Search

This book discusses inner peace from an Islamic theological and spiritual perspective, the writings of Said Nursi, a twentieth century Muslim scholar. Inner peace is a topic of great interest in the world at present. While happiness and mental health have been extensively discussed from a psychological and sociological perspective, and while inner peace has been written about from various religious viewpoints, there is very little scholarly work on inner peace from an Islamic theological and spiritual perspective. This book addresses this significant gap. With Islam being the second largest religion in the world, this book provides an important contribution to the literature on a faith tradition which is followed by so many. In addressing the intersection between Islam, spirituality and psychology, this book makes an original contribution to the literature on modern Islamic thinkers like Nursi, and to the broader fields of Islamic studies, and theology, philosophy and well-being studies.

This book examines how the prominent Muslim scholar Said Nursi developed an integrative approach to faith and science known as'the other indicative'(mana-i harfi) and explores how his aim to reconcile two academic disciplines, often at odds with one another, could be useful in an educational context.The book opens by examining Nursi's evolving thought with regards to secular ideology and modern science. It then utilizes the mana-i harfi approach to address a number of issues, including truth and certainty, the relationship between knowledge and worldview formation, and the meaning of beings and life. Finally, it offers a seven-dimensional knowledge approach to derive meaning and build good character through understanding scientific knowledge in the mana-i harfi perspective.This book offers a unique perspective on one of recent Islam's most influential figures, and also offers suggestions for teaching religion and science in a more nuanced way. It is, therefore, a great resource for scholars of Islam, religion and science, Middle East studies, and educational studies.

Contemporary Islamic theology remains a neglected area in studies on Islam. This work is dedicated to the thought and ideas of Said Nursi (1876-1960), one of the most prominent Muslim theologians of the twentieth century. Nursi inspired a faith movement--the Nur community--that originated in Turkey. It continues to play a key role in the revival of Islam and now numbers several millions of followers worldwide. His legacy and impact deserve therefore to be examined more closely. This volume is the most substantial overview in English of the inspiration of Said Nursi and his masterpiece the Risale-i Nur. In the beginning, the essays provide the reader with Nursi's historical context and biography. Then Nursi's theological views, his understanding of society, and ideas on politics are placed under the spotlight. Over the last twenty years, more and more comparative religion specialists in the West have become acquainted with Said Nursi. Nursi studies is now an established discipline, and this volume is a celebration of that reality. As it reveals, Muslims and Christians are grappling with the wisdom of this remarkable, rich thinker.

This book explores the theology and philosophy of the distinguished modern Muslim scholar and theologian Bediuzzaman Said Nursi [d.1960]. Nursi wrote in both Ottoman Turkish and Arabic and his life and thought reflected the transition of modern Turkey from an empire to a secular republic. The contributors to this volume shed new light on two major dimensions of Nursi's thought: theodicy and justice. Classical Muslim theologians debated these two important issues; however, we must consider the modern debate of these issues in the context of the radical political and social transformations of modern Turkey. Nursi explored these matters as they related to the development of state and society and the crisis of Islam in the modern secular nation-state. Nursi is the founder of a'faith movement'in contemporary Turkey with millions of followers worldwide. In this book, distinguished scholars in Islamic, Middle Eastern, and Turkish Studies explore Nursi's thought on theodicy and justice in comparison with a number of western philosophers, theologians, and men of letters, such as Dante, Merton, Kant, and Moltman. This book presents an invaluable resource for studies in comparative religion, philosophy, and Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies.

God, Man, Mortality is a collection of essays written both by seasoned and by up and coming scholars working the field known as Nursi studies. The aim of these essays is to hold a mirror up to Nursi's teachings on a number of issues, just as Nursi held a mirror up to the teachings of the Qur'an. The scope is broad covering subjects such as Divine immanence and transcendence, human spirituality and man's role as Divine vicegerent. Divine determining and free will, and human conscience as evidence of the existence of God. The topics presented by the authors are unashamedly theocentric in nature: discussions on politics and legal theory are conspicuous by their absence. We benefit from the depth of awareness that the contributors clearly have of Nursi's teachings and his place in the Muslim academe, as well as from their lucid expository styles and strong authorial voices.

TheRisale-i Nur Collection is full of'general principles,'not only related to the Islamic Jurisprudence but also to all the fields of Islam or Islamic life and Islamic branches of knowledge. Based on or specially favored with profound wisdom having its source in the Divine Wisdom or the Divine Name of the All-Wise, the Risale-i Nur Collection contains numerous principles, precepts, or maxims which are standards or brilliant criteria enabling people to think, believe, and live according to Islam, and to evaluate and judge things and events in Islam's light. They also provide people with the essentials or basic principles on which the branches of Islamic knowledge and Islamic science are based. Thus, we have tried to collect many of these principles in this book under certain titles, and in certain parts or sections according to the fields of thought and branches of knowledge to which they have a greater relevance.

The Staff of Moses is a collection of Nursi's writings concerning worship, youth, life after death, belief in the Hereafter and their relation with happiness in this world and the next.

This collection of essays written by Thomas Michel offers an insightful and comparative analysis into the life, thoughts and major writings of Said Nursi. It provides insight into a deep conversation taking place between a Catholic priest and a Muslim theologian. This sincere and humble collection of essays will be an indispensable reading for believers of all faiths and backgrounds with an interest in social and contemporary issues. Michel remarks that Nursi called for unity and cooperation between the Muslim-Christian communities fifty years before the Vatican II called upon Christians and Muslims to recognize that they should move beyond the conflicts of the past and work together for the common good to build peace, establish social justice, defend moral values, and promote true human freedom.

A compelling commentary on the important truths of The Qur'an's verses regarding life after death and the hereafter. This treatise explains through reasoned arguments and conformable comparisons, the manifestation of God's names and their requisites of the afterlife in twelve truths. Translated from Turkish'Sozler'by Sukran Vahide.

Contemporary Islamic thinkers are often studied sociologically rather than as theologians. There are many accessible introductions to Christian theologians, but very few such studies of Islamic thinkers. This book, and this series, seeks to change this situation: offering new introductions to influential Islamic thinkers and engaging, at the level of ideas, with the rich depths of contemporary Islamic theology. This book introduces to the English-speaking world the leading modern Islamic thinker Said Nursi (1878-1960) - who has some nine million followers in modern day Turkey and around the world. After an opening chapter that provides an overview of his life, the next four chapters outline the theology of Nursi on God, the Qur'an, the West and Politics. The final section provides an invaluable resource of readings from Nursi's most important writings. Providing an introduction to a major form of Islam which is committed to non-violence, dialogue and constructive relationships with the West, this is the first student textbook to introduce a contemporary Islamic theologian in a systematic way.

This book explores the theology and philosophy of the distinguished modern Muslim scholar and theologian Bediuzzaman Said Nursi [d.1960]. Nursi wrote in both Ottoman Turkish and Arabic and his life and thought reflected the transition of modern Turkey from an empire to a secular republic. The contributors to this volume shed new light on two major dimensions of Nursi's thought: theodicy and justice. Classical Muslim theologians debated these two important issues; however, we must consider the modern debate of these issues in the context of the radical political and social transformations of modern Turkey. Nursi explored these matters as they related to the development of state and society and the crisis of Islam in the modern secular nation-state. Nursi is the founder of a'faith movement'in contemporary Turkey with millions of followers worldwide. In this book, distinguished scholars in Islamic, Middle Eastern, and Turkish Studies explore Nursi's thought on theodicy and justice in comparison with a number of western philosophers, theologians, and men of letters, such as Dante, Merton, Kant, and Moltman. This book presents an invaluable resource for studies in comparative religion, philosophy, and Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies.

This book is a collection of letters and treatises by Bediuzzaman about resurrection and its basis in Islam. It includes the famous 10th Word from the book The Words.

Providing a framework of Islamic thought for issues raised in modern times, this cornerstone volume offers important insight into matters of belief through a collection of arguments that assert the importance of a renewed faith in today?s world. Stating that belief equals knowledge and that the convictions underlying nonbelief are ignorance and absence of judgment, this spirituality-affirming compendium features essays that introduce the pillars of faith for the Islamic tradition and give a broader understanding of Islam based on the Qur?an. Ultimately hoping to prove the existence and unity of God, this magnum opus is perfect for researchers and students of Islam as well as anyone interested in a broad analysis of the Qur?an and the main tenets of the Islamic faith.

Too often interfaith dialogue is generic and unfocused. Often it involves'liberals'from each tradition coming together to criticize the'conservatives'in their own traditions. This book provides a model for interfaith dialogue that challenges very directly the'dialogue industry'. This book involves a Christian theologian in deep conversation with a Muslim theologian. Bediuzzaman Said Nursi (1877-1960) was born at the end of the Ottoman Empire and lived through the emergence of an aggressive secular state. He had to think through, in remarkably creative ways, the challenge of faith within a secular environment, the relationship of faith and politics, and the implications and challenge of diversity and difference. His entire project is captured in his magnum opus'The Risale-i Nur'. In the first eight chapters of this book, we engage closely with the thought of Nursi and tease out insights that Christians can learn from and accommodate. Having established the method, the second section of the book examines the precise implications for the interfaith movement. The problem with the interfaith movement is that it is an act of western cultural imperialism - they are taking the individualist assumptions of modern America and imposing them on the conversation. The problems with John Hick's and Leonard Swidler's approach are exposed. Moving out from Islam, the book then demonstrates how the model of interfaith changes when Christians are in conversation with Hinduism in India. A new set of Dialogue Ten Commandments are suggested. The book concludes with an appeal for a commitment to include and reach the'conservatives'in the major religious traditions.

This book presents a brief comparison between the Qur'an's sacred wisdom and human philosophy, a concise summary of the Qur'anic instruction and training for humanity's personal and social life.

Scerif Mardin is a professor in the Department of Public Administration at Bogazigi University, Istanbul.