interest. It is also for this reason that I respond sincerely to their greetings, the same as I salute grown-ups. And I used to say to them that due to both their innocence, and the fact that in the future they would be true Nurjus, their prayers for me would be acceptable: "You are now my spiritual off- spring, so just as I pray for you, your prayers for me will be acceptable, God willing, since you are without sin. So you pray for me too, for I am seriously ill."

I and the brothers who are with me concluded that there is a strong possibility that in the face of the plans of the Masons and atheists to open schools to educate the youth according to communism and then trying to corrupt the youth with the changing schools, the innocent young children of the Turkish nation, which is the standard-bearer of Islam, receiving lessons from the Risale-i Nur with a luminous awakening, is a response to that calamity being visited on the youth. God willing, it is a sign that both the children and the youth will be saved from the evils of the Masons and atheists, owing to which they display that strange behaviour,

S a i d   N u r s i ∗∗∗

► (077) ◄

In His Name, be He glorified!

And there is nothing but it glorifies Him with praise! (Q 17:44)

18.11.1951

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings, for ever and ever!

My Dear, Loyal Brothers and Nur Students of the Medresetü' z-Zehrâ!

When I arrived in Isparta, I received the news that a school for prayer-leaders and preachers was going to be opened. This gave me the idea that since most of the pupils who would register for the school would be Nurjus, a Nur School should be opened unofficially in the vicinity of the official school and that the latter should be made into a sort of Nur School. A day or two later, a rumour spread that I was going to teach, and it was understood from the streams of men and women from all around who came to listen that if such a semi-official, general Nur School were to be opened, such a thronging crowd would form that it would become impossible. So the idea was abandoned due to the possibility of unnecessary crowds gathering, as they did when we went to the court in Afyon. A second truth was imparted to my heart. It was this: