Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture

Man and Universes in the Qur’an

The ontology reflected in the Qur’an reveals multi universes as this is observed in many verses that uses the phrase “Rabbu’l-’Âlamîn” (Lord of the universes). This reminds us our relationship to those universes because the word “universe” (‘âlam) is used in plural. It is the purpose of this study to examine such verses in order to understand three issues in the Qur’an: The first is the Qur’an’s ontology as reflected in the phrase “Lord of the universes” and other relevant phrases referring to a certain ontological reality. The second is the cosmology represented by these phrases and similar statements in the Qur’an. The third is the understanding of human beings and their cosmological reality that makes them intimately related to these universes. Besides I would like to examine the same issue as understood by Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, and then try to see how this ontology and anthropological cosmology was analyzed in his works called the Risale-i Nur Collection (Risale-i Nur ).

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4–6 October 2026 · Istanbul

13th International Bediuzzaman Symposium

Visit the symposium website for the programme, papers and registration.