Molla Said's quickness and brilliant intelligence demonstrated itself particularly in mathematics. He could solve the most difficult problems mentally and almost instantaneously. He wrote a treatise on algebraic equations, which unfortunately was subsequently destroyed by fire in Van. On occasion, different calculations would become the subject of discussion in Tahir Pasha's presence. Whatever the calculations, Molla Said would find the solution before any of the others were able to do so, even the most skilful scribes. They would often hold competitions, and Molla Said always came first, beating everyone else. [^56]

[^56]:Tarihçe, 46.

Molla Said continued to memorize those works he considered essential, approximately ninety during the years he was in Van, endeavouring to go through the entire list reciting each book by heart once every three months. On one occasion while passing the door of Said's room, Tahir Pasha heard what he thought was the sound of prayers and invocations being recited softly; it was Molla Said repeating his books by heart. Years later, he told Mustafa Sungur, one of his closest students:

I used to repeat by heart the eighty to ninety books I had memorized. They were the steps by which to ascend to the truths of the Qur'an. Some time later, I ascended to those truths and I saw that each verse of the Qur'an encompasses the universe. No need then remained for anything else, the Qur'an alone was sufficient for me. [^57]

[^57]:Şahiner, Said Nursi, 70; Mustafa Sungur, in N. Şahiner, Aydınlar Konuşuyor, 395.

It was at this time that as a result of these feats of learning and the prodigious amounts of knowledge he was acquiring, Molla Said now became widely known as Bediuzzaman or the Wonder of the Age. [^58]

[^58]:Tarihçe, 45.

Although Molla Said, or Bediuzzaman as we shall now call him, also used this title himself, it was not out of vanity. In an article entitled, "To Dispel Any Fears" (Reddü'l-Evham), which appeared in the newspaper Volkan dated 31 March 1909, Bediuzzaman replied as follows to the question: "You sometimes sign yourself Bediuzzaman. Doesn't such a name point to self-praise?"

It is not for self-praise. I present my faults, excuses and apologies with the title, because Badi' means strange. Like my style, my manner of expression