THE REFERENCE FOR THE PRINCIPLES OF NUR1

Following the demise of Ustadh Bediüzzaman Said Nursi, a need arose to consolidate the foundational guidelines of service (hizmet). At the explicit request of the late Zübeyir Gündüzalp Ağabey2, Mehmed Birinci Ağabey compiled Hizmet Rehberi (The Service Guide) in 1962.

As the sphere of service expanded significantly over time, a subsequent need emerged to preserve istiqâmah across larger spheres of the Risale-i Nur students. Consequently, and again at the request of Zübeyir Gündüzalp, the initial edition of Hizmet Rehberi was expanded three to fourfold by Rüştü Tafralı Ağabey. However, as noted by Rüştü Tafralı, Zübeyir Gündüzalp still considered even this expanded edition insufficient for the comprehensive preservation of these core tenets.

To address this, Rüştü Tafralı, in collaboration with other dedicated students of the Risale-i Nur, meticulously compiled and methodised Esasat-ı Nuriye (The Principles of Nur), which was published in 1998. In our English translation and compilation workflow, we strictly attempt to adhere to this foundational source text.

Compilations that delineate the principles of service perform a vital function: by presenting the explicit matters of the Risale-i Nur systematically and without introducing external commentary, they enable those devoted to the text to comprehend these principles with greater ease, thereby encouraging precision and loyalty in hizmet.

This methodological rigor is highlighted in the endorsements (eulogies) of the work:

As stated by Abdülkadir Badıllı Ağabey3 in his eulogy for Esasat-ı Nuriye:

“I can firmly state that, through its expert and meticulous preparation, this work entitled Esasat-ı Nuriye serves as an authoritative proof and guide, smoothly leading the enthusiastic readers of the Risale-i Nur to its fundamental bases and principles.

This aspect is also highlighted in the preface of the book; that is to say, this work is an instrument that provides facility in rapidly locating and accessing the core principles and fundamentals scattered across the dispersed passages of the haqiqahs of the Risale-i Nur. Therefore, this work has not been prepared with the intention of being a self-sufficient, independent, or solitary book in its own right. Rather, as has been put forth, it was laboured upon and brought into existence with the hope of functioning as a pointer and a guide.

Consequently, as this work has been prepared in the light of scholarly principles of the Sharî’ah, it bears the quality of being a specific guide for the readers of the Risale-i Nur, and a general reference for all the people of îmân.”

As stated by M. Said Özdemir Ağabey4 in his eulogy for Esasat-ı Nuriye:

“May Janâb-ı Haqq grant the success to adhere to the sacred fundamentals and the principles of Nur contained within this book… Amin.”