treatises were found to contain not an atom's worth of anything reprehensible? What benefit is there is this? What need is there to summon an unfortunate like myself to the police station, particularly in response to a denunciation? But I say to you that if I so wished, thousands of people would copy out my writings. And they are writing them out everywhere so that the nation and country may benefit from them.

Secondly: I request from you in the name of humanity that until the festival (bayram) you do not turn my attention towards this world. I don't think of you, so don't you think of me. Don't force an unfortunate like myself who is weary of this world to be preoccupied during these blessed months with quite worthless worldly matters. ∗∗∗

► (118) ◄

I was curious about this new, meaningful earthquake. I said in my heart: If it was so severe in other places, the Nur students must have been subject to aggression again. I asked if it was only connected with my letter and they said that it was hardly felt in Ankara, was more powerful in Afyon and Eskişehir, but was most severe in this town of Emirdağ. But it is astonishing that although there were four severe quakes, there was no damage. A reason for this is that a categorical order was given to bring Said forcibly to the government offices. The guards and a corporal came. I had shut my door and locked it. They announced that they would rather resign than break the door down. They turned and left. That is to say, like the earthquakes described in my defence speech, this particular one was connected with the Risale-i Nur and remained particular and caused no damage despite its severity. If they had broken down the door of the tiny Nur School here, it would have resulted in a serious blow and would not have been merely a warning. It's true this assault was minor and petty, but I can't hide that I have never been so annoyed as I was this time. Nevertheless, I put up with it in wondrous fashion for the sake of the Risale-i Nur and the Nurjus. For that wretch abused me as he sat in his chair of office and he ordered my assistant: "Go and tell him!" He arrogated government power to his own sluggard self and challenged it, and really nettled a vein of character that remained in me from the Old Said. But the absolute necessity for calm, self-control, moderation, patience, and forbearance made me retain my composure.

Thirdly: Marangoz Ahmed, who has wholly filled the place of the late wondrously loyal Marangoz Mustafa Çavuş of Barla, had the idea of a rest-