Said Nursi’s Understanding of Prophethood: A Study in the Light of Rislae-I Nur

Due to the Enlightenment movement (1685-1815), rational thought and reason (‘aql) were injected into the mind of the young generation of Europe. It encouraged the human psyche to think about politics, philosophy, science, and communications related issues based on reason only. Even though, it raised a voice against the authority of religious creeds and dogmas of Christianity. When Mustafa Kemal subscribed to the post-Enlightenment spirit blindly for Turkey, the theological concepts of Islam like Tawhid (oneness of Allah), Nubuwwah (prophethood) and Hashr (resurrection) were neglected and denied in the name of modernity and progress. Previously, traditional ulema addressed these theological issues based on tradition (naql); very few of them on reason (‘aql). Nursi articulates these theological issues containing both ‘aql and naql to address the demand of the age, but mostly referred to ‘aql. He further argues the authority of divine revelation and the necessity of prophethood for human needs to introduce with Allah and for the guidance of humanity. On the other hand, the existing discipline and the order of the universe also necessitate prophets to preserve their solidarity and maintain its unity. This article investigates the views and methods of Said Nursi on the concept of prophethood and the necessity of divine revelation. This article also examines the position of Nursi where he blended metaphysics with the rational quest and satisfied the modern men’s questions regarding Islamic theological issues like tawhid and prophethood. The paper concludes that the Risale destroys disbelief, atheistic currents and communist attacks on Islam, Oneness of God (tawhid), Prophethood (nubuwwah) and Day of Judgement (hashr) from the society and boosts the belief of the people of Turkey and all around the world. Thus, it eliminates atheism, disbelief and doubt from Turkey and revives the faith and importance of prophethood and defends prophethood, the important tenets of Islam. In this regard, this paper covers the following issues: (1) Nursi’s Contribution to the discourse on prophethood; (2) the necessity of sending prophet; (3) humanity and