THE
FIRST FLASH:
An important explanation of the verse, But he cried through the
depths of the darkness, “There is no God but You; Glory be unto You! I
was indeed among the wrongdoers,” the famous supplication of the
Prophet Jonah (UWP), showing its relevance for everyone.
* *
*
THE
SECOND FLASH: The famous supplication of the Prophet Job (UWP), When
he called upon his Sustainer saying: “Verily harm has afflicted me,
and You are the Most Merciful of the Merciful” is expounded in
Five Points, providing a true remedy for all those struck by disaster.
* *
*
THE
THIRD FLASH: Three Points expounding with the phrases The
Enduring One, He is the Enduring One! two important truths of the verse,
Everything shall perish save His countenance; His is the command, and
to Him shall you return.
* *
*
THE
FOURTH FLASH: ‘The Highway of the Practices of the Prophet (PBUH)’,
this solves and elucidates with complete clarity one of the major points
of conflict between the Sunnis and the Shi’a, the question of the
‘Imamate’, and expounds in Four Points two important verses.
* *
*
THE
FIFTH FLASH is included in the Twenty-Ninth Flash.
* *
*
THE
SIXTH FLASH is also included in the Twenty-Ninth Flash.
* *
*
THE
SEVENTH FLASH: This describes seven predictions concerning the
Unseen in the three final verses of Sura al-Fath. Its Postscript
describes a further example of this aspect of the Qur’an’s
miraculousness in the verses All who obey God and His Prophet...
While in the Conclusion a clear example of another aspect of its
miraculousness, ‘coincidences’ (tawafuqat), is demonstrated.
* *
*
THE
EIGHTH FLASH is published in Sikke-i Tasdik-i Gaybi (The
Ratifying Stamp of the Unseen) and hand-duplicated editions of Lem’alar
(The Flashes Collection), and not included in the present collection.
* *
*
THE
NINTH FLASH: The answers to four questions asked by ‘Hulûsi
Bey’:
The
First concerns his descent from the Prophet (PBUH).
The
Second shows with great clarity the essence of way of the
Unity of Existence (vahdatu’l-vujud) and how it is in error.
The
Third concerns the science of jafr.
The
Fourth is about Jesus (Upon whom be peace) having a human
father.
Finally is an Addendum
to the question about Ibn al-Arabi and the Unity of Existence.
* *
*
THE
TENTH FLASH: Fourteen ‘Blows dealt by Divine Compassion’
received by students of the Risale-i Nur in the service of the Qur’an,
for errors they have made due to human nature.
* *
*
THE
ELEVENTH FLASH: Entitled ‘The Stairway of the Practices
of the Prophet and Antidote for the Sickness of Innovations’, this
important treatise consists of Eleven Points.
* *
*
THE
TWELFTH FLASH: Two verses are explained which have been
challenged and criticized by scientists
The
First explains in Two Points that all sustenance is given
directly by the All-Powerful One, from the treasury of His mercy.
The
Second proves with Two Important Matters, the First consisting
of Four Points, that the earth has seven levels in seven respects,
like the heavens consist of seven levels.
* *
*
THE
THIRTEENTH FLASH: This explains, through Thirteen Indications,
the meaning of the phrase: “I seek refuge with God from Satan the
Accursed.”
* *
*
THE
FOURTEENTH FLASH consists of Two Stations.
First
Station: In reply to the First Question, which
is about the earth resting on a Bull and a Fish, this sets out three
important principles for the understanding of Hadiths.
The
Second Question is about the People of the Cloak.
Second
Station: This important piece expounds Six Mysteries contained
in the verse In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate.
* *
*
THE
FIFTEEN FLASH: The Indexes of Sözler (The Words), Mektûbat
(Bediuzzaman Said Nursi—Letters 1928-1932, and Lem’alar (The
Flashes Collection ), from the First to the Fifteen Flash. They are
included in the relevant volumes.
* *
*
THE
SIXTEENTH FLASH: The answers to various questions:
The
First: A relief from difficulties was predicted during
Ramadan by those who divine the realities, why did it not come about?
The
Second: Why did the author of the Risale-i Nur not oppose
those who were oppressing him?
The
Third: Why did he oppose war, although with foreign forces
interfering in the government, it would have excited Islamic zeal?
The
Fourth: Why did he advise his students to be cautious and
not to show all parts of the Risale-i Nur to everyone?
Conclusion:
The reply to a question about the Prophet’s (PBUH) beard. The answers
to three further matters, disputed by atheists:
The
First: Dhu’l-Qarnayn “saw the sun setting in a spring of
murky water.”
The
Second: Where is the Barrier of Dhu’l-Qarnayn? Who were Gog
and Magog?
The
Third is about Jesus (UWP) coming at the end of time and
killing the Dajjal.
A
reply about two of the Five Hidden Things.
The
reply to a question about man’s Ten Subtle Faculties.
* *
*
THE
SEVENTEENTH FLASH consists of Fifteen Notes taken from Zühre.
The
First Note shows the reality of those things which captivate
the human soul, and severing his attachment to them, turns man’s
face to eternity.
The
Second Note points out the Qur’anic principle of humility.
The
Third Note illustrates with a comparison the true face of
death and life.
The
Fourth Note demonstrates that as it is generally the Divine
practice to restore and return things exactly the same, man, the
perfect fruit of the universe, will be returned at the Last Judgement.
The
Fifth Note reveals by means of a comparison with Qur’anic
guidance, the true face of Western civilization. Making believers feel
repugnance towards that dissolute civilization, it offers remedies
from the pharmacy of the Qur’an.
The
Sixth Note unmasks the satanic wile of shaking believers in
their faith due to the great numbers of the unbelievers and their
agreement in denying some of the truths of belief.
The
Seventh Note silences those pseudo-patriots who drive Muslims
towards Western-type progress, greed, and worldly ambition, and offers
Qur’anic cures to any looking towards apostasy or who have fallen
into sin.
The
Eighth Note demonstrates how in His munificence, Almighty God
has included in all activity and striving a reward and pleasure.
The
Ninth Note explains that the Prophets contain the reality of
man, the seed of the universe, so too by following the Prophets,
through worship, man attains perfection and happiness. Then the
phrases “God is Most Great!” uttered in the Friday and Festival
Prayers become as though uttered by the very globe of the earth.
The
Tenth Note: On knowledge of God, this shows how it should be
approached, and sets forth three sorts of evidences and proofs of
knowledge of God.
The
Eleventh Note points out the compassion in the Qur'an's manner
of address, and its naturalness.
The
Twelfth Note: A supplication illustrating a meaning of the
Hadith “Die before you die”
The
Thirteenth Note: Five Matters which have been the cause of
confusion
The
First: Those who strive in the way of truth should think
only of their own duties and not meddle in God’s concerns.
The
Second: Worship and servitude of God should look only to
the Divine command and Divine pleasure.
The
Third: On the meaning of “Happy is the man who knows his
limits and does not exceed them.”
The
Fourth explains that it is not permissible to accept
bounties not given in the True Bestower’s name—what confuses
people is cause and effect coming together—and shows clearly the
true nature of apparent causes.
The
Fifth: The achievements of a community should not be
ascribed to its leader or master.
The
Fourteenth Note consists of four Signs alluding to Divine
Unity.
First
Sign: Man’s true object of worship and place of recourse
can only be the One Who rules the earth and the heavens.
Second
Sign: Man’s intense innate love of immortality should be
not for the mirror of his being, but for the manifestation of the
Enduring One of Glory in the mirror.
Third
Sign: The tip of a vast truth warning man, for although he
is created with a capacity suitable to eternal life, sometimes he
becomes entrapped in minute matters, due to the caprice of the soul.
Fourth
Sign: Worldly life and life of the flesh are like a narrow
grave. With entering the life of the heart and spirit, is a broad
sphere of life; the key to this world is “There is no god but
God!”
The
Fifteenth Note depicts the maximum manifestation of the Divine
Name of Preserver.
* *
*
THE
EIGHTEENTH FLASH has been published in Sikke-i Tasdik-i Gaybî
(The Ratifying Stamp of the Unseen) and in hand-duplicated editions of Lem’alar
(The Flashes).
* *
*
THE
NINETEENTH FLASH: On Frugality. Seven Points expounding the
verse Eat and drink, but waste not in excess.
* *
*
THE
TWENTIETH FLASH: On Sincerity. Seven Causes for the awesome
situation portrayed by the question: “What is the reason for the
conflict among the people of truth while the misguided and worldly
co-operate without rivalry?
* *
*
THE
TWENTY-FIRST FLASH: On Sincerity. Four Rules for gaining and
preserving sincerity, the most important principle in works pertaining
to the Hereafter.
A
Confidential Letter to Some of My Brothers.
* *
*
THE
TWENTY-SECOND FLASH consists of Three Indications which comprise
questions about the Risale-i Nur’s author, and their answers:
First
Indication: Why do the worldly meddle in your Hereafter,
although you do not meddle in their world, and the law does not
interfere with recluses?
Second
Indication: Why do you not apply to us? One who applies the
law is not a tyrant. Through attracting attention, you oppose our
principles of absolute equality.
Third
Indication: Why do you elude our republican laws under the
cloak of being a recluse? Why do you assume a special position?
Conclusion:
An astonishing assault.
* *
*
THE
TWENTY-THIRD FLASH: On Nature
* *
*
THE
TWENTY-FOURTH FLASH: The Qur’an enjoins the veiling of women.
Four Instances of Wisdom in this.
A
Conversation with the Women, My Believing Sisters of the Hereafter:
Three Points showing that since compassion is one of the chief
principles of the Risale-i Nur and women are champions of compassion,
they are by nature drawn to it. Unfortunately at the present time,
certain currents are trying to exploit that valuable characteristic.
The happiness of women in both worlds therefore may be preserved by
adhering to Islamic practices.
* *
*
THE
TWENTY-FIFTH FLASH: Message for the Sick. This consists of
Twenty-Five Remedies.
* *
*
THE
TWENTY-SIXTH FLASH: Treatise for the Elderly. This consists of
Twenty-Six ‘Hopes’.
* *
*
THE
TWENTY-SEVENTH FLASH: The defence speeches from the Eskishehir
trials, which have been published in hand-duplicated editions of The
Flashes Collection, and in part in Bediuzzaman’s ‘official’
biography.
* *
*
THE
TWENTY-EIGHTH FLASH consists of short pieces written in
Eskishehir Prison.
A
Small Point Concerning an Important Verse: Hitherto
unknown instances of wisdom in the creation of flies, and other
creatures.
Some
aspects of the element of air, the Throne of the Divine
Will and Command, and the ‘disjointed letters’ at the start of
some Suras.
A
discussion on Divine Speech and its infinity.
An
explanation of why the verse And We sent down iron....
is phrased in this way.
The
same point explained in connection with the verse And
He sent down for you eight head of cattle...
Pieces
written in Eskishehir Prison as a true solace for the
Risale-i Nur students.
A
Rule
A
Short Piece
Part
of My Defence Speech
An
explanation of the verse But when they forgot the
warning they had received.
A
Warning — Two Short Stories
A
piece of benefit for everyone, in Two Points. First
Point, the immediate reward present in good works.
Second
Point: Two verses whose meaning is not immediately
apparent.
The
times of sleep and the Practices of the Prophet (PBUH).
“This
is good as well.” On salawat for the Prophet (PBUH).
An
explanation of the ‘Unity of Existence.’
The
answer to a question about the dispute between Mustafa
Sabri and Musa Bekûf on the subject of Muhyiddin al-Arabi.
What
should be done at festival times.
On
the evil-commanding soul and its faults.
How
can incarceration in Hell for an infinite duration in
return for unbelief of a short duration be justice?
A
meaningful and subtle ‘coincidence’.
An
explanation of some verses about spying jinns and evil
spirits and their repulsion which had been criticized by the people of
misguidance.
* *
*
THE
TWENTY-NINTH FLASH: In Arabic, this was written in compliance
with the Qur’anic command to reflect on the creational signs in the
universe, and shows the essence of the way of the Risale-i Nur,
reflective thought. The Third of its Six Chapters is included in the
present collection. It is on the phrase “God is Most Great” and
comprises Seven Degrees.
* *
*
THE
THIRTIETH FLASH: On the Six Divine Names bearing the Greatest
Name.
First
Point: The Name of Most Holy. This describes the cleanliness
of the universe and all beings, one manifestation of this Name.
Second
Point: The Name of All-Just. The balance and equilibrium of
the universe and all beings, one manifestation of the Name of
All-Just.
Third
Point: the Name of Sapient consists of Five Matters.
Fourth
Point: The Name of Single. This consists of Seven Indications.
Fifth
Point: The Name of Ever-Living. This consists of Five Signs.
Sixth
Point: The Name of Self-Subsistent. This consists of Five
Rays.
* *
*
The
Thirty-First Flash:
This has been assigned to Sualar (The Rays). The Fourteenth Ray
consists of the defence speeches and letters of Afyon Court and Prison,
while the Fifteenth Ray has been named Elhüccetü’z-Zehrâ
(The Shining Proof), and published.1
* *
*
The
Thirty-Second Flash:
This consists of Lemeât, the last work of the Old Said, which,
itself assuming the form of poetry, was written in twenty days during
the month of Ramadan. It has been included in Sözler (The
Words).
* *
*
The
Thirty-Third Flash:
This consists of the works called in Arabic Katre, Habbe, Semme,
Zerre, Hubab, Zühre, and Sûle, and their appendices, the
first works of the New Said, inspired in his heart from ‘reality’ [haqiqat].
Turkish translations of them having been included in Mesnevi-yi Nûriye,
part of the Risale-i Nur Collection, and published.
* *
*
Bediuzzaman
Said Nursi’s Life, The Risale-i Nur, and The Flashes
Collection
