Empire as well as in Europe. Bediuzzaman accepted the trend, and through pointing out that these luminous concepts are not the exclusive property of the West as the Europeans would have it but are fundamental to Islam, showed the way towards developing a truly Islamic form of government. This demonstrating that consultation, equality before the law, justice, freedom, and brotherhood are enjoined by Islam and were practised by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his immediate successors, and that despotism is contrary to Islam, is not apologetics or some belated and dubious claim to them as is often portrayed, but is a genuine statement of fact, and is, furthermore, a recognition of the dynamic nature of the Shari'a.

Bediuzzaman's success in spreading these ideas in Salonica caused him to be looked on very favourably by the Committee of Union and Progress. A figure of some fame, or notoriety, got to hear of Bediuzzaman and his activities, and that was Emanuel Karaso, later the Jewish deputy for Salonica, and Grand Master of the Macedonia Risorta Masons' Lodge. No doubt wanting to find a way of influencing such a talent and using it for his own purposes, he sought a meeting with Bediuzzaman. He agreed, but the Grand Master left abruptly half way through the conversation, and confessed to those waiting for him outside: "If I had stayed any longer, he would have made a Muslim of me!" [^115]

[^115]:Şahiner, Said Nursi, 99-100.

In July 1908, the events in Macedonia leading to the proclamation of the Constitution followed on one after the other. Mutiny, assassinations, and ultimatums demanding the restoration of the Constitution culminated in its reinstatement by the Sultan on 23 rd July. It was met with joy as the news spread through the Empire, with the people spilling onto the streets to celebrate their deliverance from despotism and express their optimism at the future — emotions doubtless shared by Bediuzzaman. He was concerned however that these unfamiliar concepts should be properly understood.

In the speech he gave, firstly impromptu in Beyazit in Istanbul immediately following the proclamation of the Constitution and subsequently in Freedom Square in Salonica, he explained to the people the meaning of constitutionalism, and how they should regard it, and that if the Shari'a was made the source of it, "This oppressed nation will progress a thousand times further than in former times."