Malaysian Students Share Their Thoughts on Visit to Istanbul

Between the 3rd and 10th of October a group of young students arrived at our Foundation to take part in an education programme titled "Exploring Culture and Religious Heritage in Turkey". The group was comprised of two males and three females from USIM (University Sains Islam Malaysia). 

As previously reported here, the group received daily lectures and took part in seminars on Islamic theological concepts with particular emphasis from the perspective of the Risale-i Nur, a work by the Anatolian scholar Bediuzzaman Said Nursi. The group also visited several historical sites in Istanbul as well as medreses and dershanes. The following is a summary of the feedback that each of the participants provided as a result of their trip to Istanbul:

Nurul Syafiqah Binti Mohd Luckman:
"I've learned a lot of things for the whole week and it was such a blessing from Allah. Back in our country, we only knew Risale-i Nur and Said Nursi in general terms. Alhamdullilah, Allah has chosen us to understand deeper about the book and the Mujaddid of the 20th century. We learned of his striving in order to preserve the name of Islam and to raise the kalimah of shahadah in Turkey during the Modernisation Era...
My impression towards the course given at IFSC was very great. We've done so many halaqah, meetings, discussion and informal discussion all the time in this foundation. Thanks a lot to the lecturers of the Foundation for giving all of his knowledge about Risale-i Nur and Said Nursi. We gained much knowledge towards the method of approach by Said Nursi. He used the metaphorical design to reflect us and make comparison so that we might think and start to realise everything. We've known a lot of the manifestation of Allah's Names in our daily lives through this course...We hope when we come back to Malaysia, we could apply it in our lives and spread the knowledge to the others".

Amanatul Hamizah Binti Zulkafili:
"This place reminds me of the heyday of Islam, how the Muslim scholars fight (jihad) for Islam and their Ibadah to Allah (were really something). After this, I wish to spend my time (a bit) to share the knowledge I gained here for all Malaysians, I will start to share with my friends first"

Muhammad Syafiq Aiman Bin Abd Rahman:
"I had learnt many things from Said Nursi and Risale-i Nur as a result of this trip. Before I came here, I didn't have any idea about Said Nursi as I did not have anything more than a superficial understanding. But after I had a lesson about Nursi from an IFSC lecturer, I came to understand about the lifestyle and experiences of Said Nursi particularly from the period of the formation of the Republic of Turkey...
Yesterday I was in Topkapi Palace and I saw many historical things. But the special thing that I want to share was my seeing the Sword of our great conquerer of Constantinople, Sultan Ahmed Al-Fatih. When witnessing the sword I felt that I wanted to cry because I saw the very sword that this legend of Islam used with my very eyes..."

Aida Binti Roslan:
"I can say that Risale-i Nur is my favourite book now. I love to write a poem about life and creations. So when I read and had an opportunity to learn about this Risale-i Nur, I was really impressed. Because, I saw Said Nursi loved to describe the creation, the flow, the wind, the electricity connection, the animals, and so on. I felt so amazed with him. And the way of the lecturers of the IFSC explained about the Risale-i Nur was very fantastic and enjoyable. Every Muslim should learn about this Risale-i Nur to strengthen their belief in Allah".