enemies, let alone the abuse of a couple of unconscionable villains, and would rebut their claims. Then I looked at myself and saw that although I am a dessicated dried up date seed whose functions have been fulfilled, you had seen the magnificant fruit-bearing tree that had appeared from it in the Risale-i Nur garden. I saw that your enormously good opinion was due to the tree and since the seed was a sort of means to it, it was the object of your favourable opinions.

The letter's first page is good; I agree with it. I put a few marks on the second page and moderated it so that it might read: Hasan's (May God be pleased with him) Caliphate lasted only six months. But since through the power and effulgence the Risale-i Nur has received from Jaushan al-Kabir [^35] and Jaljalutiyya, it disseminates the truths of belief, which is the Caliphate's chief duty, we may look on it as turning Hasan's (May God be pleased with him) brief Caliphate into a lengthy one, and see him as the fifth Caliph. For it is the Risale-i Nur that has the capability to bring people happiness this age through the application of true justice, and its collective personality may be seen as a sort of assistant, complement, and spiritual son to Hasan (May God be pleased with him). Deputizing for you, I marked a few places similarly to this. However, I saw that of the letters and rough copies in among my books that the court had handed over to me, which they evidently considered important since they had marked it in green ink, a part was missing from the one I had written to you. I understood that it was telling me to answer your letter with it. Perhaps it has been included in The Additional Letters. I am writing it out here exactly. It is this:

[^35]:al-Jaushan al-Kabīr, which means the strong cuirass or breastplate, is a supplication ascribed in a narration from Zayn al-'Abidin, the son of Husayn, to his great-grandfather, the Prophet Muhammad (UWBP). The supplication consists of many divine names and attributes, most of which are found in the Qur'an, and its recitation is reputed to be very meritorious. [Tr.]

You should look to my very faulty person only with regard to duty and service, not the ranks you have accorded me out of your good will towards me. If the veil were to be raised, my true nature would be revealed, stained from top to bottom with faults; it would cause you to flee from me. Lest you refuse my brotherhood or regret it, do not fasten your attachment to my person or to imaginary stations that far exceed my due. My brother! I am neither guide nor master to you; our relationship is that of fellow students. I am in need of your kindly prayers in the face of my faults, and your saintly influence. You should not await such influence from me; I