May 30, 1934, Wednesday
In His name - and indeed, nothing exists but praises Him.
Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
Dear, sincere, devoted, and curious brother Re'fet Bey; You have a master, a brother, and a friend in me. You will see your master in every treatise. You can see your brother in the morning and evening in the divine gathering, both in spirit and in imagination, just as he sees you in prayer, and you can see him in that way. Do not trouble yourself by coming here to see your friend in me, for that friend does not deserve to be visited. He is one, and you are many. God willing, he will come and visit you there.
Now is not the time to answer regarding the verse "And the male is not like the female." I do not know your condition, but it is reported that the Noble Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, commanded: "Love your sons." They asked, "Why have you excluded daughters?" He commanded: "Daughters love themselves, and they are naturally lovable."
Yes, a daughter, being the recipient of compassion and beauty, is loved more than a son. Especially in this time, daughters are more blessed regarding their parents. Because they are less exposed to religious dangers.
Your second question: I do not know the intention of Ibrahim Hakkı when he said, "Cû' is the Great Name." On the surface, it seems meaningless, perhaps even incorrect. But since the Name of the Most Gracious fulfills the role of the Great Name in relation to many, metaphorically, it can be said that "Cû' is the Great Name," meaning that it is a means to the Great Name.
I greet the innocent children in your blessed household and all your study companions.
The Everlasting is the Everlasting.
Your brother,
Said Nursî
• • •
Barla Lâhikası
·Mektup 269
·machine translation (qwen3-32b-sre)
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The First Issue
It is known to your impartial mind that the scholars of Islam—whether in a state of consensus or not—have agreed upon the sphericity of the earth and its roundness. If there is any doubt, go to the Makāsīd and al-Mawaqif. There you will find knowledge and reasoning, and you will see: Sa'd and Seyyid hold the globe in their hands and examine it in all directions.
If that door does not open for you, enter the comprehensive tafsir of Imam al-Razi, known as Mafātīḥ al-Ghayb, and sit in the circle of this brilliant imam in the hall of study, and listen to his lessons.
If you are still not convinced, and you cannot fit the earth into the spherical container, follow in the footsteps of Ibrahim al-Hakki and go to Imam al-Ghazali, the proof of Islam, and ask for a fatwa. Say: "Is there observation in the sphericity?" He will certainly say: "If you do not accept it, there is observation." For he has issued such a fatwa from his time: "Whoever denies or rejects a command established with absolute proof, such as the sphericity of the earth, under the pretext of protecting religion, commits a great crime against religion. For this is not faith, but betrayal."
If you are unlettered and cannot read the fatwa, listen to the words of Husayn al-Jisri, our contemporary and intellectual brother. For he not only loudly threatens those who deny the sphericity, but boldly and fearlessly says with the power of truth: "Whoever denies the sphericity of the earth under the pretext of protecting religion, is a foolish believer and causes more harm than the worst of disasters."
Muhakemat
·Muhakemat
·machine translation (qwen3-32b-sre)
· · ·
The First Issue
It is known to your impartial mind that the scholars of Islam—whether in a state of consensus or not—have agreed upon the sphericity of the earth and its roundness. If there is any doubt, go to the Makāsīd and al-Mawaqif. There you will find knowledge and inference, and you will see: Sa'd and Seyyid hold the globe in their hands and examine it in all directions.
If that door does not open for you, enter the comprehensive tafsir of Imam al-Razi, the Mafātīḥ al-Ghayb, and sit in the circle of this brilliant imam in the hall of study, and listen to his lessons.
If you are still not convinced, and you cannot fit the earth into the spherical container, follow in the footsteps of Ibrahim al-Hakki and go to Imam al-Ghazali, the proof of Islam, and ask for a fatwa. Say: "Is there observation in the sphericity?" He will certainly say: "If you do not accept it, there is observation." For he has issued such a fatwa from his time: "Whoever denies or rejects a command established with a decisive proof, such as the sphericity of the earth, under the pretext of protecting religion, commits a great crime against religion. For this is not faith, but betrayal."
If you are unlettered and cannot read the fatwa, listen to the words of Husayn al-Jisri, our contemporary and intellectual brother. For he not only loudly threatens those who deny the sphericity, but boldly and fearlessly says with the force of truth: "Whoever denies the sphericity of the earth under the pretext of protecting religion, is a foolish believer and causes more harm than the worst of disasters."
Muhakemat
·Birinci Makale Birinci Mesele
·machine translation (qwen3-32b-sre)
· · ·
The First Issue
It is known to your impartial mind that the scholars of Islam—whether in a state of consensus or not—have agreed upon the sphericity of the earth and its roundness. If there is any doubt, go to the Makāsīd and al-Mawaqif. There you will find knowledge and inference, and you will see: Sa'd and Seyyid hold the globe in their hands and examine it in all directions.
If that door does not open for you, enter the comprehensive tafsir of Imam al-Razi, the Mafātīḥ al-Ghayb, and sit in the circle of this brilliant imam in the hall of study, and listen to his lesson.
If you are still not convinced, and you cannot fit the earth into the spherical container, follow in the footsteps of Ibrahim al-Hakki and go to Imam al-Ghazali, the proof of Islam, and ask for a fatwa. Say: "Is there observation in the sphericity?" He will certainly say: "If you do not accept it, there is observation." For he has issued such a fatwa from his time: "Whoever denies or rejects a command established with a decisive proof, such as the sphericity of the earth, under the pretext of protecting religion, commits a great crime against religion. For this is not faith, but betrayal."
If you are unlettered and cannot read the fatwa, listen to the words of Husayn al-Jisri, our contemporary and intellectual brother. For he not only loudly threatens those who deny the sphericity, but boldly says without fear, with the power of truth: "Whoever denies the sphericity of the earth under the pretext of protecting religion, is a foolish believer and causes more harm than the worst of disasters."
Muhakemat
·Mektup 54
·machine translation (qwen3-32b-sre)
· · ·
Then, do not fall into unnecessary grief and suffering. The ownership belongs to another. He is the Owner, the Almighty and the Merciful. Rely on His power, do not accuse His mercy. Leave sorrow and enjoy joy. Cast away hardship and find purity.
He says: This universe you love, are attached to, are affected by its troubles, and cannot reform, is the property of an Almighty and Merciful One. Surrender the ownership to its Owner. Leave it to Him; seek His purity, not His hardship. He is both Just and Merciful. In His domain, He manages and turns as He wills. When you feel fear, like Ibrahim Haqqi say, "O Lord, let us see what things are / Whatever they are, we shall say they are beautiful," and look from the windows, do not enter inside.
FIFTH WORD
لَهُ الْحَمْدُ That is, praise and glory, commendation and gratitude belong to Him alone, and are fitting for Him. Thus, blessings are His, and they come from His treasure. And the treasure is eternal. Indeed, this word announces and says:
O human! Do not grieve over the loss of blessings. For the mercy's treasure never runs out. And do not lament over the loss of the pleasure of a blessing. For that blessing is the fruit of an infinite mercy. If the tree remains, even if the fruit is gone, another will take its place. Within the pleasure of the blessing, if you contemplate with praise the infinite mercy, you can transform that pleasure from one degree to a hundred.
Just as when a generous king gives you an apple, the taste of that apple contains the taste of a hundred, perhaps a thousand apples, and a royal favor is bestowed upon you. Similarly, with the word لَهُ الْحَمْدُ, that is, with praise and gratitude, with recognizing the grace from the Giver, and contemplating the grace, with considering the infinite mercy, the tenderness of His compassion, and the continuation of His grace, He opens a door to a spiritual pleasure a thousand times more delicious than the blessing itself.
Mektubat
·Yirminci Mektup
·machine translation (qwen3-32b-sre)