On Being Muslim: Wisdom from The Risale-i Nur
Study Islam through the wisdom of the Risale-i Nur - a Qur'an commentary by Bediüzzaman Said Nursi. His work offers rich insights on God, life, and the human condition.
A podcast hosted by Dr. Zeyneb Sayilgan
Bediüzzaman Said Nursi (1876-1960) was an outstanding Muslim scholar. He was born in the village of Nurs near the city of Bitlis in the Kurdish region of the Ottoman Empire (modern Türkiye). Said Nursi dedicated his entire life to learning and teaching the message of the Qur’an and Prophet Muhammad’s example (God's peace and blessings be upon him). His life work the Risale-i Nur - The Message of Light - aims to cultivate knowledge, certainty, and love of God. Said Nursi’s vision was to bring back awareness of God into the center of human life. During a time in which religion was banned from all areas of public and private life, he showed how the Book of the Universe or nature can open windows to the Divine. His lifelong struggle was committed to saving and strengthening belief (iman) in God and the afterlife.
To prove God's existence, Said Nursi followed the dual Qur'anic model as stated in Chapter 51 verses 20-21. Both the outward world (macrocosmos) and the inward human world (microcosmos) testify to the existence of an All-Wise, All-Powerful, and Compassionate Creator.
In terms of the macro world, he was keen to stress that religion and science complement each other. As evident throughout Islamic history, scientific inquiry was a means to come closer to God and seek sacred knowledge about the Divine. His 6000-page Risale is full of reference to various branches of knowledge: from astronomy, biology, and geography to physics and chemistry - Said Nursi regarded the sciences as a window to God or as a manifestation of the beautiful Divine Names (asma al-husna). In terms of introspection - the micro world - he wrote extensively about how the human condition of existential weakness and spiritual poverty revealed the Creator.
With God’s guidance, Said Nursi was able to speak to people from all walks of life. They were able to benefit from the Risale and its vast knowledge about God.
Until the very end of his life, he was perceived as a threat and enemy to the state. Public authorities regarded his Risale as an attempt to undermine their aggressive secularization project. Its aim was to eradicate all traces and expressions of religion. Said Nursi spent most of his life in exile or prison. Despite all injustices and attempts to silence him, he succeeded in his non-violent struggle and set an example of positive action for many generations to come. His legacy continues through the writings and teachings of his Risale-i Nur which has been translated into more than 50 languages and gained a worldwide readership.
Access and download the Collection here
Click here for Hardcopies
For an excellent introduction read Exploring Islam: Theology and Spiritual Practice in America by Salih Sayilgan
- Update frequency
- every 10 days
- Average duration
- 39 minutes
- Episodes
- 65
- Years Active
- 2022 - 2025
Resurrection and Afterlife in Islam - Part 5
Reflections from The Risale-Nur a Qur'an commentary by Bediüzzaman Said Nursi
The Words - Tenth Word - Third Truth
Download the Apps for the Collection here
You can also read along on my YOUTUBE channe…
Resurrection and Afterlife in Islam - Part 4
Reflections from The Risale-Nur a Qur'an commentary by Bediüzzaman Said Nursi
The Words - Tenth Word - Third Truth
Download the Apps for the Collection here
You can also read along on my YOUTUBE channe…
Resurrection and Afterlife in Islam - Part 3
Reflections from The Risale-Nur a Qur'an commentary by Bediüzzaman Said Nursi
The Words - Tenth Word - Third Truth
Download the Apps for the Collection here
You can also read along on my YOUTUBE channe…
Resurrection and Afterlife in Islam - Part 2
Reflections from The Risale-Nur a Qur'an commentary by Bediüzzaman Said Nursi
The Words - Tenth Word - Second Truth
Download the Apps for the Collection here
You can also read along on my YOUTUBE chann…
Resurrection and Afterlife in Islam - Part 1
Reflections from The Risale-Nur a Qur'an commentary by Bediüzzaman Said Nursi
The Words - Tenth Word - First Truth
Download the Apps for the Collection here
You can also read along on my YOUTUBE channe…
Islam - The Straight Path - Final Part
Reflections from The Risale-Nur a Qur'an commentary by Bediüzzaman Said Nursi
The Signs of Miraculousness (Isharat al-I'jaz) > The Opening Chapter (Sura al-Fatiha) > Interpretation of "Guide us on th…
Islam - The Straight Path - Part 2
Reflections from The Risale-Nur a Qur'an commentary by Bediüzzaman Said Nursi
The Signs of Miraculousness (Isharat al-I'jaz) > The Opening Chapter (Sura al-Fatiha) > Interpretation of "Guide us on th…
Islam - The Straight Path - Part 1
Reflections from The Risale-Nur a Qur'an commentary by Bediüzzaman Said Nursi
The Signs of Miraculousness (Isharat al-I'jaz) > The Opening Chapter (Sura al-Fatiha) > Interpretation of "Guide us on th…
The Need for Community - The Social Aspect of Human Beings - Part 3
Reflections from The Risale-Nur a Qur'an commentary by Bediüzzaman Said Nursi
The Words > The Ninth Word - Third Point
Download the Apps for the Collection here
You can also read along on my YOUTUBE ch…
The Need for Community - The Social Aspect of Human Beings - Part 2
Reflections from The Risale-Nur a Qur'an commentary by Bediüzzaman Said Nursi
The Words > The Ninth Word - Third Point
Download the Apps for the Collection here
You can also read along on my YOUTUBE ch…
The Need for Community - The Social Aspect of Human Beings - Part 1
Reflections from The Risale-Nur a Qur'an commentary by Bediüzzaman Said Nursi
The Signs of Miraculousness (Isharat al-I'jaz) > The Opening Chapter (Sura al-Fatiha) > Interpretation of "Only you do We…
If you want a friend - God is sufficient
Reflections from The Risale-Nur a Qur'an commentary by Bediüzzaman Said Nursi
The Letters > Twenty-Third Letter > Seventh Question
Download the Apps for the Collection here
You can also read along on m…
God's Undying, Eternal Love - Part 2
Reflections from The Risale-Nur a Qur'an commentary by Bediüzzaman Said Nursi
The Flashes > Third Flash > Second Point
Download the Apps for the Collection here
You can also read along on my YOUTUBE ch…
In Memory of Meryem and God's Undying, Eternal Love
Reflections from The Risale-Nur a Qur'an commentary by Bediüzzaman Said Nursi
The Flashes > Third Flash > First Point
A Message of Gratitude, Comfort and Hope to the Community - near and far - who ha…
God's Absolute Justice - A Cure for Despair, Final Part
Reflections from The Risale-Nur a Qur'an commentary by Bediüzzaman Said Nursi
The Flashes > The Thirtieth Flash > Second Point (The Name of All-Just)
Download the Apps for the Collection here
You can a…
God's Absolute Justice - A Cure for Despair, Part 2
Reflections from The Risale-Nur a Qur'an commentary by Bediüzzaman Said Nursi
The Flashes > The Thirtieth Flash > Second Point (The Name of All-Just)
Download the Apps for the Collection here
You can a…
God's Absolute Justice - A Cure for Despair, Part 1
Reflections from The Risale-Nur a Qur'an commentary by Bediüzzaman Said Nursi
The Flashes > The Thirtieth Flash > Second Point (The Name of All-Just)
Download the Apps for the Collection here
You can a…
A Message for The Sick, Fifth and Sixth Remedy
Reflections from The Risale-Nur a Qur'an commentary by Bediüzzaman Said Nursi
The Flashes > The Twenty-Fifth Flash (A Message for the Sick) > Fifth and Sixth Remedy
Download the Apps for the Collectio…
A Message for The Sick, Third and Fourth Remedy
Reflections from The Risale-Nur a Qur'an commentary by Bediüzzaman Said Nursi
The Flashes > The Twenty-Fifth Flash (A Message for the Sick) > Third and Fourth Remedy
Download the Apps for the Collecti…
A Message for The Sick, Second Remedy
Reflections from The Risale-Nur a Qur'an commentary by Bediüzzaman Said Nursi
The Flashes > The Twenty-Fifth Flash (A Message for the Sick) > Second Remedy
Download the Apps for the Collection here
You…