demanded from divine justice a sort of hell for those wretches in this world, for we have seen that for some of them it reduces to nothing the pleasure they received in a year from their absolute despotism; time has shown this, This means that divine justice and providence suffice us.

Fourthly: I send my condolences to both the relatives of Ali Osman on his death, and to the Medresetü' z-Zehrâ and the Nur circle. And I congratulate him, for he carried out his duty to the letter and now is included in my prayers together with the Nur heroes Hâfız Ali and Hâfız Mustafa, I send many greetings to all my brothers.

The Enduring One, He is the Enduring One!

S a i d   N u r s i ∗∗∗

► (045) ◄ Good News for Elderly Women and an Admonishment For Young Girls Who Do Not Want to Marry

Good News for Elderly Women and an Admonishment

For Young Girls Who Do Not Want to Marry

[For the time being this is addressed only to the leading students of the Medresetü'z-Zehrâ.]

The Hadith which says: "Practise religion as elderly women do!" [^9] shows that since at the end of time it will be elderly women who have powerful belief, religiously-minded people should imitate their piety. Furthermore, compassion is one of the Risale-i Nur's four fundamental principles and women are champions of compassion, due to which even the most timorous of them is ready to sacrifice her very spirit for her child.

[^9]:al-Ghazālī, Ihya' 'Ulūm al-Dīn, iii, 75.

At the present time those worthy mothers and sisters are faced with a difficult situation. I felt a presentiment in my spirit that I had to explain to those Nur students who want to remain single or who have to, a natural fact which is confidential and should not be disclosed. So I have to say this:

My sisters and daughters! Times have changed and things are not as they used to be. For nearly half a century now in our society secular education and upbringing have replaced Islamic education. So while a man should take a wife to be his companion in the next life as well as to bring him happiness in this world and to keep him from sinning, he loves the wretched woman only in her youth, keeping her under perpetual pressure.