Spiritual tidings from Risale-i Nur: Ramadan as a profitable trade for the afterlife

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press

ISTANBUL, TURKEY — As the Islamic world immerses itself in the holy month of Ramadan, the Risale-i Nur Collection by the renowned Islamic scholar Bediüzzaman Said Nursi offers profound perspectives on this sacred period. Far from being merely a test of hunger and thirst, Ramadan is described in these texts as a season of immense spiritual harvest and a "profitable trade" for the afterlife.

According to the Risale-i Nur, fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam and stands as one of the greatest symbols (sha'iar) of the faith. Nursi emphasizes that this holy month contains and earns a permanent life within a fleeting lifespan, offering believers a unique opportunity to transform their transient existence into eternal spiritual gain.

The key to sincere gratitude

One of the central themes explored in Nursi’s writings is the role of fasting in cultivating true gratitude (shukr). The texts argue that under normal circumstances, humans often fail to appreciate the value of bounties due to familiarity and a false sense of ownership. Fasting breaks this illusion.

"Fasting in Ramadan is the key to a true, sincere, extensive, and universal gratitude," Nursi writes. He explains that by temporarily withholding food and drink, even the wealthiest individuals are forced to realize that they are not owners but servants (abd). "The phantom of lordship is broken; the soul dons the attitude of worship and enters the door of true gratitude," the text asserts, highlighting how hunger reminds humanity of its inherent weakness and dependence on the Creator.

A cure for impatience and social empathy

In an era marked by haste and intolerance, the Risale-i Nur presents Ramadan as a vital discipline (riyazet) and training ground for patience. Nursi notes that enduring hunger for fifteen to twenty-four hours serves as a cure for the "impatience and lack of endurance that doubles humanity's misfortunes."

Furthermore, the social dimension of fasting is heavily emphasized. The texts suggest that without fasting, self-indulgent rich people might never fully grasp the pain of hunger and poverty. "If there were no fasting, there would be many self-indulgent rich people unable to perceive how grievous hunger and poverty are and how much the poor need compassion," Nursi observes, positioning Ramadan as a bridge of empathy between social classes.

A profitable market for the Hereafter

Nursi vividly describes Ramadan as a "lucrative exhibition and market for the trade of the afterlife." While the reward for good deeds is normally tenfold, the Risale-i Nur highlights that in Ramadan, this multiplier increases dramatically.

"In Ramadan, the reward for deeds is one to a thousand," Nursi explains. He details that while each letter of the Quran normally brings ten rewards, in Ramadan, this rises to a thousand, and even higher on Fridays. During Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Power), a single letter may yield thirty thousand rewards. Thus, Nursi concludes that "a single Ramadan can gain for a person the fruits of a life of eighty years," providing a powerful argument for the night being "better than a thousand months" as stated in the Quran.

The 'Spiritual Company' of believers

A unique concept introduced in these writings is the "spiritual company" or partnership (şirket-i manevi). Nursi advises his students to engage in a collective spiritual effort where the prayers and good deeds of the community form a shared pool of merit.

"For the sake of our brotherhood... it is necessary and essential not to take offense at one another and to make peace," Nursi urges. He envisions a spiritual synergy where believers say "amen" to each other's prayers, allowing everyone to share in the total spiritual profit. This collective approach ensures that even the weakest members of the community benefit from the worship of the devout.

A unified Islamic world

Finally, the Risale-i Nur depicts the entire Islamic world during Ramadan as a single, vast mosque. "It is as though the World of Islam becomes a mosque... where millions of hafiz (memorizers of the Quran) cause the Earth dwellers to hear that heavenly address," the text describes.

Ultimately, Bediüzzaman Said Nursi’s writings frame Ramadan not just as a religious obligation, but as a "holy festival" for the parade of human worship against the sovereignty of Divine Lordship, urging believers to utilize this "spiritual spring" to the fullest.

www.wisenewspress.com