The First Wisdom and Benefit

In these times, the students of the Risale-i Nur can gather together in safety only in the 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.. Meeting one another outside prison would be both costly and liable to arouse suspicion. At times, some students spent forty or fifty lira merely to see me, only to return after speaking with me for twenty minutes—or without having been able to speak with me at all.

As for myself, I would gladly have endured the hardships of imprisonment simply for the sake of meeting certain brothers in person. Thus, prison is, for us, a blessing and a mercy.

The Second Wisdom and Benefit

In these times, service to īmānFaith; belief in the six articles of faith: Allah, His angels, His revealed scriptures, His prophets, the Hereafter, and divine decree (qadar). through the Risale-i Nur is carried out by making it known and directing the attention of those in need toward it. Our imprisonment drew attention to the Risale-i Nur and served as a form of public proclamation.

In this way, even the most obstinate, as well as those in greatest need, come to discover the Risale-i Nur, save their īmānFaith; belief in the six articles of faith: Allah, His angels, His revealed scriptures, His prophets, the Hereafter, and divine decree (qadar)., and overcome their obstinacy. They are safeguarded against the dangers of doubts concerning īmānFaith; belief in the six articles of faith: Allah, His angels, His revealed scriptures, His prophets, the Hereafter, and divine decree (qadar)., while the circle of those studying the Risale-i Nur continues to expand.

The Third Wisdom and Benefit

The Nur students who enter prison learn from one another’s conduct, character, sincerity, and devotion, and cease to seek worldly gain through their service to the Risale-i Nur.

In the 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., they witness with their own eyes that behind every hardship and suffering lie ten, or even a hundred, material and spiritual benefits, together with favourable outcomes and far-reaching, sincere services to īmānFaith; belief in the six articles of faith: Allah, His angels, His revealed scriptures, His prophets, the Hereafter, and divine decree (qadar).. Thus, they attain complete sincerity and relinquish their petty personal interests.

These places of seclusion possess, for me, a peculiar charm—a beauty at once sorrowful and sweet.

Here, I find myself once again amid surroundings reminiscent of the old madrasas of my youth in my homeland. In the eastern provinces, some students received their provisions from outside, while in certain madrasas they even prepared their meals in their own quarters.

In many respects, these places of seclusion resemble those madrasas. Whenever I look around with a pleasant sense of nostalgia, my imagination carries me back to those sweet days of my youth, and I forget the infirmities of old age.