On Being Muslim: Wisdom from The Risale-i Nur

About On Being Muslim: Wisdom from The Risale-i Nur

Study Islam through the wisdom of the Risale-i Nur (https://www.amazon.com/Collection-Hardcover-Resurrection-Afterlife-Compassion/dp/9754326029/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Risalei+Nur&qid=1685544299&sr=8-1) - a Qur'an commentary by Bediüzzaman Said Nursi. His work offers rich insights on God, life, and the human condition. A podcast hosted by Dr. Zeyneb Sayilgan Bediüzzaman Said Nursi (1876-1960) was an outstanding Muslim scholar. He was born in the village of Nurs near the city of Bitlis in the Eastern region of the Ottoman Empire (modern Türkiye). Said Nursi dedicated his entire life to learning and teaching the message of the Qur’an and Prophet Muhammad’s example (God's peace and blessings be upon him). His life work the Risale-i Nur - The Message of Light - aims to cultivate knowledge, certainty, and love of God. Said Nursi’s vision was to bring back awareness of God into the center of human life. During a time in which religion was banned from all areas of public and private life, he showed how the Book of the Universe or nature can open windows to the Divine. His lifelong struggle was committed to saving and strengthening belief (iman) in God and the afterlife. To prove God's existence, Said Nursi followed the dual Qur'anic model as stated in Chapter 51 verses 20-21. Both the outward world (macrocosmos) and the inward human world (microcosmos) testify to the existence of an All-Wise, All-Powerful, and Compassionate Creator. In terms of the macro world, he was keen to stress that religion and science complement each other. As evident throughout Islamic history, scientific inquiry was a means to come closer to God and seek sacred knowledge about the Divine. His 6000-page Risale is full of reference to various branches of knowledge: from astronomy, biology, and geography to physics and chemistry - Said Nursi regarded the sciences as a window to God or as a manifestation of the beautiful Divine Names (asma al-husna). In terms of introspection - the micro world - he wrote extensively about how the human condition of existential weakness and spiritual poverty revealed the Creator. With God’s guidance, Said Nursi was able to speak to people from all walks of life. They were able to benefit from the Risale and its vast knowledge about God. Until the very end of his life, he was perceived as a threat and enemy to the state. Public authorities regarded his Risale as an attempt to undermine their aggressive secularization project. Its aim was to eradicate all traces and expressions of religion. Said Nursi spent most of his life in exile or prison. Despite all injustices and attempts to silence him, he succeeded in his non-violent struggle and set an example of positive action for many generations to come. His legacy continues through the writings and teachings of his Risale-i Nur which has been translated into more than 50 languages and gained a worldwide readership. Access and download the Collection here (https://risaleglobal.com/?lang=en) Click here (https://www.amazon.com/Collection-Hardcover-Resurrection-Afterlife-Compassion/dp/9754326029/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Risalei+Nur&qid=1685544539&sr=8-1) for Hardcopies For an excellent introduction read Exploring Islam: Theology and Spiritual Practice in America (https://www.amazon.com/Exploring-Islam-Theology-Spiritual-Practice/dp/1506468020/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1PS7SLNY54LOW&keywords=salih+sayilgan&qid=1683734468&sprefix=salih+sa%2Caps%2C102&sr=8-1) by Salih Sayilgan

Publisher

Dr. Zeyneb Sayılgan’s research focuses on Islamic theology and spirituality as articulated in the writings of Muslim scholar Bediüzzaman Said Nursi (1876-1960). She has obtained her doctoral degree in Theological and Religious Studies from Georgetown Univ

Category

education · religion & spirituality · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

18 Mar 2022

Latest episode

1 May 2026

Latest episodes

3 of 71 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   1 May 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Embracing the Darkness: Cultivating Lunar Spirituality (Part 1)

   Host Salih Sayilgan explores cultivating lunar spirituality through reflections from Bediüzzaman Said Nursi's "The Risale-i Nur" in this interview.

2. 

   17 Apr 2026TRANSCRIPT

   On Spiritual Ambition - The Inspiring Example of Sayyida Khadijah (ra)

   This reflection on Sayyida Khadijah (ra) was shared at the Diyanet Center of America as part of the series "Prominent Women of Islam: Stories of Faith and Resilience" The Prophet (saw) said , “Mary, the daughter of Imran, was the best among the women (of the world of her time) and Khadijah is the best amongst the women (of this nation).” Sahih Al-Bukhari – Book 58 Hadith 164 The Prophet (saw) said about Khadijah (ra): "God did not give me a better person than her. She believed in me whe...

3. 

   6 Mar 2026TRANSCRIPT

   God - The Absolute Just and Sovereign

   Reflections from The Risale-Nur a Qur'an commentary by Bediüzzaman Said Nursi The Words - The Tenth Word - First Truth Download the Apps for the Collection here You can also read along on my YOUTUBE channel For an excellent introduction read Exploring Islam: Theology and Spiritual Practice in America by Salih Sayilgan The German version of this podcast is HERE Music credits: © "Uyan Ey Gözlerim" Duet Guitar And Ney, Vol.1 by Eyüp Hamiş

Inside a recent episode

Embracing the Darkness: Cultivating Lunar Spirituality (Part 1)

Published 1 May 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] So all these beautiful virtues... are cultivated also in times of darknesses. That's why we need to first have this acceptance around the Quranic truth. That Allah is the creator of death and life. Allah is the creator of the night and the day. Allah is the creator of the sunlight and the moonlight. This is very important for us to... Just this basic acceptance... towards the fact that Allah is the one who creates the sun and the moon, the day and the night, the solar and the lunar. So trying to embrace what scholars have called a lunar spirituality as well as a solar spirituality. Life doesn't simply grow and flourish in sunshine. […]

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Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

39 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

8 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 43 / 100

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55

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YouTube

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Engagement

77

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