A Reassuring Message of Hopes

Risale-i Nur Collection in his comparisons between the ways offered to man by the Qur’an on the one hand, and philosophy on the other; those of belief and unbelief, guidance and misguidance. In these he proves and illustrates that man’s happiness and true progress are only to be found in the former way, that of recognition of the existence and unity of this world’s Creator, and of the prophets and scriptures. He has sent, and particularly in His final revelation, the Qur’an, and complete religion for mankind, Islam, and the Prophet Muhammad (ASM), who brought them. For it is only from these that man can learn the true purpose and meaning of both his own existence and that of the universe, and that of such questions as life and death, illness, suffering and disaster. The twenty-five ‘Remedies’ that Bediuzzaman offers in Message for the Sick spring from the Qur’an and present an entirely different view of illness and disaster to that described above. Considered in the light of the Qur’an and through the lens of belief, illness is seen to contain so many benefits, advantages, and instances of wisdom that far from being something to be feared and complained about, it should be submitted to with thanks and patience. The same may be said regarding any disaster and source of suffering. Note that Bediuzzaman is not opposed to modern medicine and its advances, indeed he writes that in “the pharmacy of the earth” is to be found a cure for every illness, and these should be benefitted from. But one should be aware that the effects of medicines are from Almighty God, just as He provides them. In addition, since man’s true sicknesses arise from unbelief, and physical illness itself very often results from “abuses” and “excesses”, that is, from not adhering to the teachings of religion, Bediuzzaman suggests that to find a cure, recourse should be had to believing, religious doctors, and that “materialist and heedless doctors” should themselves “take the medicines of belief from the sacred pharmacy of the Qur’an” if they are truly to heal others. With his unparalleled insight into the human spirit as well as unequalled knowledge of the Qur’an, Bediuzzaman offers most gentle and effective remedies which are a consolation and cure for both the physically sick and those wounded by unbelief and misguidance. His advice is applicable in all situations of hardship, suffering, and disaster. In a special section of Message for the Sick, Bediuzzaman gives several points in his letter of condolence on the death of a child. Below is an excerpt: “First Point: The meaning of the phrase, “immortal youths” (56:17, 76:19) in the All-Wise Qur’an is this: with this phrase, the verse indicates and gives the good news that the children of believers who die before reaching maturity will remain perpetually as eternal, lovable children in a form worthy of Paradise; that they will be an everlasting source of happiness in the embrace of their fathers and mothers who go to Paradise; and will ensure that their parents receive the sweetest of pleasures, the loving and caressing of children; and that all pleasurable things will be found in Paradise; that those who say that since Paradise is not the place for the reproduction there will be no loving and caressing of children, are not correct; and that gaining millions of years of pure, pain-free loving and caressing of eternal children instead of a brief ten years or so  of loving them mixed with the sorrows of this world, is a source of great happiness for believers.” –Bediuzzaman Said Nursi May we all find courage, patience, strength and consolation through the verses of the Qur’an and the interpretive words of the Risale-i Nur. –Dr. Osman Birgeoglu    ]]>