closed, and since like everyone you are racing towards it, and since for the people of misguidance certain death means being sentenced to eternal nonbeing and no matter how zealous, preoccupation with politics and worldly matters cannot change this; and since you now have in your possession the Risale-i Nur, which proves as clearly as daylight that for the believers the Qur'an transforms everlasting execution into discharge papers, and in twenty years no scientist or atheist has been able to challenge it — on the contrary, it has brought to belief scientists who have studied it attentively, and in the space of twelve years four of your criminal courts and committees of experts made up of philosophers and religious scholars have applauded, affirmed and appreciated it and have been unable to object to the proofs it contains of the matters of belief; and since I can put forward as witnesses one hundred thousand members of the Turkish nation, especially its youths with a secular education, that together with its being in no way harmful for this nation and country, it is a Qur'anic barrier resembling the barrier of Dhu'l-Qarnayn that withstands the fearsome currents that are assaulting them; most certainly, it is encumbent upon you that you consider fully these ideas of mine that I am presenting to you. At all times you lend an ear to worldly diplomats, so should therefore heed, if only a little, a wretched person like myself who is at the door of the grave and speaks on behalf of the hereafter and weeps at the circumstances of his fellow citizens. [^87]

[^87]:Although for twenty years I had never applied to the authorities, this petition was written once off when I was angry and addressed the Interior Minister, Hilmi, and for the record was sent to the Afyon police chief. Four or five times they unnecessarily and meaninglessly caused me distress, calling me to the police station officially and asking me: "Your handwriting isn't like that; who wrote that for you?" I replied: "Petition shouldn't be made to such people; I was right to remain silent for twenty years!" Police and authorities of Emirdağ! I wrote this conversation a year ago, but I didn't send it and kept it. Now in five ways that are illegal they have interfered and prevented me from having anyone to assist me in the place I stay and enforce out-and-out tyranny on me in a way unheard of in this world. I am informing you of this with the idea that those who act illegally in the name of the law will come to act justly. [Author]

A Brief Postscript

Hilmi Bey! You are fortunate! While in prison and here I considered you to be pitiless towards us. Whenever I became angry, I intended to curse you. But whenever I mentioned in my prayers a select Nur student and brother of mine called Hilmi Bey, the name Hilmi Bey, the recipient of the prayer, virtually became an intercessor and prevented me, although I had intended to curse you. So I revoked that intention and enduring the ill-