Letters to prisoners

de Said Nursi

"Bediuzzaman Said Nursi (1876-1960) was a scholar, teacher, and striver in God's way who with his profound knowledge of both the Islamic and modern sciences, dedicated his life to revitalizing religious belief. In his view, with its materialism and godlessness, in the contemporary world the most urgent need of Muslims is to strengthen their belief in the basic teachings of the Qur'an and to learn to look at the world and its events from a Quar'anic viewpoint. By gaining such an understanding and unshakeable belief in divine unity and the other 'pillars of faith' they and indeed all humanity may solve the problems of today and find true happiness, in this world and the next. Although this was Said Nursi's sole aim in life, during one period of Turkish history he was misunderstood by the government and spent twenty-five years in exile, driven from place to place and from prison to prison. This booklet, which we are publishing in the hope it will be of benefit to the people of the present, is a selection of the letters he wrote to his fellow-prisoners during the course of this unmerited treatment"--Publisher's description, back cover.