^251] And then, when the Education Minister launched his attack at them, Bediuzzaman sensed that this was out of fear and had sent to that ministry four boxes of various parts of the Risale-i Nur. [^252] In another letter, urging his students to contain themselves in patience during these long drawn out proceedings, he pointed out what an event it was, the Risale-i Nur being read by those who most fervently supported the regime, at that time when "love for that fearsome dead man was being inculcated into the people, in all schools and departments", which would have had grim consequences for the Islamic world. At the very least, the Risale-i Nur would moderate their absolute unbelief and so lessen the attacks on them. [^253]

[^251]:Nursi, Lem'alar, 252 (Eng. tr.: Flashes, 334).

[^252]:Nursi, Şualar, 280-1 (Eng. tr.: Rays, 258-9).

[^253]:Ibid., 284 (Eng. tr.: Rays, 362).

#### The Acquittal

The Acquittal

Then, when the situation of Bediuzzaman and his students seemed most grim and they were expecting Ankara to act most severely towards them, Bediuzzaman's move proved successful and a relatively soft and even conciliatory position was taken. [^254] On 22 April 1944, the committee set up to examine the Risale-i Nur presented their unanimous report to the Ankara Criminal Court. Their findings were positive to a degree far exceeding all expectations. They were forwarded to Denizli and a copy of the report reached Bediuzzaman.

[^254]:Ibid., 286 (Eng. tr.: Rays, 365).

The report stated that 90% of the Risale-i Nur was formed of scholarly explanations of the truths of belief, and that these parts "did not part at all from the way of scholarship and principles of religion." There was nothing in these to suggest the exploitation of religion, the founding of a society, or that there was a movement that would disturb public order. [^255] Bediuzzaman wrote in a letter to his students:

[^255]:Nursi, Müdâfaalar, 151.