► (009) ◄
My Dear, Loyal Brothers !
It was imparted to my heart that I should explain to you a few matters concerning my person.
Firstly: Sometimes, when I have been angry at and scolded some of my select brothers due to their thoughtlessness when serving my person and I have seen them to be less than kind to me, it has occurred to my heart that due to their excessively high opinion they surmise that "If our Master so wishes, some spirit beings and jinns as well will serve him, and perhaps they do. The clear manifestation of providence in the Risale-i Nur's service shows that no opportunity is given for his wretchedness; he does not need our kindness." And they are faulty in serving me. In fact, today someone was going to bring a car, but due to their thoughtlessness, I set out on foot. I suffered the hardship of ten hours in a single hour. A few days ago I said the following to those of them who act thus inconsiderately and now I am repeating it; you may listen too:
Just as the inner meaning of sincerity strongly restrains me from exploiting the Risale-i Nur and the work of serving belief for worldly ranks and high places for myself in the hereafter; so too, I shrink from exploiting that sacred service for my personal ease and comfort or to pass a pleasant, troublefree life in this world. For since consuming the eternal fruits of the good works of the hereafter on trivial pleasures in this fleeting life is opposed to the inner meaning of sincerity, I tell you certainly that if the servants from among the spirit beings and jinns that the ascetics who abandoned the world sought and accepted were to every day bring me the finest remedies when I was hungry and wounded, for the sake of true sincerity I would know myself compelled not to accept them. Even, if some of the saints in the Intermediate Realm were to assume forms and give me sweets and baklavas out of respect for the service we perform for belief, both my soul and my heart would agree not to kiss their hands and accept them so as not to consume briefly in this world the everlasting fruits of the hereafter. But on condition the evil-commanding soul does not interfere, with all my spirit I accept such merciful bestowals as blessings proceeding from divine providence without our intending them.
Secondly: On the Pasinler Front during the Great War, the late Molla Habib and I were moving forward with the intention of attacking the enemy. Their artillery fired three shells at us at one or two minute intervals. The three shells passed right over our heads two metres high, and although our soldiers were concealed in the ravine behind us and could not be seen, they retreated. By way of a test I said: "What do you say, Molla