Self in Relation to the Concept of God in Risale-i Nur

Abstract

This thesis presents a critical analysis on the self in relation to the concept of God in writings and discourse of Bediuzzaman Said Nursi. He has lived between 1876-1960 as not only a religious scholar but also as an activist in Turkey. Another particular importance of this study is that Nursi’s ideas about the self in relation to the concept of God have been discussed together with mainstream western and Islamic thoughts.

For Bediuzzaman Said Nursi a true understanding of the concept of self is essential to fulfil the true potential as an individual. Dynamic and ever changing structure of the self can be understood by anā which is a subjective tool acting as a unit of measure. In other words it is just an image (anā) on the mirror (nafs), which reflects and shows the Divine Names and Attributes. However if anā and nafs are not guided by Divine Revelation and Sunnah, they can easily claim to be the source and owner of what is reflected on the mirror.

Bediuzzaman Said Nursi has a completely different understanding of the universe and the concept of self, compared to many of the western philosophers and thinkers. For him it is important to grasp the reality of things which may ultimately lead to a better understanding of the Divine (m‘arifah). And grasping the reality of things is only possible if one can obtain a stand point to reach out to the meaning of things in a domain not limited to his benefit only. According to him this is possible through a proper understanding of the concepts like nafs and anā.