► (095) ◄

My Dear, Loyal Brothers, and True Friends on the Way of Truth and Eternity !

The private letters that have arrived here from the Kastamonu villagers and champions of the Risale-i Nur and the devotees of Safranbolu deserve replies, but neither my situation nor my time permits this, so they should not be offended if I send a short reply via yourself.

Firstly: The letters of Hilmi, ihsan, Emin, and Taşköprülü Sadık filled me with joy. In truth, these brothers performed in nine months in prison nine years of service for the Risale-i Nur and came shoulder to shoulder with the Isparta champions. I shall never ever forget all they did for my welfare, for the unity and co-operation of our friends in the prison, and for the new parts of the Risale-i Nur, May God be eternally pleased with them and with you! Frequently I travel eagerly in the imagination to those times and to the places we used to make excursions to in Kastamonu and Barla. I sit down there and weep, and gaze at those friends of mine in the imagination.

Mustafa Osman and Hıfzı (May God have mercy on him) wrote a short letter that resembled the powerful expressions and fine handwriting of the hero Sadık, and sent the greetings of the Safranbolu students. I wondered if Sâdık had gone there or whether they had gone to him, or was there another brother called Sâdık?

More than anyone else, it is the duty of the loyal people of Barla to work with all their strength at writing out the Risale-i Nur. For Barla has won the honour of being the first Risale-i Nur School, so it is not permissible to leave it without students. God willing, it will again be filled. May God's blessings be upon those who are working, and may He grant them success. Amen!

Secondly: The two letters of Osman and Ahmed, two of Safranbolu's loyal students, show their extraordinary loyalty and attachment to the Risale-i Nur. Mâshallah, Osman has in a short time both learnt the Qur'an, and has written out pieces of the Risale-i Nur, and is now writing out The Staff of Moses. He is a true brother of the devoted Mustafa Osman and Hıfzı, and Ahmed is truly devoted as well. There are deficiencies in the writing of the letter, and I couldn't make out what he was saying. I send many greetings to them and to my brothers in Safranbolu and Kastamonu and around there, and I offer prayers for them, and request their prayers. I send greetings to each and every one of our brothers of the Medresetü'z-Zehrâ in Isparta and the region, and pray for their peace and well-being.

S a i d   N u r s i ∗∗∗