Moderation, Negative Nationalism and Extremism from the Viewpoint of the Risale-i Nur
Keywords:
moderation, Risale-i Nur, Said Nursi, extremism, nationalism, unity, racism, relations with non-MuslimsAbstract
This paper analyses the ideas of Said Nursi (1876-1960) on the importance of moderation (wasatiyyah) in the way of combatting extremism, racism and radicalism, which are sharply escalating in our days both in the East and the West. The first part of the paper finds that, according to Nursi, moderation was the main principle of the Islamic way of life, capable to provide well-being and happiness for humanity. The next part of the paper highlights the positive role of moderation in creating unity and solidarity as a solution, which is capable to provide happiness and security for all humans regardless of their religious, ethnic or social backgrounds. It, also, suggests that Nursi identified nationalistic and patriotic sentiments as radical and extremist, which were artificially evoked among the Muslim nations and are alien to the Islamic approach of moderation. After studying the Risale-i Nur approach towards the followers of other mazhabs and nonMuslims, the paper concludes that Nursi condemned all types of extremist ideas and actions as they were harmful for healthy progress and well-being of humanity.
References
Abu-Rabi’, Ibrahim (Ed.). (2003). Islam at the Crossroads: On the Life and Thought of Bediuzzaman Said Nursi. USA: State University of New York Press.
Akhmetova, Elmira. (2007). “Ideas of Muslim Unity at the Age of Nationalism: A Comparative Study of the Concept of the Ummah in the Writings of Musa Jarullah and Said Nursi.” MA thesis, International Islamic University Malaysia.
Berghout. “The Concept of Iman Tahqiqi As A Founding Element to The Process of Muslim Unity (Ustaz Nursi’s View).” Paper presented at the 2-Day Seminar on Bediuzzaman Said Nursi: A Contemporary Approach to Realizing Muslim unity, International Islamic University of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, August 2005.
Markham, Ian & Ozdemir, Ibrahim (eds.). (2005). Globalisation, Ethics and Islam. Great Britain: Ashgate Publishing Limited.
Said Nursi, Bediuzzaman. “Long Live the Sharī’ah of Muḥammad!.” Volkan , March 18, 1909
Said Nursi, Bediuzzaman. (2001). Letters: 1928-1932. Translated by S. Vahide. Istanbul: Sözler Publications.
Said Nursi, Bediuzzaman. (2002). The Damascus Sermon. 2nd ed. Translated by S. Vahide. Istanbul: Sözler Publications.
Said Nursi, Bediuzzaman. (2004a). The Flashes Collection. Translated by S. Vahide. Istanbul: Sözler Publications.
Said Nursi, Bediuzzaman. (2004b). The Words. Translated by Ş. Vahide. Istanbul: Sözler Publications.
Said Nursi, Bediuzzaman. (2002). The Damascus Sermon. 2nd ed. Translated by S. Vahide. Istanbul: Sözler Publications.
Vahide, Şükran. (2005). Islam in Modern Turkey: An Intellectual Biography of Bediuzzaman Said Nursi. Albany: State University of New York Press
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.