By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net,
Kolkata: The life, works, spiritual thoughts and contribution of Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, the most influential Islamic scholar in modern Turkey, and his great works `Risale-I Nur’, a Tafsir-e-Quran, were discussed at the 4th International Nursi Studies Conference held here.
The conference was organised in association with Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture (IFSC) of Turkey and the Arabic Department of Aliah University of Kolkata on February 12-13.
4th International Nursi Studies Conference held in Kolkata on 12-13 February 2015 in association with Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture (IFSC) of Turkey and Arabic Department of Aliah University.
The Conference also saw presentations on the works and life of Nursi. Apart from Turkey, participating scholar and educationalist came from Jordan, Malaysia, England and Bangladesh. Professors, scholars and students from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi; Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi; Osmania University of Hyderabad; Biswabharaty of Birbhum and Jammu Kashmir University participated in this conference.
Bediuzzaman Said Nursi (1876-1960) was educated through madrassa system in the traditional Islamic disciplines. His `Risale-i-Nur’ is known as a commentary of 5,000 pages, which expounds the meaning of the Quranic truths. Various short verses expounded in the `Risale-i-Nur’ are those concerning with the truths of belief, such as the divine names, attributes and divine activity in the universe.
Nursi explains how the Quran addresses all the people in every age in accordance with the degree of their understanding and development; `Risale-i-Nur’ has a face that looks to each age. Not only in Turkey, but even outside of Turkey, millions of people have found solace in that interpretation.
Released a Bengali translation of Risale-i-Nur at International Nursi Studies Conference
After starting the seminar with reciting the holy Quran by Qari Samsuddin, the inaugural speech was given by Dr Jahangir Alam, assistant professor of Department of Arabic of Aliah University.
Dr Faris Kaya, director of The Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture (IFSC) described the life of Nursi and explained the necessity to read the `Risale-i-Nur’ in the present time. “Nursi thought, Holy Quran is the only guide and best teacher to the mankind.”
Nursi felt Quran is a pharmacy which has remedy for all disease. Nursi also saw in Quran the source of the discovery of science in the world.
Kaya described, `Risale-i-Nur’ is a thematic commentary to specific verses of the Quran that address the questions arising in the mind of the modern people with intensely forceful arguments and proofs by Nursi who is utterly sincere, charismatic, forthright, brave and devoted to the cause in absolute humility in front of the almighty Allah.
Ihsan Kasim Al-Salihi, director general of IFSC said, “If anyone doesn’t know the Quran, he must have faith in Quran.” `Risale-i-Nur’ includes 130 letters and Tafsir of Quran in 6000 pages.
Professor Mohammad Mustafa Shareef of Osmania University of Hyderabad said, Quran should be read in Arabic text only. “If anyone reads translation of Quran that may differ from the real meaning of Quran. Translation may mislead the spirit of Quran.”
Audience of 4th International Nursi Studies Conference (Back Side).
Professor Mamoun Jarrar of University of Jordan; Professor Sadi Eren of Igdir University of Turkey, Professor Habibullah Khan of Jamia Millia Islamia, Professor Jahangir Alam of Aliah University, Ahmed Hassan Imran, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), Sahidul Islam (IAS), principal secretary of state Minority Affairs and Madrassa Education department and many others intellectuals and educationalist was delivered their speech on Nursi.
A short translation on Nursi in Bengali was also released during the conference.
The convener of the seminar was Dr Masiur Rahman, Department of Arabic at the Aliah University. Seminar moderated by Gazala Yesmin, Head of the department of Journalism of Aliah University.