#### The Risale-i Nur's 'Positive' Method of Service and Relations with the Democrat Government

The Risale-i Nur's 'Positive' Method of Service

and Relations with the Democrat Government

Even if still under threat of police action, the legal and open printing of the Risale-i Nur was a tremendous victory for Bediuzzaman and his students over those who for thirty years had employed every means to eliminate and silence them, and vindicated the method of service they had followed and adhered to. The Risale-i Nur and its method of "positive action", the patient and silent struggle to save and strengthen belief in God and the other truths of religion by peaceful means — primarily the written word _and non-involvement in politics had prevailed over those who behind the screen of secularization were seeking to eradicate Islam and extinguish belief, which he predicted would lead to anarchy and the dissolution of society. The unique function of the Risale-i Nur in the renewal of belief and revitalization of Islam demanded this method, which had few counterparts in the Islamic world, where attempts to serve Islam were often by direct, violent, or political methods, which Bediuzzaman called "material" (maddî).

As described in the Introduction to the present chapter, the Risale-i Nur method was peaceful jihad or 'jihad of the word' (mânevî jihad) in the struggle against aggressive atheism and irreligion. By working solely for the spread and strengthening of belief, it was to work also for the preservation of internal order and peace and stability in society in the face of the moral and spiritual destruction of the forces of irreligion which aimed to destabilize society and create anarchy, and to form "a barrier" against them. Since the Democrat Party also understood the dangers which these posed and took a positive stand against them, and furthermore took steps to strengthen Islam, Bediuzzaman described the Democrats as "assisting" the Risale-i Nur Students in their struggle and offered them their support. And he himself gave them advice and guidance on these matters from time to time.

Thus, since, unlike many groups and individuals who mistakenly aimed to further the cause of Islam by 'negative' means the Risale-i Nur Students followed this 'positive' method, the Democrat government took a lenient attitude towards them, permitting the open publication of the Risale-i Nur after it had been cleared by Afyon Court in 1956 and not attempting to repress the movement. In view of these facts, Bediuzzaman continued to support the Democrats, and in particular the Prime Minister, Menderes, throughout the ten years they were in power and in the face of the opposition Menderes faced from all quarters including some Islamist groups also