A Letter

THE STAFF OF MOSES

 

Author │BEDĪ‘UZZAMĀN SA‘ĪD NURSĪ (1877-1960)

Written in

Hijri 1366 │AD 1946

A Letter

from Imām Sa‘īd Nursī

to his disciples regarding The Book of Light

(The Risāle-i Nūr)

بِاسْمِهِ سُبْحَانَهُ (a)

وَإِن مِّن شَيْءٍ إِلاَّ يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِهِ (b)

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته أبدًا دائمًا (c)

My ‘azīz (honourable) and ṣiddīq (trustworthy) (1) brothers! (2)

Since The Book of Light (The Risāle-i Nūr) has now started to circulate due to printing, and since those who are affiliated to the modern schools and the teachers who have studied modern philosophy cling in large numbers to The Book of Light, it has surely become necessary to explain thefollowing truth:

The hard blow and assault, that The Book of Light launches, does not constitute an absolute opposition to all philosophy without qualification, but only the harmful portion thereof. For the [type of] philosophy that serves man’s societal life, as well as the [cultivation of] human morality and perfections and the advancement of arts and sciences is the portion of philosophy that is at peace with the Qur’ān and is in fact a servant of the Qur’ānic wisdom. It cannot in any way oppose it. The Book of Light does not disturb this portion of philosophy.

As for the second portion of philosophy, just as it is a means to misguidance (ḍalālah) and atheism and of falling into the swamp of ‘Nature’, so too does it produce heedlessness (ghaflah) and misguidance through

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a In His Name, may He be glorified!

b There is nothing but that it glorifies with His praise. (Qur’ān: al-Isrā', 17:44)

c May the peace, grace and blessings of Allāh be upon you ever forever.

1. ‘Azīz and ṣiddīq - these two words are used by the author to address his distinguished disciples. ‘Azīz means very precious one, the one with ‘izzah, honour and dignity and the one who does not lower himself to a lowly status. The word ṣiddīq means a trusted one or a very trustworthy one. As a terminological meaning, it refers to those who are persistent in a certain cause with right and unshakable firmness and attitudes. Aṣ-ṣiddiq is also the epithet for Abu Bakr (raḍiallāhu anhu), the first Caliph of Islām and the closest friend of the Prophet Muḥammad (‘alayhisṣalātu wassalām). The status of the ṣiddiqīn is a very elevated status after the rank of nubuwwah (prophethood). The author addresses his disciples in these titles both to encourage them and appreciate their steadfastness in the service of faith.

2. Brother (Turkish: kardeş / read as qardesh) is a gender neutral word in Turkish language which is used by the author to address his disciples and the readers of respected epistles. Although the word "kardeş" is translated as "brother" into the English language, this does not mean that its content is specific to male readers rather it includes "sisters" who are female readers as well.

shamelessness and unlawful entertainments. By way of its magic-like feats it opposes the miraculous truths of the Qur’ān. It is this lost, perverted portion of philosophy that the majority of the parts of The Book of Light engage in exposing and striking a hard blow against by way of powerful criteria and comparisons that are supported by conclusive proofs. It does not expose the upright, beneficial type of philosophy - this is why those affiliated to the modern schools enter [the circle of] The Book of Light, without objection or reservation - and so they should!

Certain undercover hypocrites once provoked particular scholars into opposing The Book of Light in the most meaningless and unjust manner in order to stir up their scholastic egotism and due to their preconceived prejudice against The Book of Light - which is [in fact] the rightful property of the students in madrasas (3) and of scholars. In case [those hypocrites may] attempt to use specific philosophers against The Book of Light, just as they did before [to sway the opinions of] scholars, it would be deeply befitting for this reality to be written at the beginning of ‘The Staff of Moses and ‘Dhū’l-fiqār’ books.

Sa‘īd Nursī

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3. "Madrasa" is the Arabic word, also used in Turkish, traditionally used to refer to any type of educational institution, although more recently it has come to imply a more narrow concentration on specifically "religious" sciences.