The Concept of Tawḥīd (Oneness of Allah) as Reflected in the Risale-i Nur

Authors : Md Abdullah Al Mahmud

Pages : 41-59

Doi:10.53427/katre.1387056

View : 61 | Download : 49

Publication Date : 2023-12-22

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :During the last phase of Ottoman rule, modern-educated graduates gradually began being proud of their education and started undermining traditional religious education systems as being useless and unproductive. Some intellectuals, litterateurs, medical doctors, military trainers, and college teachers had promulgated agnostic and secular worldviews among the youth in the classrooms and public. Consequently, young Turks who graduated from the public education system became secular-minded, agnostic, and, sometimes, even heretics in their thinking, writings, and practices. Moreover, during the reign (1923-1938) of Mustafa Kemal (1881-1938), secular ideology and worldview were imported from the North (the Soviet Union) and the West (Europe) in the name of progress and modernity. The secular ideology and worldview deceived the young generation in the name of modernization, injecting doubts in their tender minds about the existence of Allah, the Prophet, the Qur’an, and life after death (Akhirah). Given this circumstance, Bediuzzaman Said Nursi’s (1877-1960) (henceforth Nursi) discourses on Tawḥīd were the endeavors to resist all the propaganda against the fundamental principles embodying the Oneness of Allah that holds profound significance within Islamic theology. Furthermore, Nursi’s concept of Tawḥīd was an antidote to godlessness both in the last phase of the Ottoman Era and in the Republican Era. Using Nursi’s arguments, this study intends to elucidate the topic of the existence of Allah theoretically based on the Qur’an and Sunnah, practically based on the living examples of life and the universe, and philosophically based on the concept of Tawḥīd as reflected in the Risale-i Nur ((henceforth the Risale). The paper also argues that Nursi’s discourse on Tawḥīd and other faith-related issues like prophethood (Nubuwwah) and life after death destabilizes disbelief and doubt from the mind of the Risale readers and strengthens firm conviction in the minds of people of Turkey in particular and the world in general. Thus, Nursi’s discourse on Tawḥīd works as a strong shield against disbelief, secular mindset, and atheistic currents in the present world. In this regard, this paper emphasizes the following issues: (1) the concept of the Oneness of God (Tawḥīd), (2) the Qur’an and the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as proofs of God’s existence, (3) belief (imān ) that necessitates Divine Unity (Tawḥīd), (4) impossibility of God’s non-existence, (5) creation and governance of the Universe, (6) proofs of Tawḥīd in the Risale and, finally, (7) Nursi’s special contribution to the discourse on Tawḥīd. Thus, the research endeavors to explore and explicate the multifaceted dimensions of Tawḥīd as portrayed in the corpus of the Risale through employing a qualitative content analysis approach. To do this, this study aims to unravel the intricate theological, philosophical, and spiritual elucidations within Nursi\'s writings concerning Tawḥīd. The methodology of this research involves a meticulous data collection procedure, commencing with identifying and selecting pertinent passages and chapters from the Risale that (in)directly address the concept of Tawḥīd. Employing purposive sampling, these selections encapsulate diverse thematic dimensions, ensuring a comprehensive representation of the manifold facets of Tawḥīd within the Nursi\'s thought. Thus, the methodology of this research integrates qualitative content analysis, textual interpretation, and hermeneutic inquiry. Thematic coding of the extracted passages enables the identification of recurring motifs, underlying themes, and nuanced articulations concerning Tawḥīd. Such an analysis involves a deep exploration of linguistic nuances, historical contexts, and philosophical underpinnings embedded within the texts. Furthermore, the study contextualizes Nursi\'s perspectives on Tawḥīd within established Islamic theological frameworks, acknowledging both their alignment with traditional theological discourse and their potential contributions or deviations. Comparative analyses within the Risale help discern diverse presentations and interpretations of Tawḥīd, contributing to a nuanced understanding of Nursi\'s unique theological insights. The findings of this research reveal a rich tapestry of insights into the concept of Tawḥīd within the Risale. Nursi\'s elucidations transcend mere theological delineations, encompassing the implications of Tawḥīd regarding individual spiritual development, societal harmony, and broader Islamic theological landscapes. Thus, this article contributes to a comprehensive exploration of Tawḥīd within the Risale, augmenting the scholarly discourse on Islamic theology. The insights gleaned from this study serve to deepen our understanding of Tawḥīd\'s significance within Islamic thought and spirituality, offering valuable perspectives of Tawḥīd in the contemporary world.
Keywords : Tevhîd, Said Nursi, Risale i Nur, İmân, Sekülerizm, Ateizm, Nübüvvet