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Indeed in the heavens and earth are signs for those who believe. (Qur’an 45:3) 

Bediuzzaman’s words from The Staff of Moses:

If we observe the face of the earth in the summer, we see that an absolute munificence and liberality, which necessitates confusion and disarrangement, is to be seen within a total harmony and order. Look at all the plants which adorn the face of the earth!

And the utter speed in the creation of things, which necessitates imbalance and disorder, is apparent within a perfect equilibrium. Look at all the fruits which decorate the face of the earth!

And an absolute multiplicity, which necessitates unimportance, indeed, ugliness, is apparent within a perfect beauty of art. Look at all the flowers which gild the face of the earth!

And the absolute ease in the creation of things, which necessitates lack of art and simplicity, is to be seen within an infinite art and skill and attention. Look carefully at all the seeds which are like the tiny containers and programs of the members of plants and trees and the small cases containing their life histories!

And the total intermingling, which necessitates confusion and muddle, is on the contrary to be seen within a perfect differentiation and separation. Consider the perfect differentiation of seeds when they sprout, despite being cast into the earth all mixed-up together and all resembling one another with regard to their substance, and the various substances which enter trees being separated out perfectly for the leaves, flowers and fruits, and the foods which enter the stomach all mixed up together being separated out perfectly according to the various members and cells. See the perfect power within the perfect wisdom! 

Thus, just as the day shows the light, and the light the sun, the great value together with the utter profusion; and the boundless intermingling and intermixing together with the utmost differentiation and separation; and the infinite ease and facility together with the infinite care in the making within the utmost resemblance; and the absolute speed and rapidity together with the total equilibrium and balance and lack of waste within the most beautiful making; and the infinite abundance and multiplicity together with the highest degree of beauty of art, all testify to the necessary existence, perfect power and oneness of an All-Powerful One of Glory, an All-Wise One of Perfection, an All-Compassionate and Beauteous One. 

With what an you explain this infinitely miraculous and wonderful state of affairs? To what can you attribute these truly extraordinary arts? What veil of heedlessness can you draw across this window as broad as the earth and so close to it? Where is your change and coincidence, your unconscious companion on which you rely and call “nature”, your friend and support in misguidance? It is totally impossible for chance and coincidence to interfere in these matters, isn’t it? And to attribute to “nature” one thousandth of them is impossible a thousand times over, isn’t it? 

Or does lifeless, impotent nature have immaterial machines and printing presses within each single thing, made from each, and to the number of each? 

We are entering, fully, the season of autumn, full of beauty with its many vibrant colors as the leaves on the trees change at being relieved of their duties in this world. Additionally, in the latter part of November the traditional holiday of Thanksgiving is celebrated here in America. Honoring this tradition, we share with you the true meaning of giving thanks with some excerpts from Bediuzzaman’s treatise On Thanks. The entire treatise can be found in The Letters. 

-Nur: the Light

In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. And there is nothing but it glorifies Him with praise. Will they not then give thanks? (Qur’an 36:35, 73)

Worship God and be of those who give thanks. (Qur’an, 39:66)

By repeating verses like these, the Qur’an of Miraculous Exposition shows that  thanks is what the Most Merciful Creator wants most from His servants. The Qur’an, the All-Wise Distinguisher between Truth and Falsehood, calls on people to offer thanks, giving it the greatest importance. 

Indeed, just as the All-Wise Qur’an shows thanks to be a result of creation; so the universe, which is a mighty Qur’an, shows the most important result of the world’s creation to be thanks. For if the universe is observed carefully, it is seen from the way it is arranged that everything results in thanks; each looks to thanks to an extent and is turned towards it. It is as though thanks is the most important fruit of the tree of creation, and gratitude is the most elevated product of the factory of the universe. 

The exquisitely adorned forms, the fragrant smells, the wonderfully delicious tastes in the bounties that are sustenance invite thanks; they awake an eagerness in animate beings, and through eagerness urge a sort of appreciation and respect, and prompt thanks of a sort. They attract the attention of conscious beings and engender admiration. They encourage them to respect the bounties; through this, they lead them to offer thanks verbally and by act, and to be grateful; they cause them to experience the highest, sweetest pleasure and enjoyment with thanks. 

The measure of thanks is contentment, frugality, and being satisfied and grateful. While the measure of ingratitude is greed, wastefulness and extravagance; it is disrespect. If someone eats a delicious bounty and gives thanks, by virtue of this thanks the bounty becomes a light and a fruit of Paradise in the hereafter. If, because of the pleasure, they think of it as the work of Almighty God’s favor and mercy, it yields true, lasting delight and enjoyment. If they fail to give thanks, the temporary pleasure leaves a pain and sorrow at its passing, and itself becomes waste. 

Thanks is the means of raising man to “the best of forms” which is the highest position in accordance with this comprehensiveness. If he does not give thanks, he falls to “the lowest of the low” and perpetrates a great wrong. 

-Bediuzzaman Said Nursi

The entire treatise On Thanks can be found in The Letters.

 The Believers are but a single Brotherhood: So make peace and reconciliation between your two (contending) brothers; (Quran 49:10) Work together for the sake of virtue and piety. (Quran 5:2) And hold fast, all of you together to the rope of Allah and be not divided among yourselves and remember Allah’s favor on you, for you were enemies one to another, but He joined your hearts together so that by His Grace you became brethren. (Quran 3:103) 

We also read about the collective mentality of community, solidarity, unity, and brotherhood in the hadiths, the following examples illustrate this: Prophet Muhammad (ASM) also said in a Hadeeth Qudsi: “Allah, the Exalted, says ‘Indeed, My Love shall be bestowed upon the ones who visit each other for My Sake. Indeed, My Love shall be bestowed upon the ones who love one another for My Sake. Indeed, My Love shall be bestowed upon the ones who approach one another in humility for My Sake. And, indeed, My Love shall be bestowed upon the ones that rush to help one another for My Sake.” (Musnad Imam Ahmad) “Shall I tell you about a status which is better than prayer, fasting and giving charity?” They said: “Please do”. He answered: “To maintain zat al-bain [essential community bonds] in good order”. He then added: “When zat al-bain is corrupted, it destroys all” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari in Al-adab al-mufarrad following Abu Al-Dardaa) The Messenger of Allah (ASM) said, “A Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hand the people are safe.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

We have a responsibility to ourselves, each other and to the entire planet to be caretakers and live in alliance with all beings as brothers. An egocentric orientation is harmful, destructive, limiting, and invariably leads to loss at multiple levels, there is no genuine benefit in greed, self-centeredness, egoism, arrogance, or the “me” mentality. On the other hand, living with a collective mind set, an “us” community mentality, allows all to prosper regarding the needs of all beings and humanity through mutual cooperation, assistance and sharing. 

Bediuzzaman Said Nursi elaborates further: “You and I are members of a collective personality such as that, worthy of the title of ‘perfect man.’ We are like the components of a factory’s machinery which produces eternal happiness within eternal life. We are hands working on a dominical boat which will disembark the Community of Muhammed (PBUH) at the Realm of Peace, the shore of salvation. So we are surely in need of solidarity and true union, obtained through gaining sincerity—for the mystery of sincerity secures through four individuals the moral strength of one thousand one hundred and eleven—indeed, we are compelled to obtain it. Yes, if three alifs do not unite, they have the value of three. Whereas if they do unite, through the mystery of numbers they acquire the value of one hundred and eleven. If four times four remain apart, they have a value of sixteen. But if, through the mystery of brotherhood and having a common goal and joint duty, they unite coming together shoulder to shoulder on a line, they have the strength and value of four thousand four hundred and forty-four. Just as numerous historical events testify that the moral strength and value of sixteen self-sacrificing brothers have been greater than that of four thousand. The underlying reason for this mystery is this: each member of a true and sincere union may see also with the eyes of the other brothers, and hear with their ears. As if each person of a true union of ten has the value and strength of seeing with twenty eyes, thinking with ten minds, hearing with twenty ears, and working with twenty hands.” -Bediuzzaman Said Nursi (from Sincerity and Brotherhood)

 Islam means peace. This essential disconnection, misunderstanding and profound twisting of God’s Truth is particularly seen in the phrase ‘Islam rules by the sword’ and in the term ‘jihad’. To eradicate these false claims, we will first reflect on what Ustad Bediuzzaman explains regarding two extremely important verses in the Quran that are most relevant to the misunderstandings:  “ Let there be no compulsion in religion; Truth stands out from error, whoever rejects evil and believes in God has grasped the most trustworthy handhold, that never breaks. And God is All-Seeing, All-Knowing. God is the protector of those who have faith; from the depths of darkness He will lead them forth into the light. While those who do not believe, their patrons are the evil ones; from the light they will lead them forth into the depths of darkness. They will be companions of Fire, to dwell therein forever.” (Qur’an 2:256-7) Bediuzzaman states the meaning of these two verses quite clearly: “Furthermore, as far as the word khalidun —to dwell therein for ever, by repeating the contrast between light and darkness, and belief and darkness —the source and origin of all the comparisons in the Risale-i Nur and just like them— is a concealed sign that a great hero in the contest of the ‘mânevî jihad’ at that date is the Risale-i Nur, which bears the name of light. For its immaterial sword has solved hundreds of the mysteries of religion, leaving no need for physical swords.” -Ustad Bediuzzaman (from The Rays ) He also addresses this issue in his following quotes: “As for one who strikes with the sword, the sword turns back and hits his own innocent. Now victory is not with the sword. There is a place for the sword, but it is the hand of the mind.” -Ustad Bediuzzaman (Munazarat) 

“We are devotees of love; we do not have time for enmity.” -Ustad Bediuzzaman (The Damascus Sermon) I feel it’s also important to consider 

what our translator, Sukran Vahide, says to help Westerners anywhere understand Islam: “In answer to the question, then, of how Euro­peans need Islam to be presented, we would sug­gest that it needs to be presented to them as the rational explanation of this world, that is, our­selves and the universe. It needs to be presented to them as the Holy Qur’an directs. That is to say, it must be demonstrated that God Almighty did not create man with an intellect in order not to use it to increase his belief. Rather, he created this beautiful and wonderfully functioning universe and gave man intellect and sent prophets with revealed Books as guides, and finally the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) with the Holy Qur’an, in order that man might attain to rational and true belief. If the universe is presented as a book created as the means to introduce its Author, which human beings are invited to read using their intellects so as to be able to prove and understand rationally the truths of belief, then it will be clear that each person is directly responsi­ble to his Creator and that there is no need for any intermediary in the performance of his wor­ship and religion… …Any European who can begin to see Islam in this way, that is, on the level of belief, will soon be able to see through the web of lies and the false image of Islam that has developed over the centuries. He will see that, as was demonstrated above, Islam does not accept aggression on any level. In the same way that it sees the cosmos as it is, functioning according to a universal system of mutual help and cooperation, so does it also preclude aggression in any form in the actions of human beings. And so too, jihad, commonly known as ‘holy war’, may only be fought in defense against outside aggression. (As for Islamic dress for women, a source of much mis­understanding in the West, it shall be considered in the fifth section below.) Furthermore, if such a person’s intention is sincere, that is, a person who can begin to see Islam on the level of belief, he will also understand that, far from being alien, Islam is God Almighty’s final and complete revealed religion that is totally in accord with man’s nature as a creature and human being, and as such transcends any restriction of race, color, or class.” –Mary Weld [Sukran Vahide,  our translator] (Excerpts taken from Islam, the West, and the Risale-i Nur ) We simply must take an active role in helping to dispel the false ideologies of Islam. There is only One Truth which belongs to God. We cannot ignore the Islamophobia and the harm it results in worldwide. The Risale-i Nur contains light-scattering wisdom from which all mankind can benefit and come together in unity and peace.

Twenty-First Letter and Twenty-Sixth Flash (Treatise for the Elderly). Let’s reflect carefully upon what Bediuzzaman Said Nursi advises: “Whether one or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honor. * “And out of kindness, lower the wing of humility, and say: “My Sustainer! Bestow on them Your mercy even as they cherished me in childhood.” * Your Sustainer knows best what is in your hearts: if you do deeds of righteousness, indeed he is Most Forgiving to those who turn to Him again and again [in true penitence]. (Holy Qur’an, 17:23-25)

O heedless one in whose house is an elderly parent or an invalid or someone no longer able to work from among his relations or brothers in religion! Study the above verses carefully and see how on five levels in different ways it summons children to be kindly towards their elderly parents. Yes, the highest truth in this world is the compassion of parents towards their children, and the most elevated rights, their rights of respect in return for their compassion. For they sacrifice their lives with great pleasure, spending them for the sake of their children’s lives. In which case, every child who has not lost his humanity and been transformed into a monster honors those respected, loyal, self-sacrificing friends, serves them sincerely, and tries to please them and make them happy. Uncles and aunts, maternal and paternal, are like fathers and mothers.

We must heed these glorious words whenever we encounter our elderly. Furthermore, we need to develop our empathy and be proactive in visiting and assisting our elderly as part of our daily lives. Our elderly are treasured blessings for our families and ourselves.  Our mothers are the most elevated of all as the Most Noble Messenger Muhammad reminds us: “Heaven is underneath mothers’ feet.” (Ibn Maajah). And remember: we too shall grow old.

What do the holy scriptures teach and ask us to do? The scriptures of all the major religions ask us to treat each other friendly, ethically and kindly, and to seek the moral high ground with each other and ourselves. Is the current lack of unity amongst the believers the most friendly, ethical, kind and moral thing to do?

In today’s modern world, conflict is harming too may innocent people and different religions have falsified the holy scriptures which also harms. Thus, it is more urgent for people of all faiths to focus on our commonality of belief in God to bridge differences in order to strengthen unity, brotherhood and compassion for all. All believers want happiness, peace and friendly interactions with others which the scriptures from the majority of religions teach us. We must look in the mirror and ask ourselves if our belief in God is superficial and meaningless, or genuine and essential. If we find our belief to be weak, then we need to strengthen it. If, however, we find our belief to be strong, then we need to take responsibility to carry out the true teachings of the scriptures as has been prescribed for us all.

Believers can, if they choose, unify to become one solid force against irreligion and the destruction of multiple systems in our societies, the environment and internally within ourselves. We all must look around and end the enmity between believers because having a brother rather than a falsely perceived enemy is what benefits everything. ‘Who is right’ is not important. ‘What is right’ is all that matters.