Ustad spoke Turkish with an Eastern accent... He was pleased we were Galatasaray students, and spoke to us giving us advice. He dwelt particularly on the dangers of bolshevism. Communism was not all that widespread in Turkey at that time... and it was truly great far-sightedness his perceiving that it would be such a problem for Turkey in the future. [^30]

[^30]:Mehmet Şevket Eygi, in Son Şahitler, v, 218-9.

Just as visits such as this led directly to increased coverage and support of Bediuzzaman and the Nur movement in the Islamic press, so too at this time Bediuzzaman's Istanbul visit afforded the opportunity for a number of young Risale-i Nur Students to visit Bediuzzaman for the first time who subsequently became close students of his and among the most active members of the Nur movement.

In his account, Muhsin Alev also describes Bediuzzaman's trips around the city of Istanbul visiting places he had frequented in earlier days, such as the old War Ministry which now houses Istanbul University, where he faced the wrathful pashas in the Court Martial set up after the 31st March Incident in 1909. [^31] Another student who went to visit Bediuzzaman in the Reşadiye Hotel describes the sprightly way he walked, stepping lightly up onto the pavement opposite the hotel "like a youth of twenty", and how, when he emerged from the great Fatih Mosque after attending the prayers, he was mobbed by such a large and enthusiastic crowd, all wanting to kiss his hand, that he could only be saved by jumping into a taxi. [^32]

[^31]:Muhsin Alev, in Son Şahitler, i, 221.

[^32]:Mustafa Ramazanoğlu, in Son Şahitler, iv, 223-4.

Nevertheless, as ever, Bediuzzaman's enemies were not idle and a further attempt to poison him was made while staying at the Akşehir Palas Hotel in Sirkeci. The incident was described by İbrahim Fakazlı, one of Bediuzzaman's students from İnebolu, who had taken over the night in question from Muhsin, Zübeyir, and Ziya Arun. Poison was thrown in Bediuzzaman's food, which he had left outside the window to cool. When he understood what had happened, he raised the hotel staff, and it was learnt that among the occupants of the adjacent room was an Armenian Taşnak militant. He was caught and confessed to Bediuzzaman that he had come that day from Edirne with the intention of carrying out the cowardly crime. Ibrahim Fakazlı witnessed this. [^33]

[^33]:İbrahim Fakazlı, in Son Şahitler, v, 21.