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Resonate your identity with Naseeb journals. Express your opinions, share your thoughts, post your writings and connect with like minded people through the power of expression.
Resonate your identity with Naseeb journals. Express your opinions, share your thoughts, post your writings and connect with like minded people through the power of expression.
The Purpose of life:The Risale-i Nur perspective
The Discovery of Purpose : Risale-i Noor Approach
In the light of above stated chain of though, it is crystal clear that Hazrat Bediuzzaman SAID NURSI?s approach for the discovery of purpose in life is completely based on the concept of Prophethood. He states clearly;
Consider this: in the world of humanity, from the time of Adam up to now, two great currents, two lines of thought, have always been and will so continue. Like two mighty trees, they have spread out their branches in all directions and in every class of humanity. One of them is the line of Prophethood and religion, the other the line of philosophy in its various forms. Whenever those two lines have been in agreement and united, that is to say, if the line of philosophy, having joined the line of religion, has been obedient and of service to it, the world of humanity has experienced a brilliant happiness and social life. Whereas, when they have become separated, goodness and light have been drawn to the side of the line of Prophethood and religion, and evil and misguidance to the side of the line of philosophy. Now let us find the origin and foundations of those two lines.
The line of philosophy that does not obey the line of religion, taking the form of a tree of Zaqqum, scatters the darkness of ascribing partners to God and misguidance on all sides. In the branch of the power of intellect, even, it produces the fruit of atheism, Materialism, and Naturalism for the consumption of the human intellect. And in the realm of the power of passion, it pours the tyrannies of Nimrod, Pharaoh, and Shaddad on mankind. And in the realm of the power of animal appetites, it nurtures and bears the fruit of goddesses, idols, and those who claim divinity.
The origin of the tree of Zaqqum together with that of the line of Prophethood, which is like the Tuba-tree of worship, are in the two faces of the ?I?. The blessed branches of the line of Prophethood in the garden of the globe of the earth are the following: in the branch of the power of intellect, it has nurtured the fruits of the prophets, the messengers, and the saints. In the branch of the power of repulsion, it has resulted in angelic kings and just rulers. And in the branch of the power of attraction, it has resulted in people of good character and modest and beautiful manner, both generous and gracious. So the line of Prophethood has shown how mankind is the most perfect fruit of the universe.
Hazrat Bediuzzaman SAID NURSI prefers to be guided by Prophets towards the discovery of purpose in life. He states at another place;
Later the King (the Creator) appointed a Supreme Commander (Prophet Muhammad PBUH) as teacher, to make known the purpose of the palace (World) and the meaning of its contents; to describe its Maker and its contents to the people, make known the secrets of the palace?s embellishments, teach what the arts within it were pointing to, ?.
He relies on ?God?s Will? to discover and interpret the real purpose of life. He does not allow himself or his readers to rely on any so-called meditational techniques or Naturalist and Materialist philosophies.
SAID NURSI?s Discovery of man?s purpose in life.
The Holy Qur?an states the purpose of man?s life in these words;
I have only created Jinns and men, that they may worship Me.
Imam Fakhruddin Razi interprets the word worship (Ibadah) in this manner;
What is worship for which men and jinns were created? We will say that to worship is to follow Allah?s commandments and treat one another with love and respect because no shariah has missed these two issues.
Jesus Christ also summarized the teachings of All the Law and the Prophets endorsing Imam Gazali?s interpretation of Qur?anic concept;
One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "`Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.? This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: `Love your neighbor as yourself.? All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.
Hazrat Bediuzzaman SAID NURSI has very rightly perceived this Qur?anic purpose of man?s creation. He writes;
Furthermore, man?s nature and spiritual faculties show that he is created for worship. For in respect of the power and actions necessary for the life of this world, he cannot compete with the most inferior sparrow. While in respect of knowledge and need, and worship and supplication, which are necessary for spiritual life and the life of the hereafter, he is like the monarch and commander of the animals.
O my soul! If you make the life of this world the aim of your life and work constantly for that, you will become like the lowest sparrow. But if you make the life of the hereafter your aim and end, and make this life the means of it and its tillage, and strive in accordance with it, then you will be like a lofty commander of the animals, and a petted and suppliant servant of Almighty God, and His honoured and respected guest.
Those are the two ways open to you! You can choose whichever you wish... So ask for guidance and success from the Most Compassionate of the Compassionate.
It is also to be noted that in Islam the concept of ?worship? is very broad and universal in its nature. Worship in Islam is a combination of different of types of duties and worldly matters are not excluded from the concept of worship. Hazrat Said Nursi writes;
Consider all the beings in the universe; whether living or inanimate, in perfect order and obedience they all have their worship which is in the form of duties. Although some of them lack feelings and intelligence, they perform their duties in most conscious, orderly, and worshipful fashion. That means there is a True Object of Worship, an Absolute Commander, Who impels them to worship and employs them.
According to Islam, Allah has made service of mankind a part and parcel of His worship, which is to serve mankind, regardless of race, colour, religion and geographical identity. That is why monastic life is not allowed in Islam because it excludes social service. Allah wants us to discover his love and blessings in the act of service and love for others. He doesn?t reveal Himself to us directly, rather he reveals Himself to us through the pain, sorrow and suffering of a human being. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said;
On the day of judgement God Almighty will ask a man, ?O Son of Adam, I was sick but you did not come to visit me. Man, surprisingly, will ask the Lord that how is it possible? Allah will reply, ?did you not know that a man got sick near you and you did not go to visit him, you would have found me there if you visited him?.
Similarly Allah will ask a man, ?O Son of Adam, I asked you for food but you did not feed me?. Man surprisingly will say, ?how is it possible that you need such thing? Allah will reply, ?do you not know that a man was hungry and he asked for food from you but you refused, if you had fed him, you would have found me there.
The Holy Bible also approves the same concept of finding the nearness and love of the God through social service;
When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.
The 30th Word.
The 11th Word.
The Holy Qur?an, Surah 51 verse 56
Tafseer-i- Kabir. Commentry on Sura 51 Verse 56.
The Holy Bible, Matthew 22:35-40
The Fifth Word. P.35-36
The Letters/ Twenty Ninth Letter ? First Section p. 463
Miskat ul Masahbi, Hadith No. 1442
The Holy Bible, Mathew 25:31-46
In the light of above stated chain of though, it is crystal clear that Hazrat Bediuzzaman SAID NURSI?s approach for the discovery of purpose in life is completely based on the concept of Prophethood. He states clearly;
Consider this: in the world of humanity, from the time of Adam up to now, two great currents, two lines of thought, have always been and will so continue. Like two mighty trees, they have spread out their branches in all directions and in every class of humanity. One of them is the line of Prophethood and religion, the other the line of philosophy in its various forms. Whenever those two lines have been in agreement and united, that is to say, if the line of philosophy, having joined the line of religion, has been obedient and of service to it, the world of humanity has experienced a brilliant happiness and social life. Whereas, when they have become separated, goodness and light have been drawn to the side of the line of Prophethood and religion, and evil and misguidance to the side of the line of philosophy. Now let us find the origin and foundations of those two lines.
The line of philosophy that does not obey the line of religion, taking the form of a tree of Zaqqum, scatters the darkness of ascribing partners to God and misguidance on all sides. In the branch of the power of intellect, even, it produces the fruit of atheism, Materialism, and Naturalism for the consumption of the human intellect. And in the realm of the power of passion, it pours the tyrannies of Nimrod, Pharaoh, and Shaddad on mankind. And in the realm of the power of animal appetites, it nurtures and bears the fruit of goddesses, idols, and those who claim divinity.
The origin of the tree of Zaqqum together with that of the line of Prophethood, which is like the Tuba-tree of worship, are in the two faces of the ?I?. The blessed branches of the line of Prophethood in the garden of the globe of the earth are the following: in the branch of the power of intellect, it has nurtured the fruits of the prophets, the messengers, and the saints. In the branch of the power of repulsion, it has resulted in angelic kings and just rulers. And in the branch of the power of attraction, it has resulted in people of good character and modest and beautiful manner, both generous and gracious. So the line of Prophethood has shown how mankind is the most perfect fruit of the universe.
Hazrat Bediuzzaman SAID NURSI prefers to be guided by Prophets towards the discovery of purpose in life. He states at another place;
Later the King (the Creator) appointed a Supreme Commander (Prophet Muhammad PBUH) as teacher, to make known the purpose of the palace (World) and the meaning of its contents; to describe its Maker and its contents to the people, make known the secrets of the palace?s embellishments, teach what the arts within it were pointing to, ?.
He relies on ?God?s Will? to discover and interpret the real purpose of life. He does not allow himself or his readers to rely on any so-called meditational techniques or Naturalist and Materialist philosophies.
SAID NURSI?s Discovery of man?s purpose in life.
The Holy Qur?an states the purpose of man?s life in these words;
I have only created Jinns and men, that they may worship Me.
Imam Fakhruddin Razi interprets the word worship (Ibadah) in this manner;
What is worship for which men and jinns were created? We will say that to worship is to follow Allah?s commandments and treat one another with love and respect because no shariah has missed these two issues.
Jesus Christ also summarized the teachings of All the Law and the Prophets endorsing Imam Gazali?s interpretation of Qur?anic concept;
One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "`Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.? This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: `Love your neighbor as yourself.? All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.
Hazrat Bediuzzaman SAID NURSI has very rightly perceived this Qur?anic purpose of man?s creation. He writes;
Furthermore, man?s nature and spiritual faculties show that he is created for worship. For in respect of the power and actions necessary for the life of this world, he cannot compete with the most inferior sparrow. While in respect of knowledge and need, and worship and supplication, which are necessary for spiritual life and the life of the hereafter, he is like the monarch and commander of the animals.
O my soul! If you make the life of this world the aim of your life and work constantly for that, you will become like the lowest sparrow. But if you make the life of the hereafter your aim and end, and make this life the means of it and its tillage, and strive in accordance with it, then you will be like a lofty commander of the animals, and a petted and suppliant servant of Almighty God, and His honoured and respected guest.
Those are the two ways open to you! You can choose whichever you wish... So ask for guidance and success from the Most Compassionate of the Compassionate.
It is also to be noted that in Islam the concept of ?worship? is very broad and universal in its nature. Worship in Islam is a combination of different of types of duties and worldly matters are not excluded from the concept of worship. Hazrat Said Nursi writes;
Consider all the beings in the universe; whether living or inanimate, in perfect order and obedience they all have their worship which is in the form of duties. Although some of them lack feelings and intelligence, they perform their duties in most conscious, orderly, and worshipful fashion. That means there is a True Object of Worship, an Absolute Commander, Who impels them to worship and employs them.
According to Islam, Allah has made service of mankind a part and parcel of His worship, which is to serve mankind, regardless of race, colour, religion and geographical identity. That is why monastic life is not allowed in Islam because it excludes social service. Allah wants us to discover his love and blessings in the act of service and love for others. He doesn?t reveal Himself to us directly, rather he reveals Himself to us through the pain, sorrow and suffering of a human being. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said;
On the day of judgement God Almighty will ask a man, ?O Son of Adam, I was sick but you did not come to visit me. Man, surprisingly, will ask the Lord that how is it possible? Allah will reply, ?did you not know that a man got sick near you and you did not go to visit him, you would have found me there if you visited him?.
Similarly Allah will ask a man, ?O Son of Adam, I asked you for food but you did not feed me?. Man surprisingly will say, ?how is it possible that you need such thing? Allah will reply, ?do you not know that a man was hungry and he asked for food from you but you refused, if you had fed him, you would have found me there.
The Holy Bible also approves the same concept of finding the nearness and love of the God through social service;
When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.
The 30th Word.
The 11th Word.
The Holy Qur?an, Surah 51 verse 56
Tafseer-i- Kabir. Commentry on Sura 51 Verse 56.
The Holy Bible, Matthew 22:35-40
The Fifth Word. P.35-36
The Letters/ Twenty Ninth Letter ? First Section p. 463
Miskat ul Masahbi, Hadith No. 1442
The Holy Bible, Mathew 25:31-46