[Mudassar-Rana]

Turkish Scholar of the 20th Century, Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, Year 1911..

Bediuzzaman had climbed a prominent hill known as Shykh Mount, which has commanding view of the city of Tiflis and the valley of the River Kura in which it is situated together with all the surrounding countryside. He was gazing at the view plunged in thought when approached by a Russian policeman. The following exchange ensued, which began with the policeman asking:

"Why are you studying the land with such attention?" Bediuzzaman replied: "I am planning my madrasah." Where are you from?" "I am from Bitlis." "But this is Tiflis!" "Bitlis is one of Tiflis' brothers."

Bediuzzaman explained: "Three lights are beginning to be revealed one after the other in Asia and the world of Islam. While with you three layers of darkness will start to recede one over the other. This veil of despotism shall be rent; it will shrink back, and I shall come and build my madrasah here."

This only increased the policeman's bewilderment "I'm sorry for you", he said. "I'm astonished that you should entertain such a hope."

"And I am astonished at your not understanding!", replied Bediuzzaman. "Do you think it possible that this winter will continue? Every winter is followed by spring, and every night by day."

"But the Islamic world is all broken up and fragmented."

"They have gone to study. It is like this: India is an able son of Islam; it is studying in the high school of the British, Egypt is a clever son of Islam; it is taking lessons in the British school of civil servants. Caucasia and Turkestan are two valiant sons of Islam; theyr are training in the Russian war academy. And so on.

"You see, after these noble sons of Islam have received their diplomas, each will lead a continent, and , waving the banner of Islam, their just and mighty father, on the horizons of perfection, they will proclaim the mystery of pre-eternal wisdom inherent in mankind in the view of pre-eternal divine determinign and in the face of obstinate fater."

(Risale -i Nur Collection, Sunihat, 63-4)