#### 'Address to Freedom'

'Address to Freedom'

The text of the speech, entitled Address to Freedom, is too long to include here in its entirety, so we shall briefly point out the main ideas it describes and include parts of it by way of illustration. But first it is worth noting the importance Bediuzzaman attached to illuminating and mobilizing the ordinary people and community of believers in the struggle for progress, as is illustrated by the few introductory sentences to the Address. For while the proclamation of the Constitution was greeted with jubilation it was still believed by many that the new government was irreligious and that it was not permissible to obey it, a belief that was clearly open to exploitation by its opponents. [^116]

[^116]:A. Vehbi Vakkasoğlu, Bediüzzaman Said Nursî'den Siyasi Tesbitler, Istanbul 1977, 17.

In addition, in regard to politics, the fundamental ideas that Bediuzzaman adhered to was that all the community should participate in the political process, and that the government should reflect the nation's will, and that, furthermore, government based on these principles was enjoined by Islam. Following the proclamation of the Constitution, therefore, he expended much effort addressing the ordinary people, and especially his fellows Kurds, who had been subject to negative propaganda about the Constitution and were deeply suspicious of it, in order to explain to them its meaning, and their own rights and responsibilities towards it, And so, in an introductory passage to the Address to Freedom, Bediuzzaman addresses his audience directly and asks them to participate mentally in what he is going to discuss. Let their hearts be open..."For there is work to do for your zeal, religious feeling, and endeavour; they are going to discuss certain matters; they are going to kindle a light from the dark corners of the heart." [^117]

[^117]:Nursi, Asar-ı Bedi'iyye, 347.

Rather than being merely an ode in praise of Freedom, the Address to Freedom [^118]is primarily an exhortation to adhere to Islam and its morality in the new era. With the advent of Freedom, the Ottoman nation has been given the opportunity to progress and establish true civilization as in former times, but this will only be achieved if they make the Shari'a the foundation of Freedom. [^119] It points out the detrimental effects of despotism on

[^118]:Ibid., 347-356; Nursi, Divan-ı Harb-i Örfî, 56-70.

[^119]:The term Shari'a should be understood as signifying not only the injunctions and prohibitions of the Law in a narrow sense, but the entire body of Islamic teaching. Bediuzzaman's arguments demonstrating the conformity of constitutionalism with the Shari'a are given following the speech.