public security. For that reason he forgave the police who had caused him difficulties. And thirdly, because the Risale-i Nur had spread everywhere and was so sought after, he had received invitations from twenty provinces, of which he had only been able to visit three. Now he was happy to be in Emirdağ, but wanted to go to Isparta. [^127]

[^127]:Nursi, Emirdağ Lahikası, ii, 211-12

#### Bediuzzaman's Last Days

Bediuzzaman's Last Days

On returning to Emirdağ, Bediuzzaman apparently no longer concerned himself with the plight of Menderes and the government. He had done whatever he could to warn them, and now, through their own intervention, he was able to do no more. In fact, his student Said Özdemir reported Bediuzzaman as saying at this point: "Menderes did not understand me. I shall depart soon. And they too will go — overturned, head over heels." [^128] The government had indeed lost its credibility by then in the face of İnönü's attacks and the continual incidents provoked throughout the country, and its grip on the country's affairs continued to decline from this time onwards. İnönü was visited in his house by leading members of the military. The plans were laid for the coup. Menderes survived only two months after Bediuzzaman's death. The increased surveillance under which Bediuzzaman was now held continued right up to the time of his death.

[^128]:Said Özdemir, in Son Şahitler, v, 55

He remained in Emirdağ for some eight days then, in accordance with the wish he had stated to the press, on 20 January he went to Isparta. Here he stayed in his rented house till 17 March, when he returned to Emirdağ for two days. The month of Ramadan began that year on 26 February. Thus it was 19 Ramadan 1379 when Bediuzzaman set off for Emirdağ in his car together with Zübeyir, Mustafa Sungur, and Hüsnü Bayram, who acted as driver. His health had deteriorated considerably. Until 15 Ramadan, he had even been able to perform the teravih prayers then he had started to fail. The following day in Emirdağ, Bediuzzaman's students called the doctor, Tahir Barçın, himself long one of Bediuzzaman's students, for Bediuzzaman was now seriously ill.

According to Dr. Barçın, who answered their call immediately, Bediuzzaman's temperature was 38° and his condition was serious: he had caught double pneumonia. He gave him an injection of penicillin then Bediuzzaman dozed off. A short while later, he smiled, opened his eyes and said to those present: