Imam Nursi's Theory of Human Behavior and Its Motives

Abstract

Despite the large number of research, efforts and scientific studies on public behavior and the principles of Quranic and human ethics, studies on understanding the motives for these behaviors are very few, and problems still exist on this subject. It is not surprising that our early Muslim scholars raise several problems regarding the motives of human behavior. The Muslims, and Muslim scholars and studenst around the world, are aware of the high position that İmam Said Nursi, may God have mercy on him, hold for his distinction in many intellectual, faith and behavioral issues, and the great praise of people for him and his scientific writings because of writings about behavior and its consequences, types and motives. Frankly speaking, many studies did not pay attention to the issues of human behavior and its motives in the thought of İmam Nursi, may God have mercy on him, although he is considered one of the scholars who made effective contributions to the study of these motives and understanding their requirements, starting with his affirming of the four basic purposes of the Qur’an: tawheed (unity of Allah), prophecy, resurrection, and justice. Nursi talked about ethics as a given behavioral and a way of life away from the system of preaching and guidance. This article tries to add a new building block to the efforts of those who preceded in this field by focusing on the intellectual framework that Nursi relied on in his view of human behavior and its types and motives. The article is based on two pillars: talking about types of behavior and talking about motives of human behavior according to Nursi. The research adopted the inductive and analytical method. Because there is a close connection between human behavior and his opinions and beliefs, and behavioral deviation is evidence of incomplete faith in souls.