To proceed: this wretched, strange Nursi, who although he deserves to be called the Oddity of the Age became known as the Wonder of the Age (Bediuzzaman), cries out in extreme pain at the nation's decline, alas and alack! For abandoning the essence and kernel of Islam, we fixed our gazes on its exterior and shell. And due to misunderstandings and ill manners, we did not afford Islam its right nor pay it the respect it was due. So in disgust it swathed itself in clouds of illusion and delusion, and concealed itself. And it had the right, for we mixed israiliyyat [^2] with the fundamentals of belief, and stories with the tenets of faith, and metaphors with the truths of belief, and did not appreciate its value. So to punish us in this world, it left us in abasement and penury. And what will save us, is again its mercy.

[^2]:İsrailiyyat (Ar. isrā'īliyyāt): the body of narrative material derived from allegedly Jewish and Christian sources that from an early date was introduced into Islam and used chiefly in tafsirs and histories to illustrate and enlarge upon topics about which few details were given or known, and was utilised to o greater or lesser extent, often uncritically, by exegetes.

O Muslim brothers! We shall offer it an apology. Together we shall declare our loyalty and pay it allegiance. We shall grasp hold of its strong rope.

Also, I declare fearlessly that what has stirred me up and given me the courage to contest the ideas of past centuries, and to defend against the imaginings and misapprehensions that have gained strength through the strategies of hundreds of years, is my certain conviction that truth will sprout and grow, although it is concealed in the earth; and its partisans and supporters will be triumphant, although they may be weak and few in number due to the inclemency of time and place.

It is also my belief that it shall be the reality of Islam (hakikat-ı İslamiye) which will prevail over the future and be absolute ruler in