SAİD NURSÎ’S CRITIQUE OF EUROPEAN CIVILIZATION IN THE LIGHT OF THE SOCIAL REFLECTIONS OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT PERIOD

Authors : Nevzat Narçiçek

Pages : 314-335

View : 38 | Download : 177

Publication Date : 2025-11-13

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The Enlightenment caused profound changes and transformations in the social, political, and cultural structures of Western Europe. Rooted in principles such as rationalism, individualism, and secularism, Enlightenment philosophy fostered individual-centered shifts across many spheres of life and laid the intellectual foundation of modern Western civilization. However, it simultaneously marginalized concepts such as religion, the Church, and metaphysical thought, and significantly disregarded spiritual values. This intellectual paradigm, which came to shape European civilization, has been the subject of critical scrutiny on various fronts, including serious criticism by Said Nursî. In his Risale-i Nur Külliyatı (Collection of the Epistles of Light), Nursî distinguished between material progress and spiritual civilization, critically engaging with the conception of civilization promoted by Europe and disseminated globally. This study explores the social consequences of Enlightenment principles through a historical and sociological lens, and contextualizes Said Nursî’s critiques. Employing a qualitative methodology, it analyzes key texts by Nursî including Lem’alar (Flashes), Mektubat (Letters), and Hutbe-i Şamiye (The Damascus Sermon), alongside relevant academic literature, using hermeneutic and content analysis methods. In doing so, the study offers an interdisciplinary perspective to illuminate
Keywords : Said Nursî, Enlightenment, European Civilization, Morality, Secularism

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