The Risale-i Nur
The Risale-i Nur
As the New Said, Bediuzzaman had immersed himself in the Qur'an, searching for a way to relate its truths to modern man. In Barla in his isolation he began to write treatises explaining and proving these truths, for now the Qur'an itself and its truths were under direct attack. The first of these was on the resurrection of the dead, which in a unique style proves bodily resurrection rationally, where even the greatest scholars previously had confessed their impotence. He described the method employed in this as consisting of three stages: first God's existence is proved, and His names and attributes, then the resurrection of the dead is "constructed" on these and proved.
With these writings, Bediuzzaman opened up a new, direct way to reality (hakikat) and knowledge of God which he described as the highway of the Qur'an and way of the Companions of the Prophet (UWBP) through the "legacy of prophethood," which gains for those who follow it "true and certain belief." He did not ascribe the writings to himself but said they proceeded from the Qur'an itself, were "rays shining out of from [its] truths."
Thus, rather than being a Qur'anic commentary which expounds all its verses giving the immediate reasons for their revelation and the apparent meanings of the words and sentences, the Risale-i Nur is what is known as a mânevî tefsir or commentary that expounds the meaning of the Qur'anic truths. For there are various sorts of commentaries. The verses mostly expounded in the Risale-i Nur are those concerned with the truths of belief, such as the divine names and attributes and the divine activity in the universe, the divine existence and unity, resurrection, prophethood, divine determining or destiny, and man's duties of worship. Bediuzzaman explains how the Qur'an addresses all men in every age in accordance with the degree of their understanding and development; it has a face that looks to each age. The Risale-i Nur, then, explains that ace of the Qur'an which looks to this age. We shall now look at further aspects of the Risale-i Nur related to this point.
In numerous of its verses, the Holy Qur'an invites man to observe the universe and reflect on the divine activity within it; following just this method, Bediuzzaman provides proofs and explanations for the truths of belief. He likens the universe to a book and looking at it in the way shown by the Qur'an, that is, 'reading' it for its meaning, learns of the divine names and attributes and other truths of belief. The book's purpose is to describe its Author and Maker; beings become evidences and signs to their Creator. Thus, an important element in the way of the Risale-i Nur is