to return to the nation at a future date. I shall spend only what is absolutely necessary on myself, the minimum. I heard that if I do refuse it, they, and especially those who were trying to fix the pension on my behalf, will be offended, and those who oppose me will say that I'm meeting my expenses from elsewhere. The wretches do not know the extraordinary blessings of frugality, and they have not seen that five kurush-worth of bread suffices me for two days and so are beset by completely baseless suspicions. If I do accept the pension, my life of seventy years will be offended, and it is possible that Imam 'Ali (May God be pleased with him) will also be dis- pleased with me, since making predictions of the present, he aimed blows at religious scholars who embrace innovations avidly seeking salaries and thus losing their sincerity, It is possible too that the true, pure sincerity of the Risale-i Nur will accuse me of insincerity. I am really quite bewildered as to what to do. I have heard that they will pressurize me even more if I do not accept it, and will perhaps curtail the Risale-i Nur's complete freedom. It seems even that their objective with the present oppression is to force me to accept their offers of the allowance. Since the situation is this, in accordance with the rule: "Necessity makes permissible what is forbidden," if it is really necessary, God willing it will not cause harm. But I did refuse it and refer it to you for your opinion.

My dear brothers! Don't worry about me. I suffer no distress because I see a trace of divine mercy in every difficulty and a flash of divine favour. Your endeavour and seriousness and assistance dispel all distress and are a source of perpetual joy.

Here, hardworking, devoted Mustafa Acet, who resembles my brother Abdülmecid and whose family is my family, and the industrious Ceylan, who is both a young Husrev and a young Abdurrahman, together serve the Risale-i Nur to their utmost. ∗∗∗

► (009) ◄

My Dear, Loyal Brothers !

I have sent you another part of The Fruits of Belief, about the angels. I sent two legal authorizations to Denizli on the chairman of the court saying that my books would be returned to me. Don't be anxious that here I am being held in the severest solitary confinement; divine favour persists.

It is noteworthy that while the Risale-i Nur was being read and written out freely here, quite unusually the winter was as mild as summer, as I heard from a number of people, but as soon as attacks were launched at it