My Dear Brothers!
I am very happy to be close to you. From time to time I converse with you in imagination and am consoled. Know that if it had been possible, I would proudly and happily have endured all your difficulties. Because of you, I love Isparta and its environs down to its very stones and soil. I declare even, and I shall say so officially, if the Isparta authorities were to inflict some penalty on me and another province was to acquit me, I would still choose here.
Yes, I am from Isparta in three respects. I cannot prove it genealogically, but I have the conviction that the forebears of Said, who came into the world in the sub‑district of ‹sparit, went there from here. And the province of Isparta has given me such true brothers that I would be happy to sacrifice not Abdülmecid and Abdurrahman, but Said [myself] for each one of them.
It is my guess that there is no one on earth at this time who suffers less – in their hearts, spirits, and minds – than the Risale‑i Nur students. For due to the lights of certain, realized belief, their hearts, spirits, and minds suffer no distress.
As for physical hardships, they know from the teachings of the Risale‑i Nur that they are both transitory, and unimportant, and yield reward, and are a means by which the service of belief unfolds in other channels, and so meet them with thanks and patience. They prove through their states of mind that certain, realized belief leads to happiness in this world too. Yes, they say “Let’s see what Allah does, whatever He does, it is good,” and steadfastly work to transform these transient difficulties into permanent instances of mercy.
May the Most Merciful of the Merciful increase the numbers of those like them, make them the cause of pride and happiness for this country, and grant them eternal happiness in Paradise. Amen!
Said Nursi