dress not for self-advertisement, but to serve the cause of the Empire and its unity and progress.

One day, Bediuzzaman fell out with Tahir Pasha during a discussion, and he left the governor's residence and barricaded himself in his medrese, together with a few of his students. When they came to get him, he put two conditions to them. Firstly, they were not to arrest him in his medrese, as it would slight its honour and reputation, but could do so in the market place. And secondly, that if he was to be exiled, they should allow him his firearms. The governor accepted these conditions and exiled him to Bitlis. From there he moved to Hizan, then Bulanık, followed by Erciş, continuing to debate with the 'ulema in each place. He finally decided to go to Iran, but Tahir Pasha heard of this and invited him back to Van. [^70]

[^70]:Ibid., 72.

Another incident is recorded that occurred during Bediuzzaman's years in Van. He wrote:

My old students who are still living know that [we were in] the citadel of Van which is simply a great monolith the size of a mountain and the height of two minarets, we were going to a secret door which was like a chamber dating from ancient times. The shoes slid from my feet and my two feet slipped suddenly. The danger [of falling] was one hundred per cent. Although there was nothing on which to support myself, I was hurled in a three metre arc to the mouth of the cave as though I had been standing on something broad. Both myself and my friends who were there with me considered that it was only due to Divine protection and some miraculous unseen assistance that my time had not come. [^71]

[^71]:Nursi, Sikke-i Tasdik-i Gaybî, 126.

Bediuzzaman read the newspapers regularly while in Van, particularly the articles concerning Islam and the Islamic world. One day, Tahir Pasha pointed out an item that evoked an overpowering response in him. It was the report of a speech made in the British House of Commons by the Secretary for the Colonies. Bediuzzaman described it as follows:

Round about the year 1316, [^72] the Risale-i Nur's author underwent a radical change in regard to his ideas. It was as follows: up to that time, he had only been interested in, and had studied and taught, the various sciences; it was only through theoretical knowledge that he had sought enlightenment. Then at that date, he suddenly learnt through the late Governor, Tahir Pasha, of Europe's dire intentions towards the Qur'an. He heard that a British Secretary for the Colonies had even said in a newspaper:

[^72]:That is, around the turn of the century.