Said Nursi’s Ramadan tidings: Fasting beyond physical abstinence
Bediüzzaman Said Nursi’s Risale-i Nur collection reveals the profound spiritual dimensions of Ramadan, describing fasting as a key to sincere gratitude and a profitable trade for the afterlife.
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By Bilge Türk | Dreams Wisdom
ISTANBUL, TURKEY — Bediüzzaman Said Nursi, a prominent Islamic scholar, offers profound insights into the spiritual significance of Ramadan in his Risale-i Nur collection, emphasizing that fasting is not merely a physical act but a comprehensive spiritual discipline involving the mind, heart, and soul.
According to Nursi, fasting during the holy month of Ramadan is "one of the greatest symbols of Islam" and serves as a "key to a true, sincere, extensive, and universal gratitude." His writings suggest that Ramadan transforms a fleeting mortal life into an eternal one, providing a unique opportunity for believers to engage in a "profitable trade for the afterlife."
The Key to True Gratitude
One of the central themes in Nursi's Ramadan Treatise is the concept of gratitude (shukr). He argues that under normal circumstances, people often take blessings for granted due to a false sense of ownership. Fasting breaks this illusion.
"Fasting in Ramadan is the key to true and sincere gratitude," Nursi writes. By experiencing hunger, even the wealthiest individuals are forced to realize that they are not owners but servants (abd). This realization breaks the "phantom of lordship" (rububiyet) in the human soul, leading it to acknowledge its weakness and dependence on the Creator. "If no command is given, the soul cannot even stretch its hand to water," Nursi explains, illustrating how fasting instills humility and true worship.
Fasting with All Human Faculties
Nursi expands the definition of fasting beyond the stomach. He asserts that a perfect fast requires the participation of all human faculties—eyes, ears, heart, imagination, and intellect.
"The stomach is not the only organ that must fast," Nursi notes. " The eyes must fast by avoiding forbidden sights, the ears by avoiding gossip and listening to the Quran, and the tongue by refraining from lies and backbiting." This holistic approach turns the entire human body into a vessel of worship, purifying the believer from worldly distractions and aligning them with divine commands.
A Profitable Market for the Afterlife
In the Risale-i Nur, Ramadan is depicted as a "lucrative exhibition and market" for spiritual commerce. Nursi calculates the immense value of worship during this month, noting that while good deeds normally earn tenfold rewards, in Ramadan, this multiplier increases to a thousand.
"In Ramadan, the reward for deeds is one to a thousand," Nursi states. "Each letter of the Quran yields a thousand rewards, and on Fridays of Ramadan, even more. On Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Power), a single letter may count for thirty thousand rewards." This spiritual mathematics suggests that a single Ramadan can earn a believer the fruits of an eighty-year life of worship.
Social Solidarity and Empathy
The social dimension of fasting is also a key focus. Nursi highlights how fasting fosters empathy between the rich and the poor.
"If there were no fasting, there would be many self-indulgent rich people unable to perceive how grievous hunger and poverty are and how much the poor need compassion," he writes. By voluntarily experiencing hunger, the wealthy are naturally inclined towards charity and kindness, strengthening the bonds of brotherhood within the community. Nursi also advises that for the sake of Ramadan, believers must set aside personal grievances and make peace with one another.
The Spiritual Company of Believers
Nursi introduces the concept of a "spiritual company" (şirket-i manevi), where the prayers and good deeds of the community form a collective pool of merit. He encourages his students to pray for one another, saying "amen" to each other's supplications.
"In this blessed Ramadan, through the principle of participating in deeds, each brother's prayer is like a prayer offered by forty thousand tongues," Nursi explains. This collective spiritual effort ensures that even the weakest among the faithful can benefit from the worship of the entire community.
Ramadan: A Holy Festival
Ultimately, Nursi frames Ramadan as a "holy festival" where the Islamic world becomes a vast mosque. "It is as though the World of Islam becomes a mosque... where millions of hafiz cause the Earth dwellers to hear the heavenly address of the Quran," he describes.
In this grand spiritual parade, believers display their servitude to the Divine Lordship, transforming their daily habits into acts of worship. "Ramadan is the spring of the Quran," Nursi concludes, urging believers to utilize this sacred time to renew their faith and commitment to God.
