Risale Roundtable

If actions must be done purely for Allah's sake in order to count as sincere, can we nonetheless expect gratitude from those whom we help or serve?  Based on the Twenty Fourth Flash of the Risale-i Nur.  Issues discussed include sincerity, worship, compassion and gratitude. 

A discussion on worship, what is expected of the worshipper, and the ultimate goal of the worshipper.  Based on the Twenty Third Word of the Risale-i Nur (Second Chapter, Fifth Remark).

A discussion on one of the wisdoms in the fast of Ramadan.  Based on the Second Part of the Twenty Ninth Letter, Risale-i Nur.

Following on from our session last week: A discussion on the general reason why Muslims are made to suffer calamities like earthquakes or viruses - based on the 'Addendum to the Fourteenth Word', Risale-i Nur.

A discussion on the notions of 'weakness and poverty', and their relation to belief in God, and the present health crisis.  (Based on the Twenty Third Word of the Risale-i Nur - Second Chapter, Fourth Remark.)

A discussion focussed on Quranic verses such as, "Who takes as his god his own desires..." (45:23). Based on part of the Twenty Eight Flash of the Risale-i Nur.

A discussion on the difference between the 'reason' for doing acts of worship, and the 'wisdom' or 'benefits' in doing them.  Based on the 27th Word of the Risale-i Nur. 

In our last episode for 2019, we read and discuss a short section of the Twenty Eighth Flash on the question of whether it is just that the unbeliever is imprisoned in Hell for infinite time, despite committing an offence of finite duration.  In discussing Bediuzzaman's response to this, we revisit a number of fundamental issues, including: Divine purposes in the creation of humankind and the universe, the appreciation of Divine bounties, the relation between created beings and worship, and related matters.

This episode is based on a short section of the Twenty Eighth Flash of the Risale-i Nur.  In this Flash, Bediuzzaman Said Nursi notes that when the literal meaning of a Quranic verse expresses a very obvious truth, then other meanings must be intended.  Thus, in the verse, "I do not want from them any provision, nor do I want them to feed Me," (Quran 51:57) the intended meaning is not merely that Allah does not require any provision or food from us, but something else.  Bediuzzaman then goes on to suggest three meanings that are really intended by the verse.  In this episode, we focus on the second meaning: that humankind's fundamental duty is to worship rather than to procure sustenance, and that preoccupation with the latter cannot excuse laxity with respect to the former.

A discussion on the issue of 'criticism' and the spiritual or metaphysical effects of non-constructive criticism.  Based on the Second Rule of the Twenty First Flash, Risale-i Nur.