THE FLASHES
The Twenty-First Flash
A SPECIAL LETTER TO SOME OF MY BROTHERS
To my brothers who grow weary of writing and who, during the Three Sacred Months—months devoted to worship—prefer other forms of awrādRegularly recited supplications and dhikr performed to attain closeness to Allah. to copying the Risale-i Nur, which is itself regarded as an act of worship in five respects, I wish to explain a subtle meaning contained in two narrations.
The first:
يُوزَنُ مِدَادُ الْعُلَمَاۤءِ بِدِمَاۤءِ الشُّهَدَاۤءِThe ink of the scholars will be weighed against the blood of the martyrs.
(أَوْ كَمَا قَالَOr as he said. — An expression used when quoting a saying without claiming to reproduce its exact wording.)
That is: “On the Day of Resurrection, the ink of true scholars will be weighed against the blood of the martyrs and found equal in value.”
The second:
مَنْ تَمَسَّكَ بِسُنَّتِى عِنْدَ فَسَادِ اُمَّتِى فَلَهُ اَجْرُ مِائَةِ شَهِيدٍWhoever holds firmly to my Sunnah at a time when my community becomes corrupted shall receive the reward of one hundred martyrs.
(أَوْ كَمَا قَالَOr as he said. — An expression used when quoting a saying without claiming to reproduce its exact wording.)
That is to say, in an age when bidahsReligious innovations that are not prescribed by the Qur’an or by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). and misguidance prevail, whoever holds fast to the SunnahThe sayings, actions, and approvals of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) that serve as a model for Muslims. of the Prophet (saw)Sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam (Peace and blessings be upon him) and the truths of the Qur’an, and devotes himself to their service, will receive the reward of a hundred shahīdsMartyrs who die for the faith and for the sake of Allah..
O my brothers who, out of a desire for ease, grow weary of writing! And O my brothers whose dispositions incline toward SufismThe spiritual tradition within Islam that emphasizes purification of the heart, remembrance of Allah (dhikr), sincerity, self-discipline, and drawing closer to Allah through worship and spiritual development.!
The combined meaning of these two narrations indicates that, in an age such as this, a single dirhamA traditional unit of weight used in the Islamic world, historically equivalent to approximately 3 grams. of ink flowing from blessed and sincere pens—pens devoted to the service of the truths of īmānFaith; belief in the six articles of faith: Allah, His angels, His revealed scriptures, His prophets, the Hereafter, and divine decree (qadar). and the mysteries of the SharīahThe body of Islamic laws and guidance, based on the Qur’an and the Sunnah, that prescribes the proper way of life; Islamic law. and the SunnahThe sayings, actions, and approvals of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) that serve as a model for Muslims., whose ink is like a black light or the water of life—may, on the Day of Resurrection, be worth a hundred dirhamsTraditional units of weight used in the Islamic world, each historically equivalent to approximately 3 grams. of the blood of martyrs and may be credited to your account. Therefore, strive to attain this reward.
If you say:
“The narration speaks of scholars, whereas some of us are merely scribes.”
Then the answer is:
Whoever reads these treatises and lessons for a year with understanding and acceptance may become a true and distinguished scholar of this age.
Even if you cannot fully understand these treatises, you may still attain the reward mentioned in the narration. For the students of the Risale-i Nur together constitute a collective spiritual personality, and that spiritual personality is undoubtedly a scholar of this age. Your pens are like the fingers of that spiritual personality.
Although I regard myself as incapable, your favourable opinion of me has led you to regard me as a master and, in a sense, a scholar, and to attach yourselves to me. Since I am unable to write and do not wield a pen myself, your pens are counted as my pen, and thus you will attain the reward mentioned in the narration.