ferred to perform them alone in his room, that is, his state of mind causes him to shrink from the people's esteem; and as testified to by his life of twenty years and affirmed by hundreds of thousands of valuable Turkish people, prefers one religious and pious Turk to numerous negligent Kurds; in fact, has proved in court that he would not change his sincere Turkish brothers whose belief is as powerful as that of Hâfız Ali for hundreds of Kurds; and if not obliged to, does not meet with people or go to the mosque so as not to be acclaimed and be treated with reverence; and for forty years has striven with all his strength and his works for the brother- hood of Islam and to strengthen love between Muslims; and who does not act negatively towards fierce enemies and does not even busy himself with them or curse them; and who loves the Turkish nation since it is the Qur'an's standard-bearer and has been praised by the Qur'an, and has passed his life among them. Which law would permit such a person to be insulted in officialese saying: "He's a Kurd, you're Turks; he's a Shafi'i, you're Ḥanafis!" just for propaganda and to scare his friends and to make the people avoid him; and permit a brimmed hat to be forced on the head of that recluse, although in twenty-two years and two courts he has not been compelled to change his dress, and the peaked cap for soldiers even has been partially modified?

The Ninth: This is very important [^103] and very powerful, but I am remaining silent since it touches on politics.

[^103]:The facts that there used to be Christians and Jews in Islamic governments, and Muslims in Christian and Zoroastrian governments shows that the government cannot take measures against opponents who do not breach public security. Also, possibilities are not indictable, for anyone can commit murder. If this were the case, everyone would have to be sent to court. [Author]

The Tenth: This was an assault that would be permitted by no law and in which there were no benefits; it was covered by no law and resulted from making mountains out of a molehill due to unfounded suspicions. So keeping silent so as not to look to politics as is demanded by our way, we merely say in the face of such treatment that was illegal in ten respects: "God suffices us, and He is the best Disposer of Affairs!" (Q 3: 173)

S a i d   N u r s i ∗∗∗