Risale Roundtable

A discussion on the requirement for ukhuwah (brother/sisterhood) among Muslims, and the implications of our failing to have ukhuwah.  Also discussed are some prescriptions for how to deal with feelings of enmity we may have for fellow Muslims who have mistreated us.   Based on readings from Bediuzzaman Said Nursi's Twenty Second Letter.

A discussion of the miraculousness of the Quran.  Based on readings from Bediuzzaman Said Nursi's Twenty Fifth Word.

A discussion on waswasa or unwarranted doubts/worries, and how to confront them.  Based on Bediuzzaman Said Nursi's Twenty First Word, Second Station. 

In this session, we consider some issues pertaining to Hell.  We read and discuss sections of the Thirteenth Flash, from Bediuzzaman Said Nursi's 'The Flashes' collection, in which he deals with some criticisms of the Muslim understanding of Hell.  We firstly consider how it can be just for anyone to suffer an everlasting punishment in Hell, for crimes committed in just a finite worldly...

A discussion of Jannah or Paradise.  In the Twenty Eight Word of the Risale-i Nur, Bediuzzaman Said Nursi responds to certain criticisms relating to Jannah.  We read and discuss some of these responses.  In doing so, we consider the fact that the people of paradise will be fully present, in numerous places, all at the same time.

A discussion on the infinitude or absoluteness of Divine power.  We discuss how the contingency of the universe, and the contingency of the motions, changes and interactions of its component parts, point to the existence of a Cause that is not itself contingent, and that possesses the attribute of 'power' both 'necessarily' and 'essentially'.  Based on readings from the 'Seventh Ray', in...

A discussion on the Divine attributes of Unity and Oneness, based on readings from the Second Station of the Twenty-Second Word, in Bediuzzaman Said Nursi's 'The Words' collection.  In this session, we discuss the difference between Divine Unity and Divine Oneness, and how Allah manifests and makes known these attributes of His in the created world.

A discussion on the nature of the human ruh (spirit).  Based on Bediuzzaman Said Nursi's, 'Seeds of Reality', where he describes the ruh as a sort of 'law' that has been clothed in external existence.

A discussion of some of the reasons why Allah causes us to experience difficulties.  Based on readings from Bediuzzaman Said Nursi's 'Second Flash'.

In the Quran, Allah exhorts us to make du'a or supplicate to Him, saying, "Call upon Me; I will answer your prayer" (40:60).  Yet it seems that we do not always receive what we ask for in our supplications.  How do we reconcile this?  What is du'a really for, and how should it be made?  In this session, we glean answers to these and other questions, and learn the relationship b...

A discussion on the life and writings of Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, author of the Risale-i Nur.  

A discussion on how the transformations of minute particles points to Allah, and tells us of His beauty, and His other attributes and Names.  Based on the Second Aim of The Thirtieth Word of the Risale-i Nur.

A discussion based on Bediuzzaman Said Nursi's Quran-based argument for Allah's existence, which appears in his celebrated treatise, 'The Supreme Sign' (Âyet'ül Kübra).  We read and discuss the first section of this treatise, then consider the main sort of naturalistic counter-argument to it.  Our final halaqa for Semester 1 of 2022.

A discussion of Sincerity (Ikhlas) and its relation to worship, with readings from the Twenty-First Flash of the Risale-i Nur.  Also discussed are some thoughts on how to gauge our own sincerity.

A discussion of the notion of adâb (sometimes translated as 'courtesy' or 'good conduct') and its relation to the Divine Names.  Based the 'Eleventh Flash' of the Risale-i Nur.

A discussion of the issue of Divine Determination (Qadar) and its relation to human freewill and responsibility for actions.  Based on the Twenty Sixth Word of the Risale-i Nur.

Why think that the universe points to an infinite or absolute Cause, as opposed to a merely finite one?  We discuss this issue with the benefit of selected readings from Bediuzzaman Said Nursi's 'Rays' collection.

Could the universe be the product of two or more Divine beings?  Our scholars have traditionally repudiated this idea via the dalîl al-tamánu' (often translated as the 'argument from mutual hindrance').  The argument itself has its roots in the verse, "Had there been in the heavens and earth gods besides Allah, both would have been ruined..." (Quran 21:22).  In this session, we cons...

What is the reality of entities in the universe?  Are physical objects merely collections of particles, formed in certain ways?  Or is there more to them than just this?  In this session, we read and discuss part of Bediuzzaman Said Nursi's Thirty-Second Word, Third Stopping Place, where he reveals the Muslim view that all created entities are, in reality, manifestations of the Divi...

A discussion of dua (supplication), its forms, power and the circumstances under which it becomes most acceptable.  Based on Bediuzzaman Said Nursi's Twenty-Fourth Letter, First Addendum.

In order for our actions to count as worship, and thereby gain value for us, they need to be done with sincerity (ikhlas).  This means that they need to be for Allah's sake, or to gain His pleasure.  Yet it seems that many of our actions are motivated, at least in part, by our own desires and needs.  Does this render these actions 'insincere'?  Can we pursue certain pleasures,...

What is the human 'ana' (ego)?  Why has Allah created us with this faculty, which makes us feel as though we 'own' and 'do' various things?  How does it enable we finite beings to know the infinite or absolute Names and attributes of Allah?  How can it be misused?  We discuss these and related issues in this session, with the benefit of readings from Bediuzzaman Said Nursi's 'T...

In this session, we discuss the issue of backbiting.  We consider what does and does not count as backbiting.  We then focus on the spiritual or metaphysical consequences of backbiting, and particularly its relation to brotherhood (ukhuwwah), sincerity (ikhlas) and worshipfulness.  Based on the Conclusion of the Twenty-Second Letter in Bediuzzaman Said Nursi's Risale-i Nur Collectio...

How should the Muslim view entities and events in the world, and how does this view differ from that of the secular philosopher and naturalistic scientist?  We consider this issue from the perspective of Bediuzzaman Said Nursi's Twelfth Word.  In doing so, we also consider whether it is in any sense problematic for a Muslim to desire the company or affection of created beings.

Do we have any basis for enmity (hatred, hostility or dislike) toward a fellow believer, on the basis of wrongs that they commit against us?  In his Twenty Second Letter, Bediuzzaman Said Nursi provides us with numerous reasons why we cannot.  One of these is that qadar and qadâ (Divine determining and decree) have a share in these events in which we are wronged by fellow believers. &nbs...