dence of the Islamic world against the West and the maintenance of its cultural integrity, he foresaw the co-operation of Muslims and sincere Christians in the face of aggressive atheism. [^48] It is in this light also that Bediuzzaman's visit to the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Istanbul, Patriarch Athenagoras, should be seen, which he made during his visit to Istanbul in the spring and summer of 1953. [^49]

[^48]:It may be noted here that only ten years subsequent to the sending of Zülfikar, which in particular puts forward proofs of the Prophethood of Muhammad (PBUH) and the Qur'an being the Word of God, Islam was recognized by the Second Vatican Council as a genuine revealed religion and means of salvation.

[^49]:Şahiner, Said Nursi, 405.

#### Istanbul

Istanbul

Bediuzzaman came to Istanbul from Emirdağ, probably between the 20th and 25th April, 1953, [^50] on his way to Samsun. He stayed first in the Marmara Palas Hotel in Bayezıt then stayed one night in Çamlıca on the Asian side of the Bosphorus, after which he moved to Üsküdar, where he stayed three nights. Finally, on the invitation of one of his young students in Istanbul, Mehmet Fırıncı, Bediuzzaman moved to his house in the Draman district, close to Fatih. The family moved to another house next to their bakery, and being unable to complete his journey, Bediuzzaman stayed three months in their modest but pleasant old wooden house. It was exactly what he had been looking for. [^51]

[^50]:Mehmet Fırıncı, in Son Şahitler, iii, 218.

[^51]:Ibid., 218-38.

Beside obtaining medical reports and then making his defence in Istanbul Criminal Court, [^52] Bediuzzaman attended the celebrations marking the five hundredth anniversary of the conquest of Istanbul by Fatih Sultan Mehmed in 1453 during his stay, received many visitors, and was able to make excursions by bus around Istanbul. He also wrote a number of important letters, one of which on the radio was included in A Key to the World of the Risale-i Nur. Another letter, described as a fruit of Bediuzzaman's trips in and around Istanbul, reflects his attitude towards modern life and its encouragement of wastefulness, extravagance, and idleness. Part of it is included here:

[^52]:See, Nursi, Emirdağ Lahikası, ii, 135-7.

Since modern Western civilization acts contrarily to the fundamental laws of the revealed religions, its evils have come to outweigh its good aspects, its errors and harmful aspects its benefits; and general tranquillity and a happy worldly life, the true aims of civilization, have been destroyed.