The Author’s Note
EXPLAINED below in three points are the reasons many minor points about the relations [between the words in the light of the science] of rhetoric, which will not be comprehensible and profitable for many people, are mentioned in this commentary interspersed among the detailed explanations of the twelve verses about dissemblers and two verses about unbelievers, while in the rest of the verses the nature of disbelief and the doubts clung on to by the dissemblers are touched on only briefly; and why the elucidation of the subtle indications and allusions of the Qur’an’s words is emphasized.
First Point:
Inspired by the Qur’anic teachings, the Old Said perceived that something would emerge at this time similar to the obdurate, unlettered unbelievers of the early years of Islam and the dissembling members of former religions, and he expounded the verses about the dissemblers in explanatory and detailed fashion. But so as not to cloud the readers’ minds, he mentioned only briefly without explaining them the nature of their way and its bases. In any event, contrary to other ‘ulama, it is the way of the Risale‑i Nur not to mention the doubts of opponents lest they taint the readers’ minds, and to give such answers that no place remains for suspicion or doubts. Like in the Risale‑i Nur, so as not to confuse the readers’ minds, the Old Said only gave importance in this commentary to the indications and allusions of the words in respect of eloquence.
Second Point:
Since the Qur’an’s letters are so valuable that the reading of a single letter may yield ten, a hundred, a thousand, or thousands of merits and everlasting fruits of the hereafter, certainly the Old Said’s expounding in this commentary points as fine as a hair or an atom related to the Qur’an’s words, is not wastefulness or irrelevant, but as valuable as the lashes are to the eye and atoms are to the eye’s pupil. He must have felt this, for the enemy’s bullets in the skirmishing lines in that terrible war did not confuse him or make him abandon his writing and thinking.
Third Point:
The Turkish translation [of the author’s brother, Abdülmecid] has not preserved the fluency, eloquence, and extraordinary value of the Arabic, and it is also sometimes abbreviated. I had therefore intended not to publish part of the lengthy discussion about the dissemblers. But since it is about the Qur’an, and even an atom about the Qur’an has high value, it will perhaps be useful for some people. God willing, if no obstacles arise, the Arabic commentary will be published following this translation and will complete its deficiencies. Moreover, there are some wonderful instances of ‘coincidences’ in the Arabic in which human will has not intervened. So as far as it is possible the attempt should be made to produce it similarly to that printed copy, so that those wonders, a sign of its acceptance, are not lost.
Said Nursi