Organized in collaboration with the Maqasid Institute (USA), Hearts See (UK), and the Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture, the “Reading the Book of the Universe” summer camp in Barla has been successfully completed, offering participants a deepened academic awareness of perceiving the universe from the perspective of God.
This meaningful camp drew attention for its potential to revive the shared contemplative heritage of the ummah and the Islamic world, with prospects of evolving into an international platform in the future.
The program marked a pioneering step that exemplifies the effort to articulate Bediüzzaman Said Nursi’s Risale-i Nur methodology in the language of our age. Deepening participants’ experience of reading the universe from the Qur’anic perspective, the camp demonstrated strong harmony with the contemplation on nature found in the Risale-i Nur.
Program Framework
Held in the spiritual atmosphere of Barla, the camp offered an interdisciplinary platform for reflection on how the Qur’an reads the “Book of the Universe.” The program was enriched by the contributions of Said Yüce (IIKV), Sheikh Muhammad Foulds (Hearts See), Dr. Yamina Bouguenaya (Receiving Nur), Prof. Dr. Mustafa Tuna (Duke University), Dr. Ahmet Subaşı (SESTEK), Dr. Osman Yapar, and Dr. Ildus Rafikov.
Participants experienced the practice of reading divine signs (āyāt) in the universe through morning open-air sessions, lectures, nature walks, and cultural visits.
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Highlights
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Said Yüce delivered guided lectures on the life of Said Nursi and the methodology of the Risale-i Nur.
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Sheikh Muhammad Foulds offered original insights into Qur’anic perspectives on nature, critiques of modern natural sciences, and the perception of divine āyāt.
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Dr. Yamina Bouguenaya led sessions on witnessing the Divine Names (Asmāʾ al-Ḥusnā) in nature and “thinking with the heart,” offering participants deep spiritual insights.
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Prof. Dr. Mustafa Tuna explored the concept of “reflective observation” as a means to recognize God in a secular age.
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Dr. Ildus Rafikov and Dr. Ahmet Subaşı held significant sessions on nature, human disposition, and the Qur’anic concept of the “good life.”
Participant Profile and International Engagement
Esteemed participants with an interest in Qur’anic contemplation of the universe joined the program from the UK, USA, France, and Türkiye, including Hafsa Nisa Dar, Khalid Ghafoor, Fatoumata Diallo, Zineb Ouali Alami, Zubeda Kara, and Mariya Golovacheva. These participants enriched the program with intellectual depth and cultural diversity. In their feedback, they emphasized high levels of awareness and satisfaction, also sharing ideas for making the program more fruitful in the future.
Mariya Golovacheva expressed her gratitude:
“As-salāmu ʿalaykum, dear Ünal Hodja. I am Mariya from the Reading the Book of Nature Retreat. Now that the retreat has ended, I want to personally thank the Foundation for its generosity and for giving me the chance to attend. I feel I could not fully express my gratitude during the retreat. It was an incredibly thought-provoking and transformative experience for me personally—especially how Sheikh Foulds’ practical sessions were combined with Said Nursi’s much-needed vision for today. May Allah reward and bless your work.”
Collaborations and Future Plans
This program was the outcome of a partnership agreement between the Maqasid Institute and the Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture. It was also decided to initiate a collaboration with the “Ecological Literacy” project carried out by the Istanbul Civilization Institute for possible integration with this program.
New partnership and curriculum development meetings are planned with the participation of program coordinators Dr. Ildus Rafikov, Dr. Ünal Akyüz, and guest speakers Sheikh Muhammad Foulds and Prof. Dr. Mustafa Tuna.
Additionally, Sheikh Foulds is expected to propose academic contributions for the upcoming Bediüzzaman Symposium, focusing on the deeper analysis of Bediüzzaman’s method of contemplating the cosmos, examining the concept of Medrese-i Yusufiye through examples, and promoting its recognition in the West.
Conclusion and Hopes
The “Reading the Book of the Universe” program bears a level of depth and originality that may represent a contemporary articulation of the Risale-i Nur’s method of reflection. God willing, this camp will contribute to the global spread of a Qur’an- and nature-centered way of thinking, which is the shared heritage of the ummah.
As the Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture, we will continue working to ensure this valuable program grows in scope and participation in the coming years.
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