citadel — is an act of service which will produce far-reaching, beneficial results for this country, this state, this nation. The sciences of religion will be the basis in the university, for the destruction of the external forces is moral and spiritual; it is through unbelief. The atom bomb to counter such moral and spiritual destruction can only acquire force and halt it through moral and spiritual matters, in that respect. Since in this matter the opinion and ideas should be sought of someone who has dedicated his life to it for the last fifty-five years and has studied it minutely in all its details considering all the consequences, and since you have felt yourselves compelled to hold consultations about it in America and in Europe, I too certainly have the right to speak concerning it. We await this from you in the name of the whole patriotic nation.

S a i d   N u r s i ∗∗∗

► (140) ◄

In His Name, be He glorified!

My Dear, Loyal, Devoted, Sincere, Earnest Brothers and True, Serious, Steadfast Friends in the Service of the Qur'an!

I am going to describe to you a state of mind of great significance and an illness I suffer from which is apparently extremely troublesome but in fact comprises a considerable instance of divine mercy and providence, and affords an ease of the spirit and is a sign that my task is completed. So I do not complain but offer thanks. I nevertheless request your prayers so that I may endure it. That state of mind is as follows:

If I say something, I am suddenly overcome by a tremendous thirst and am as though prevented. Formerly, I used to drink some water once or twice a day, but now, although I eat very little, I am compelled to drink water twenty or thirty times. In fact, two days ago it was even worse and I supposed I had been poisoned. I divulged this suspicion to the brothers who were with me. I beseeched divine mercy for patience and fortitude so that I might bear that crushing illness. Then suddenly it came to my heart that there has been a manifestation of providence and mercy in most of the difficulties I have suffered in my lifetime, so, God willing, there will be a ray of mercy in this too. It was this: the atheists' and the Satans from among men and the jinn's trying to poison me and silence me is an instance of divine mercy showing that I have fulfilled my duty and will take my rest. For last year I started to teach the Qur'anic commentary