the phaeton, [^101] in a way that was quite unprecedented, five aeroplanes flew over us very low because they knew it was my phaeton, and twice returned. Then the next day, we went in a different direction, and while passing along a fairly concealed valley in the phaeton, we saw five planes flying very low as though they were searching for something. We understood that they were looking for us, Just like the previous day, those five planes flew over us and over the town, and when I returned to my room, they disappeared. This was a powerful sign that they had made a hundred mountains out of one molehill. You may convey my thanks and gratitude to the authorities and judiciary in Isparta, for here, I am subjected to this meaningless harassment due to groundless suspicions. The heroes of the Medresetü'z-Zehrâ there have been subjected in three years to only a tenth of it, so I forgive the Isparta authorities their persecution.
[^101]:Yes, we confirm this in the name of the Nur students here; the incident occurred exactly as described: Terzi Mustafa, Ismail, Mustafa, His servant Nuri, Hayri, Halil [Author]
Thirdly: Concerning the present calamity, I considered as usual the justice of divine determining and outpouring of divine providence, and I saw that compared with other provinces, Kütahya had lagged behind in regard to the Risale-i Nur despite being close to its circle, so to awaken its interest and that of its judiciary and administration in the Risale-i Nur like those of Denizli and Kastamonu ... Yes, however much his ideas and duties are against us, he was sent to that province so that he might profit from the Risale-i Nur in respect of belief and win reward for the Nurjus. Divine determining also dealt me a compassionate slap because I told myself: the Interior Minister comes from Erzurum and my home region and the governor of Afyon (from Antalya) and uptil now they have not bothered me; I'm free now and I've found a fair-minded governor; I'm not going to leave Emirdağ; but in punishment for the sort of joy I felt and my lack of caution, divine determining dealt me a blow at the hands of those two men, and acted justly.
The governor of Afyon, the chief of police, and the committee here wrote to Ankara concerning our case: "There's no question of founding a Sufi order or political society, but there are two hundred thousand Nurju brothers who are ready to sacrifice themselves for anything Said Nursi says." They caused serious consternation to the government in another way. But there may possibly be an advantage for the Risale-i Nur and the Nurjus in that memo of theirs, as well as some harm for my person. One aspect of the advantage is this: the conditions are indeed harsh, but there is