in no way a political society. Due to the situations in their countries, the Muslim Brothers, however, are involved in politics, in order to support religion, and they are a political society.

Second Difference: The Nur students do not meet with their Master and they are not obliged to do so. They do not feel themselves compelled to meet with him. They do not consider it necessary to be together with him in order to receive instruction. Rather, the whole country is like a place of instruction; on their obtaining the books, they are taught by them instead of by their Master. The treatises are each like a Said.

Moreover, as far as they possibly can, the Nur students write the treatises out for no wage and distribute them free of charge [^56] to the needy, so that they may read them and listen to them. In this way the whole country has become a vast place of learning.

[^56]:For twenty-five years the Risale-i Nur was disseminated in this way in Anatolia, being written out by hand. [Author]

The Muslim Brothers, however, meet with their guides and leaders in general centres, and go to visit them in order to receive instruction and orders. They also meet in the branches of that general society with their supreme Master and those who are the equivalent of his deputies and successors, and receive instruction and orders. And they obtain for the required price the newspapers and books produced in the centres, and receive instruction from them too.

Third Difference: Just like the students of an elevated medrese (religious school) or university, the Nur students learn through scholarly exchanges. A large province becomes like a medrese. They teach each other and learn together although they do not see one another or know each other, and although they far apart.

However, due to the circumstances of their countries, the Muslim Brothers produce books and magazines and distribute them everywhere; they come to know each other through them, and receive instruction.

Fourth Difference: The Nur students have now spread to most of the Islamic countries, and they are numerous. In spreading in this way, they are present in various countries but they do not need to obtain permission from the governments to meet together and do their work. For their way is not a political way and they are not a political society, so they do not consider themselves obliged to obtain permission.

However, due to their circumstances, the Muslim Brothers are involved in politics and need to organize a society and open centres and branches, and are therefore obliged to obtain permission from the authorities