Bediuzzaman Said Nursi (1877-1969) was a significant Muslim thinker and revivalist in twentieth-century Turkey. Initially focused on advocating Qur’anic teachings, Nursi later became deeply concerned with the issues faced by the Muslim ummah, including religious and educational reforms, and promoting unity among Muslims worldwide. His teachings, emphasizing peace, love, and non-aggression, remain influential up until now. Nursi devoted his life to combating challenges such as atheism, colonialism, secularism, and materialism. His life is often divided into three periods: The Old Nursi (1877-1920) marked by political involvement, the New Nursi (1920-1949) focused on responding to modernity's destabilizing effects, and a final period (1949-1969) where he emerged as a reformist. Nursi’s reformative ideas stemmed from the recognition that the Muslim community was backward and divided compared to Europe and oppressed under colonial rule. His reforms aimed at addressing religious, political, and social issues within the Muslim world, using the Qur’anic teachings as a foundation. He established religious schools and madrasahs like al-Zuhrah, promoting modern education alongside spiritual development. The article focuses on Nursi's views on the challenges facing Muslims, particularly as expressed in works like The Damascus Sermon and The Flashes Collection. His efforts to promote unity and restore the Ottoman Caliphate amidst internal conflicts and European influence are explored, emphasising the relevance of his thoughts in addressing contemporary issues in the Muslim world.
Ali et al. (Thu,) studied this question.