An Appendix to the Piece About Premonitions
My Dear, Loyal Brothers!
I am writing this appendix to describe how the lives of some of the Risale‑i Nur's select (hâs) students show that they were destined to per- form a service like the Risale-i Nur, as they themselves have confessed; just as premonitions about it's appearance were experienced universally.
For sure, everyone, even animals, may have premonitions, which may be particular or universal. A significant number of true dreams are premonitions of this sort, while in some people — by virtue of their sensitivity they may be so extra‑ordinary as to be wonders (kerâmet). Due to a sensitivity in my nerves caused by dampness in the air, I perceive that rain will fall twenty-four hours before it does, which may or may not be said to be a sort of premonition.
I have studied the lives of my brothers who perform important services for the Risale‑i Nur and how they have lived, and I have seen that just like the course of my own life, theirs have been equipped and driven to produce a result like the Risale-i Nur.
Yes, many of my brothers like Husrev, Feyzi, Hâfız Ali, and Nazif have themselves noticed that the lifestyle they have (lit. they have been given) is conducive to serving the Risale‑i Nur. I too have noticed in my very closest students that their lives, like mine, have been regulated so as to produce such a luminous fruit. If any of them who have not perceived this, study theirs carefully, they will do so. I used to consider all the wondrous parts of my life to be firstly a sequence of wonders of Gawth al-A'zam, but now it has become clear that it was a chain of wonders of the Risale-i Nur.
In Short: While I was travelling to Istanbul before the proclamation of the constitution, some books on theology (ilm‑i kelâm) came into my possession, one or two of which turned out to be extremely useful. I studied them carefully, Then after I had arrived, I invited both ulema and teachers of the secular schools to debate, and challenged them to ask whatever questions they wished. It was quite extraordinary but all the questions asked by those of them who came to debate, were matters I had studied on the road and had stuck in my memory. And all the questions the scientists asked were matters I had memorized.
Now it is understood that my extraordinary success and excessive self‑advertisement and showing off was to pave the way for the future acceptance by Istanbul and its ulema of the Risale-i Nur and their acknowledgement of its importance.
Secondly: As it is described in my biography, although I am poor and needy and not ascetic or given to mortifying the flesh like the Sufis, and although I do not have the honour of belonging to a noble family; since my childhood I have never accepted the people's gifts and charity; I have never condescended to show my need. I used to be astonished at this, as were those who knew me. Now, and especially these last few years, it has become clear that this state of mind was given to me so that I should not be defeated by greed and love of possessions during the awesome struggles of the Risale‑i Nur, and so as not to give rise to criticism and objection. For my enemies might otherwise have dealt heavy blows in such matters.
In Short: Although the Old Said was deeply involved in politics and the New Said too had much need of followers, I have evinced absolutely no interest in the storms and political upheavals engulfing humanity, which this last five or six years have preoccupied everyone; for five years I have felt no curiosity to learn about them, so they have not defeated me due to curiosity.
Both those who know me and I myself were astonished at this. In fact, I used to say to myself: I wonder if I have gone mad since I pay no attention to these events that are busying the whole world, and attach no importance to them. Or is it that other people are crazy? I was bewildered. Now, due to a sort of warning and the above‑mentioned premonition and the clear victories and freedom of the Risale-i Nur, it is established that that remarkable state of mind was bestowed on me to prove that the true sincerity of the Risale-i Nur can be made the tool of nothing nor follow anything apart from divine pleasure, and that it has no point of support other than the Qur'an.
Saîd Nursî