► (28) ◄

My Dear, Loyal Brothers!

I offer you not my condolences but my congratulations. Since for some instance of wisdom divine Determining has sent us to this third School of Joseph (Medrese-i Yusufiye), [^62] and has specified that we should eat some of the sustenance allotted us here and it is that sustenance that has summoned here; and since as we have understood certainly from our past experiences, divine favour has manifested on us the meaning of the verse, "It is possible that you dislike a thing which is good for you;" [^63] and since our new brothers here in this School of Joseph are in more need of the solace of the Risale-i Nur than anyone, and the members of the judiciary are more in need of the rules and other sacred laws set out in the Risale-i Nur than other officials; and since the very numerous copies of the Risale-i Nur are performing your duty outside and their conquests do not cease; and since each fleeting hour passed here is the equivalent of eternal hours passed in worship; surely, because of these points, we should joyfully offer thanks for this affair in perfect patience and with fortitude. I am going to repeat exactly to you all the short letters I wrote as consolation in Denizli Prison. God willing, those apposite notes will comfort you too.

[^62]:Recalling the imprisonment of Yusuf, related in the Qur’an, Bediuzzaman called prison ‘Medrese-i Yusufiye’, the School of Joseph, impressing on his students that prison was essentially a place of study and training. [Tr.]

[^63]:Qur’an, 2:21:6.

∗∗∗

► (29) ◄

My Dear, Loyal Brothers!

Firstly: I offer Almighty God endless thanks that heroes have emerged from among the Muftis, preachers, imams, and hojas, for it is they who in fact should lay claim to the Risale-i Nur. Up to now, it has been the youth, those educated in the secular schools, and their teachers who have been devoted to the Risale-i Nur. Now, thanks be to God, Ethem, the İbrahim’s and Ali Osman’s have cleared the names of the students and teachers of the religious schools, and transformed their timidity into courage.

Secondly: They should not worry about this incident, which occurred due to their whole-hearted activities and excitement. For in respect of its consequences, Denizli Prison caused those who had acted incautiously to be congratulated. Its difficulties were few and immaterial benefits, numerous. This third School of Joseph will not lag behind the second, God willing.

Thirdly: Since the merit increases proportionately to the hardships, we