The Twenty-Sixth Flash

Moreover, certain credulous and suspicious officials have been deceived by the schemes of your hidden enemies and incited to commit this injustice. Thus, those enemies also bear a share of responsibility. But the powerful spiritual blows dealt to those hypocrites by the Risale-i Nur have already avenged you amply. Let that suffice as their punishment.

The final share belongs to the officials who have acted merely as instruments. For although they studied the Risale-i Nur with the intention of criticising it, they have undoubtedly benefited from it in matters of īmānFaith; belief in the six articles of faith: Allah, His angels, His revealed scriptures, His prophets, the Hereafter, and divine decree (qadar).. And since they have received this benefit, it is fitting that their share should be met with forgiveness, in accordance with the mystery of the verse:

وَالْكَاظِمِينَ الْغَيْظَ وَالْعَافِينَ عَنِ النَّاسِAnd those who restrain their anger and forgive people. — The Qur’an 3:134

‘Those who restrain their anger and pardon others,’

for such forgiveness is an act of noble generosity.”

This truthful inspiration filled me with such profound joy and gratitude that I resolved to remain in this new Madrasa al-Yūsufiyya“The School of Yūsuf”; a spiritual term for prison, inspired by Prophet Yūsuf (as), who was unjustly imprisoned. Bediuzzaman Said Nursi used this expression to describe prison as a place of spiritual education, patience, worship, and reflection, where hardship can become a means of drawing closer to Allah., and even to assist those who opposed me by committing some minor, harmless offence that might furnish a pretext for prolonging my stay.

And for someone like me—seventy-five years old, with no remaining ties to the world, whose seventy beloved friends have dwindled to only five still living, whose work of spreading the truths of the Qur’an is being carried forward by seventy thousand copies of the Risale-i Nur circulating freely, and whose brothers and successors will continue the service of īmānFaith; belief in the six articles of faith: Allah, His angels, His revealed scriptures, His prophets, the Hereafter, and divine decree (qadar). through thousands of tongues—the grave is a hundred times preferable to this prison.

Indeed, even this prison is a hundred times more comfortable and beneficial than the so-called freedom outside, where one must endure countless forms of oppression. For outside, I had to endure the pressure of a hundred officials involved in my case. In prison, however, among a hundred prisoners, I have to contend only with the relatively mild measures and restrictions imposed by a single prison governor and a chief warder.

In return, I receive brotherly appreciation and consolation from many friends in prison. Moreover, since both Islam and sound human nature inspire compassion towards the elderly in such circumstances, the hardships of imprisonment are transformed into mercy, leaving me content with prison.

When I appeared for my third trial, I could scarcely remain standing because of weakness, old age, and illness. I therefore sat on a small chair outside, near the entrance to the courthouse.

Suddenly, a judge emerged. He grew angry and said contemptuously, “Why is he not standing?”

This merciless treatment of an elderly man aroused my indignation. But at that very moment, I saw that many Muslims had gathered around us, looking upon us with profound compassion and brotherly affection, and were not being dispersed.

Suddenly, two truths were brought to my attention.