Chapter 22 Why only Prophet Muhammad was honored with theAscension

 The reason for this lies in his essential perfection and the nature of hisProphethood. First of all, Prophet Muhammad was expected for a longtime, and his coming was promised through many signs. Given this,there are numerous proofs of his Prophethood. Although elaborated inprevious chapters, we briefly list the signs showing his perfection andthe proofs of his Prophethood to show that he was the most worthy tomake the Ascension.

First:

 Despite the great corruption in the Torah, Gospels, and Psalms,Husain al-Jisri's

 Risala al-Hamidiya

 presents 110 signs found in them thatindicate Muhammad's Prophethood.

Second:

 History also records the words of many pre-Islamic soothsay-ers, such Shiq and Satih, who foretold his Prophethood and that he wasthe Last Prophet.

Third:

 Many extraordinary events (

irhasat

) before his Prophethoodforetold the coming of a Prophet. For example, on the night he was born,the Ka'ba's idols toppled over and the pinnacles of the famous palace of the Persian ruler Chosroes broke.

Fourth:

 Muhammad was distinguished with approximately 1,000 mir-acles, all of which have been related by historians and biographers. Tocite only a few examples, he satisfied an army's thirst with water flowingfrom his fingers and split the moon (54:1), and the dry wooden poleagainst which he leaned while preaching in the mosque moaned like acamel in front of many people when it was separated from him.

Fifth:

 Friend and foe agree that all good qualities were found in him tothe highest degree, and that, as shown by his conduct, all attributes andcharacter of the highest excellence were apparent in the way he per-formed his mission. In accordance with Islam's moral principles, praise-worthy virtues of the highest order are found in the law that he brought.

136

 

Sixth:

 Wisdom requires that Divinity be shown because of Its perfec-tions. Prophet Muhammad manifested God's Divinity at the highestlevel and in the most brilliant fashion through the most perfect and com-prehensive way of worship contained in the religion that he brought.Due to the wisdom in the universe's creation, the Creator of the worldwills to display His most perfect Beauty and Grace through the most ap-propriate means. Clearly, Prophet Muhammad showed and describedHis Beauty and Grace in the most perfect fashion.The Maker of the world wills to exhibit and draw attentive gazes to-ward His perfect art of infinite Beauty; Muhammad proclaimed that artwith the clearest voice. In response to the Lord of the worlds' will to pro-claim His Oneness in the realms of multiplicity, Muhammad announcedHis Unity with all of Its aspects most perfectly.Due to His Wisdom, the Owner of the world wills to see and show Hisinfinite essential Beauty and Grace, with all of their manifestations, in themirrors of all beings; Muhammad reflected them in the most brilliantfashion and made others love them. In response to the will of the Builderof the palace of the world to describe His perfections by showing His un-seen treasuries of priceless gems, Muhammad displayed and describedthem most perfectly.The Maker of the universe has decorated the universe with the most beautiful and exquisite embellishments, and has included therein Hisconscious creatures so that they may travel to receive enjoyment and re-flect. Due to His Wisdom, He wills to communicate the meaning andvalue expressed by the works of His art to people who observe and re-flect. Muhammad guided humanity, jinn, and angels in the most com-prehensive way, in this respect, through the Qur'an.The All-Wise Ruler of the universe wills to use an envoy to reveal thepurpose of the changes and transformations in existence, as well as toanswer three perplexing questions asked by all conscious beings: Wheredo we come from? Where are we going? What are we? By means of theQur'an's truths, Muhammad revealed this purpose and the answers inthe clearest and most perfect way.The Maker of this world wills to make Himself known to conscious be-ings through His exquisite works and to be loved by them through theprecious bounties He bestows on them. Thus He wills to communicate tothem, by means of an envoy, what He wants them to do and how theymay obtain His approval in return for those bounties. By means of the

137

 

Qur'an, Muhammad communicated the things that please God in themost exalted and perfect way.The Lord of the worlds has endowed humanity, the fruit of the Tree of Creation, with a comprehensive disposition that can encompass the uni-verse, and with a corresponding ability—and even need—to perform auniversal worship. But humanity, due to its feelings, inclines to theworld and its attractions. So God wills, by means of a guide, to turnhumanity's attention from worldly multiplicity to Divine Unity, fromtransience to eternity. In response to this will and by means of theQur'an, Muhammad guided humanity to this goal in the most desirablefashion and performed the duty of Messengership in the most perfectway.Thus creation's most superior members are living beings, the most su-perior living beings are conscious beings, the most superior conscious beings are true human beings, and that true human being who carriedout all duties mentioned, in the most perfect and comprehensive way,would rise through an all-embracing Ascension to

 the nearness of two bow-strings

 (the station nearest to God), knock at the door of eternal happi-ness, and open the treasury of Mercy.Thus the most superior members of creation are living beings, themost superior living beings are conscious beings, the most superior con-scious beings are true human beings, and the true human being who car-ried out all of the duties mentioned in the most perfect and comprehens-ive way naturally would rise through an all-embracing Ascension to thenearness of 

 two bows' length

, the station nearest to God, to knock at thedoor of eternal happiness, open Mercy's treasury, and witness belief'sunseen truths directly.

Seventh:

 Moreover, everything displays the most pleasing instances of  beauty and utmost degree of adornment, thereby demonstrating thattheir Maker wills to make things beautiful and adorn them. In turn, thisshows that the Maker has a strong inclination and sacred love towardHis art. Therefore the person with the most comprehensive disposition todisplay this art's wonders in himself; one who knows them, makes themknown, and thus makes himself lovable; and who deeply appreciates the beauties manifested in other beings in full appreciation of their comingfrom the Maker will be the most beloved in the Maker's sight, as Hegreatly loves His art.This same being, in full awareness of the exquisite qualities adorningall beings and of the perfections illuminating them, makes the heavens

138

 

echo: "Glory be to God! What wonders God has willed" and "All theseare from God! God is the greatest!" This same being causes the universeto reverberate with the sounds of the Qur'an, and enraptures the landand the sea with his appreciative reflections and glorification as well aswith his proclamation and demonstration of Divine Unity.Such a being, according to the principle of "The cause is like the doer,"receives a reward equivalent to his community's good deeds. His spiritu-al perfections draw strength from the blessings invoked upon him by hiscommunity, and the duties he performed during his Messengershipcause him to receive an immaterial recompense and infinite emanationsof Divine Mercy and Love. Given this, the result of pure truth and abso-lute wisdom is that this being should advance by means of Ascension asfar as Paradise,

 Sidrat al-Muntaha

—the lote tree, contingency's farthestlimit—the Divine Throne, and to the

 nearness of two bows' length

Chapter 23 The Sixteenth Degree, on the Messengership ofMuhammad, from the Supreme Sign

 Then that traveller through the world addressed his own intellect saying:“Since I am seeking my Master and Creator by means of the creatures of the cosmos, I ought before all else to visit the most celebrated of all thesecreatures, the greatest and most accomplished commander among them,according to the testimony even of his enemies, the most renownedruler, the most exalted in speech and the most brilliant an intellect, whohas illuminated fourteen centuries with his excellence and with hisQur’an, Muhammad the Arabian Prophet (May God’s peace and bless-ings be upon him).” In order thus to visit him and seek from him the an-swer to his quest, he entered the blessed age of the Prophet in his mind,and saw that age to be one of true felicity, thanks to that being. Forthrough the light he had brought, he had turned the most primitive andilliterate of peoples into the masters and teachers of the world.He said too to his own intellect, “Before asking him concerning ourCreator, we should first learn the value of this extraordinary being, theveracity of his words and the truthfulness of his warnings.” Thus he began investigating, and of the numerous conclusive proofs that hefound we will briefly indicate here only nine of the most general ones.

THE FIRST

All excellent qualities and characteristics were to be found in that ex-traordinary being, according to the testimony even of his enemies. Hun-dreds of miracles were made manifest at his hands, according to explicitQur’anic verses or traditions enjoying the status of 

 tawatur

.

292

Examplesof these miracles are his splitting of the moon —

 And the moon split

293

—with a single indication of his finger; his casting of a handful of dust into

292.Tawatur is the kind of report that is transmitted by numerous authorities, aboutwhich there is consensus, and no room for doubt. (Tr.)293.Qur’an, 54:1.

140

 

the eyes of his enemies, causing them to flee —

It was not your act when you threw, but God’s

294

— and his giving his thirsting army to drink fromthe water that flowed forth from his five fingers like the Spring of Kawthar. Since some of those miracles, numbering more than three hun-dred, have been set forth with decisive proofs in the remarkable andwondrous work known as The Miracles of Muhammad (the NineteenthLetter), we leave discussion of the miracles to that book, and permit thetraveller to continue speaking:“A being who in addition to noble characteristics and perfections hasall these luminous miracles to demonstrate, must certainly be the mosttruthful in speech of all men. It is inconceivable that he would stoop totrickery, lies and error, the deeds of the vile.”

THE SECOND

He holds in his hand a decree from the Lord of the universe, a decreeaccepted and affirmed in each century by more than three hundred mil-lion people. This decree, the Qur’an of Mighty Stature, is wondrous inseven different ways. The fact that the Qur’an has forty different aspectsof miraculousnes and that it is the word of the Creator of all beings has been set forth in detail with strong proofs in the Twenty-Fifth Word, TheMiraculousness of the Qur’an, a celebrated treatise that is like the sun of the Risale-i Nur. We therefore leave such matters to that work and listento the traveller as he says, “There can never be any possibility of lying onthe part of the being who is the conveyor and proclaimer of this decree,for that would be a violation of the decree and treachery toward the OneWho issued it.”

THE THIRD

Such a Sacred Law, an Islam, a code of worship, a cause, a summons,and a faith did that being bring forth that the like of them does not exist,nor could it exist. Nor does a more perfect form of them exist, nor couldit exist. For the Law appearing with that unlettered being has no rival inits administration of one fifth of humanity for fourteen centuries, in a justand precise manner through its numerous injunctions. Moreover theIslam that emerged from the deeds, sayings, and inward states of thatunlettered being has no peer, nor can it have, for in each century it has been for three hundred million men a guide and a refuge, the teacherand educator of their intellects and the illuminator and purifier of their

294.Qur’an, 8:17.

141

 

hearts, the cause for the refinement and training of their souls, and thesource of progress and advancement of their spirits.The Prophet is similarly unparalleled in the way in which he was theforemost in practising all the forms of worship found in his religion, andthe first in piety and the fear of God; in his observing the duties of wor-ship fully and with attention to their profoundest dimensions, evenwhile engaged in constant struggle and activity; in his practice of wor-ship combining in perfect fashion the beginning and end of worship andservitude to God without imitation of anyone.With the

 Jawshan al-Kabir

, from among his thousands of supplicatoryprayers and invocations, he describes his Sustainer with such a degree of gnosis that all the gnostics and saints who have come after him have been unable, with their joint efforts, to attain a similar degree of gnosisand accurate description. This shows that in prayer too he is withoutpeer. Whoever looks at the section at the beginning of the Treatise onSupplicatory Prayer, which sets forth some part of the meaning of one of the ninety-nine sections of the

 Jawshan al-Kabir

, will say that the

 Jawshan

too has no peer.In his conveying of the message and his summoning men to the truth,he displayed such steadfastness, firmness and courage that althoughgreat states and religions, and even his own people, tribe and uncle op-posed him in the most hostile fashion, he exhibited not the slightest traceof hesitation, anxiety or fear. The fact that he successfully challenged thewhole world and made Islam the master of the world likewise provesthat there is not and cannot be anyone like him in his conveying of themessage and summons.In his faith, he had so extraordinary a strength, so marvellous a cer-tainty, so miraculous a breadth, and so exalted a conviction, illuminingthe whole world, that none of the ideas and beliefs then dominating theworld, and none of the philosophies of the sages and teachings of the re-ligious leaders, was able, despite extreme hostility and denial, to inducein his certainty, conviction, trust and assurance, the slightest doubt, hes-itation, weakness or anxiety. Moreover, the saintly of all ages, headed bythe Companions, the foremost in the degrees of belief, have all drawn onhis fountain of belief and regarded him as representing the highest de-gree of faith. This proves that his faith too is matchless. Our travellertherefore concluded, and affirmed with his intellect, that lying and du-plicity have no place in the one who has brought such a unique sacredlaw, such an unparalleled Islam, such a wondrous devotion to worship,

142

 

such an extraordinary excellence in supplicatory prayer, such a univer-sally acclaimed summons to the truth and such a miraculous faith.

THE FOURTH

In the same way that the consensus of the prophets is a strong proof for the existence and Unity of God, so too it is a firm testimony to thetruthfulness and messengerhood of this being. For all the sacred attrib-utes, miracles and functions that indicate the truthfulness and messen-gerhood of the prophets (Upon whom be peace) existed in full measurein that being according to the testimony of history. The prophets haveverbally predicted the coming of that being and given good tidingsthereof in the Torah, the Gospels, the Psalms, and other scriptures; morethan twenty of the most conclusive examples of these glad tidings,drawn from the scriptures, have been set forth and proven in the Nine-teenth Letter. Similarly, through all the deeds and miracles associatedwith their prophethood they have affirmed and —as it were— put theirsignature to the mission of that being which is the foremost and mostperfect in the tasks and functions of prophethood. Just as through verbalconsensus they indicate the Divine Unity, through the unanimity of theirdeeds they bear witness to the truthfulness of that being. This too wasunderstood by our traveller.

THE FIFTH

Similarly, the thousands of saints who have attained truth, reality, per-fection, wondrous deeds, unveiling and witnessing through the instruc-tion of this being and following him, bear unanimous witness not only tothe Divine Unity but also to the truthfulness and messengerhood of this being. Again, the fact that they witness, through the light of sainthood,some of the truths he proclaimed concerning the World of the Unseen,and that they believe in and affirm all of those truths through the light of  belief, either with ‘knowledge of certainty,’ or with the ‘vision of cer-tainty,’ or with ‘absolute certainty.’ He saw that this too demonstates likethe sun the degree of truthfulness and rectitude of that great being, theirmaster.

THE SIXTH

The millions of purified, sincere, and punctilious scholars and faithfulsages, who have reached the highest station of learning through theteaching and instruction contained in the sacred truths brought by that being, despite his unlettered nature, the exalted sciences he invented andDivine knowledge he discovered—they not only prove and affirm, unan-imously and with the strongest proofs, the Divine Unity which is the

143

 

foundation of his mission, but also bear unanimous witness to the truth-fulness of this supreme teacher and great master, and to the veracity of his words. This is a proof as clear as daylight. The Risale-i Nur too withits one hundred parts is but a single proof of his truthfulness.

THE SEVENTH

The Family and Companions of the Prophet —who with their insight,knowledge, and spiritual accomplishment are the most renowned, themost respected, the most celebrated, the most pious and the mostkeensighted of men after the prophets— examined and scrutinized, withthe utmost attention, seriousness and exactitude, all the states, thoughtsand conditions of this being, whether hidden or open. They came to theunanimous conclusion that he was the most truthful, exalted, and honest being in the world, and this, their unshakeable affirmation and firm be-lief, is a proof like the daylight attesting the reality of the sun.

THE EIGHTH

The cosmos indicates its Maker, Inscriber, and Designer, Who creates,administers, and arranges it, and through determining its measure andform and regulating it, has disposal over it as though it was a palace, a book, an exhibition, a spectacle. And so too it indicates that it requiresand necessitates an elevated herald, a truthful unveiler, a learned master,and a truthful teacher who will know and make known the Divine pur-poses in the universe’s creation, teach the dominical instances of wisdomin its changes and transformations, give instruction in the results of itsdutiful motions, proclaim its essential value and the perfections of the beings within it, and express the meanings of that mighty book; it indic-ates that he is certain to exist. Thus, the traveller knew that it testified tothe truthfulness of this being, who performed these functions better thananyone, and to his being a most elevated and loyal official of the uni-verse’s Creator.

THE NINTH

There is behind the veil One Who wishes to demonstrate with these in-genious and wise artefacts the perfection of His talent and art; to makeHimself known and loved by means of these countless adorned and dec-orated creations; to evoke praise and thanks through the unnumberedpleasurable and valuable bounties that he bestows; to cause men to wor-ship Him with gratitude and appreciation in the face of His dominicality,through His solicitous and protective sustenance of life, and His provi-sion of nurture and bounty in such manner as to satisfy the most delicateof tastes and appetites; to manifest His Divinity through the change of 

144

 

seasons, the alternation of night and day, and through all His magnifi-cent and majestic deeds, all His awe-inspiring and wise acts and creativ-ity, and thereby to cause men to believe in his Divinity, in submission,humility and obedience; and to demonstrate His justice and truthfulness by at all times protecting virtue and the virtuous and destroying evil andthe evil, by annihilating with blows from heaven the oppressor and theliar. There will of a certainty be at the side of this Unseen Being His most beloved creature and most devoted bondsman, who, serving the pur-poses that have just been mentioned, discovers and unravels the talis-man and riddle of the creation of the universe, who acts always in thename of that Creator, who seeks aid and success from Him, and who re-ceives them from Him—Muhammad of Quraysh (Peace and blessings beupon him!)The traveller further said, addressing his own intellect: “Since thesenine truths bear witness to the truthfulness of this being, he must be thesource of glory of mankind and the source of honour for the world. If wetherefore call him the Pride of the World and Glory of the Sons of Adam,it will be fitting. The fact that the awesome sovereignty of that decree of the Compassionate One, the Qur’an of Miraculous Exposition that heholds in his hand, has conquered half the world, together with his indi-vidual perfections and exalted virtues, shows that he is the most import-ant personage in the world. The most important word concerning ourCreator is that which he utters.”Now see: the foundation of the summons of this extraordinary beingand the aim of all his life, based on the strength furnished by his hun-dreds of decisive and evident and manifest miracles, and the thousandsof exalted, fundamental truths contained in his religion, was to proveand bear witness to the existence of the Necessary Existent, His Unity, at-tributes and Names, to affirm, proclaim and announce Him. He is there-fore like a sun in the cosmos, the most brilliant proof of our Creator, this being whom we call the Beloved of God. There are three forms of greatand infallible consensus each of which affirms, confirms, and puts its sig-nature to the witness he bears.

TheFirst:

 the unanimous affirmation made by that luminous assemblyknown and celebrated throughout the world as the Family of Muhammad (Peace and blessings be upon him) including thousands of poles and supreme saints of penetrating gaze and ability to perceive theUnseen, such Imam ‘Ali (May God be pleased with him), who said,“Were the veil to be lifted, my certainty would not increase,” and ‘Abdal-Qadir al-Gilani, Ghawth al-A‘zam (May his mystery be sanctified),

145

 

who saw the Supreme Throne and the awesome form of Israfil while yeton the earth.

TheSecond:

 the confirmation made with a strong faith that permittedmen to sacrifice their lives and their property, their fathers and tribes, bythe renowned assembly known as the Companions, who found them-selves among a primitive people and in an unlettered environment,devoid of all social life and political thought, without any scripture andlost in the darkness of a period between prophets; and who in a very brief time came to be the masters, guides, and just rulers of the most civ-ilized and politically and socially advanced peoples and states, and torule the world from east to west in universally approved fashion.

TheThird:

 the confirmation provided with unanimous and certainknowledge by that lofty group of punctilious and profound scholars of whom in each age thousands spring forth, who advance in wondrousfashion in every science and work in different fields.Thus, the testimony brought by this being to the Divine Unity is notparticular and individual, but general and universal and unshakeable. If all the demons that exist were to unite, they could not challenge it. Suchwas the conclusion reached by the traveller.In reference to the lesson learned in the School of Light by that travel-ler from the world, that wayfarer in life, when he visited in his mind the blessed age of the Prophet, we said at the end of the Sixteenth Degree of the First Station:

There is no god but God, the Necessary Existent, the One, the Unique, theNecessity of Whose Existence in Unity is indicated by the Pride of the Worldand the Glory of the Sons of Adam, through the majesty of the sovereignty of hisQur’an, the splendour of the expanse of his religion, the multiplicity of his per- fections, and the exaltedness of his characteristics, as confirmed even by thetestimony of his enemies. He bears witness and brings proof through thestrength of his hundreds of manifest and evident miracles, that both testify totruth and are themselves the object of true testimony; and through the strengthof the thousands of luminous and conclusive truths contained in his religion, ac-cording to the consensus of all the possessors of light, the agreement of his il-lumined Companions, and the unanimity of the scholars of his community, the possessors of proofs and luminous insight.The Enduring One, He is the Enduring One!

Said Nursi

146

Chapter 21 The miracle of splitting the moon

 In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate.The Hour has approached, and the moon split. But whenever they see asign, they turn away, saying: "This is evidently part of (his) magic."(54:1-2)

Question:

Materialist philosophers and their imitators, who want todeny this bright miracle of Prophet Muhammad, say: "If the event reallyhappened, it would have been known all over the world and related inall historical documents."

Answer:

 This miracle occurred before a group of people to convincethem of his Prophethood. It happened momentarily at a time of nightwhen people were sleeping; such obstacles as mist, clouds, and time dif-ferences prevented others from seeing it; and, moreover, at that time sci-ence and civilization were not yet advanced or widespread. Thus thepractice of observing the sky was quite limited. Last but not least, thereis no reason why it should have been seen worldwide. To remove suchclouds of delusion, consider the following five points:

 First point:

 The stubbornness of Muhammad's unbelieving contem-poraries is well-known and recorded. When the Qur'an announced thisincident in

 the moon split,

 not one unbeliever dared contradict it. If theyhad not seen this event, they would have used this verse as a pretext toattack the Prophet more formidably. However, neither biographies of theProphet nor history books report anything that even suggests their deni-al of this event. Their reaction was recorded as:

 This is evidently part of hismagic.

 They declared the event to be magic, and added further that if caravans in other places had seen it, it had truly happened; otherwise,the Prophet had bewitched them. When caravans arriving the followingmorning from Yemen and other places announced that they had seenthis miracle, the unbelievers replied: "The magic of Abu Talib's orphanhas affected even the heavens!"

132

 

Second point:

 The majority of the foremost scholars of meticulous re-search, such as Sa'd al-Din al-Taftazani, concluded that, like the earlier-mentioned miracles of water flowing from the Prophet's fingers and theaudible grieving of the wooden pole against which the Prophet used tolean while delivering sermons, when it was separated from him follow-ing the construction of a pulpit, the splitting of the moon is

 mutawatir

.This means that it has been transmitted down the generations by onetruthful group after another, and that the transmitters form such a vastcommunity that they are unable to agree on a lie. It is as certain asHaley's comet, which appeared 1,000 years ago, or the existence of an is-land we have not seen. Therefore it is unreasonable to foster baselessdoubts about such certain, witnessed matters. In fact, it is enough fortheir acceptability that they are not impossible. Splitting the moon is justas possible as splitting a mountain by a volcanic eruption.

Third point:

 Prophets work miracles to prove their claim of Prophet-hood and to convince deniers, not to compel belief. Thus every miracle isshown to convince those who heard the claim of Prophethood. If theysomehow forced everyone to see or believe in them, the All-Wise's Wis-dom, the Divine purpose for creating us with free will and sending reli-gion, which entails that the ground be prepared for the mind's willingacceptance, would be violated.Thus if the All-Wise Creator had left the moon split for several hoursso that everyone could see it and record it in their historical records, itwould have been only another astronomical event instead of an eventunique to Muhammad's Messengership or an evidence of his Prophet-hood. If everyone had been compelled to believe, free will would be an-nulled and Abu Jahl's coal-like spirit would be equal to Abu Bakr'sdiamond-like spirit. Thus the purpose of creating humanity with a spe-cial function and responsibility, as well as the purpose for sending revel-ation, would be negated. That is why this miracle was not shown world-wide so that it could be recorded.

 Fourth point:

 Some argue that if this event really occurred, it wouldhave been mentioned in Chinese, Japanese, and Native American histor-ical accounts.

291

But how could they have seen it for, in addition to otherobstacles, it was barely sunset in such European countries as Spain,

291.Some books also state that the moon fell to Earth after it split into two parts. Truth-ful scholars have rejected this, for it was added by a hypocrite who intended to re-duce this evident miracle's value to nothing.

133

 

France, and England (all enveloped in mists of ignorance), daytime inAmerica, and morning in China and Japan.

 Fifth point:

 This miracle is not an ordinary incident that happened dueto particular causes or randomly so that it should be criticized based onthe law of cause and effect. Rather, the All-Wise Creator of the sun andthe moon made it an extraordinary event to confirm His Messenger'sProphethood and support his claim. Therefore it was shown as a convin-cing proof to certain people and specified by Divine Wisdom, for thenature of Divine guidance and human responsibility as well as the reas-on for raising a Messenger required this. If it had been seen by those whowere not intended to see it and who had not yet heard of Muhammad'sProphethood, and if it had occurred according to the law of cause and ef-fect, it would have been an ordinary astronomical event instead of a mir-acle specific to and connected with his Messengership.In conclusion, these arguments are enough for any mind to be con-vinced of the possibility that this miracle occurred. Out of many evid-ences of its occurrence, we shall mention only six, as these six have thestrength of a six-fold consensus:• The Companions, all people of justice and truthfulness, agree thatit took place.• All exacting Qur'anic interpreters agree that

 the moon split

 indic-ates that a gesture of Muhammad's fingers caused this event.• All truthful Traditionists narrated this incident through variousauthentic channels of transmission.• All people of truth and sainthood, as well as of inspiration andspiritual discovery, testify that this event took place.• All foremost theologians and learned scholars confirm this event,despite their other differences of opinions.• Muhammad's community, which an authentic Prophetic Traditionstates can never agree on an error, accepts its occurrence.These six evidences clearly prove the splitting of the moon.Thus we have established this miracle's reality by refuting objectionsto its possibility. In a few concluding sentences, we will speak in thename of the truth and for the sake of belief.The Seal of the Prophets, the luminous moon of the heaven of Messen-gership, proved his sainthood through his Ascension. His sainthood'sgreatest miracle, achieved through the quality of his worship, elevatedhim to the status of God's beloved. In other words, by making

134

 

Muhammad travel through the heavens, God showed its dwellers andthose of the highest realms that he is their superior and His beloved.By allowing a man's gesture to split the moon, which is set in the skyand bound to Earth, people saw another great evidence of his Messen-gership. Thus Prophet Muhammad flew to the summit of perfections onthe two brilliant wings of Messengership and sainthood (like the moon'stwo bright halves), ascended to

 two bows' length

 (the highest rank andnearest station to God), and became the cause of pride for all inhabitantsof the heavens and Earth.Upon him and his Family be blessings and peace such as to fill Earthand the heavens. Glory be unto You. We have no knowledge save whatYou have taught us. You are the All-Knowing, All-Wise.O God, for the sake of him by a gesture of whom the moon split, makemy heart and the hearts of the

 Risale-i Nur

's students as devoted and loy-al to the "sun" of the Qur'an as the moon is to the sun. Amen.

135

Chapter 20 Further remarks about the Prophet's greatness

 In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate.

Firstdroplet:

 Three great and universal things make our Lord knownto us: the Book of the Universe (explained elsewhere), the Seal of theProphets (the Book of the Universe's supreme sign), and the Qur'an.Now we must recognize and listen to the Seal of the Prophets, that artic-ulate proof and announcer of God with all His Names and Attributes,His Existence and Unity.Look at that illustrious proof's universal personality: Earth's surface ishis mosque, Makka is his

 mihrab

 (prayer niche), and Madina is his pulpit.Our Prophet is the leader of all believers, preacher to all humanity, chief of all Prophets, lord of all saints, and leader in the remembrance of Godof a circle comprising all Prophets and saints. With all Prophets as itsroots and all saints as its ever-fresh fruits, he is a radiant tree. All Proph-ets, with the support of their miracles, and all saints, relying on theirwonders, confirm and corroborate his claim that "There is no deity butGod." All illustrious reciters of God's Names lined up in the past and fu-ture repeat these words in unison, as if to say: "You speak the truth, andwhat you say is right!" What illusion can dispute an argument confirmed by such countless endorsements?

Seconddroplet:

 Just as the consensus and unanimity of all Prophetsand saints affirm this radiant proof of Divine Unity, hundreds of signs inthe revealed Scriptures (e.g., the Torah and the Gospels), thousands of indications of his Prophethood that appeared prior to his mission, fam-ous reports of voices from the Unseen, soothsayers' unanimous testi-mony, thousands of miracles, and the justice and truth of his Shari'a allconfirm and corroborate him. Similarly, his laudable virtues' perfection,his complete confidence in his mission, his most excellent qualities in re-lation to its fulfillment, and his extraordinary awe of God, worship,serenity, and firmness—all demonstrate the strength of his belief. In

122

 

addition, his total certainty and complete steadfastness clearly show hisclaim's undeniable truth.

Thirddroplet:

 In our imaginations, let's go to Arabia during the Ageof Bliss and visit him while he is performing his mission. Look! We see aperson distinguished by his character's excellence and his form's beauty.He holds a miraculous book and speaks a truthful discourse. He deliversan eternal sermon to humanity, jinn, angels—indeed to all beings. Hesolves and expounds the mystery of the world's creation, discovers andsolves the universe's intricate mystery, and provides convincing and sat-isfying answers to questions asked constantly by all beings: Who am I?What is the purpose of my life? Where did I come from? Were am I go-ing? What is my final destination?

Fourthdroplet:

 Behold! He spreads such a light of truth that, if youlook at the universe without the light of his guidance, you see it as aplace of mourning, of beings that are alien or even hostile to each anoth-er, of inanimate beings that are ghastly corpses, and of living creaturesthat are orphans weeping under the blows of death and separation. Butthe light he spreads transforms that place of universal mourning into aplace of invocation where God's Names and praises are recited in joyand ecstasy. Those alien, hostile beings are friends and brothers and sis-ters. Dumb, inanimate creatures assume the form of familiar, obedientofficials and docile servants. Weeping, complaining orphans either reciteGod's Names and praises or offer thanks for being discharged from theirduties.

Fifthdroplet:

 Again, through this light, the universe's motions, vari-ations, changes, and transformations are no longer considered meaning-less and futile playthings of chance, but appear in their true form andfunction: missives of the universe's Master, a page inscribed with thesigns of creation, a mirror reflecting God's Names. The world itself isshown to be a book of the Eternally-Besought-of-All's wisdom. Withoutthis light, our boundless weakness, helplessness, poverty, and needinesscause us to fall lower than animals. And then our intellect makes us evenmore wretched by conveying grief, sorrow, and anxiety to us.But when this light illumines us, we rise above all animals andcreatures, and our poverty and helplessness become means of infinitewealth and power by our dependence on God. We ascend to the level of  being a beloved monarch through entreaty, and through lamenting we become a vicegerent of Earth. In other words, only this light prevents theuniverse, humanity, and all things from being reduced to nothingness.

123

 

Such a person is necessary in such a wondrous universe, for without himthere would be no need for the universe and all the worlds to exist.

Sixthdroplet:

 This being announces and brings good tidings of eternalhappiness. He unveils and proclaims God's infinite Mercy, observes andheralds the beauties of the Realm of the Lord's Sovereignty, and dis-closes and displays the Divine Names' treasures. If you observe him as adevoted worshipper of God, you will see him to be a model of love andan embodiment of mercy, as well as the pride of humanity and the Treeof Creations' most illustrious fruit. If you observe him as a Messenger,you will see him to be a proof of God, a lamp of truth, a sun of guidance,and the means of happiness. Look! His light has lit up from East to Westlike dazzling lightning, and half of the globe and one-fifth of humanityhave accepted his guidance and preserved it like their lives. So whyshould our evil-commanding selves and satans not accept "There is nodeity but God," the essence of his mission?

Seventhdroplet:

 Consider how he eradicated his people's deep attach-ment to evil and savage customs and immoral qualities; equipped andadorned his desperate, wild, and unyielding people with all praise-worthy virtues; and made them teachers and masters of the world, espe-cially to the "civilized" nations. His domination was not outward; rather,he conquered and subjugated their minds, spirits, hearts, and souls. He became the beloved of hearts, the teacher of minds, the trainer of souls,and the ruler of spirits.

Eighthdroplet:

 A small habit like smoking can be removed perman-ently from a small community only by a powerful ruler and with greateffort. But see how this man quickly removed numerous ingrained habitsfrom large obsessed communities with little outward power and little ef-fort, and then replaced them with exalted qualities that became inherentin their being. He accomplished many more such miraculous things. Tothose who refuse to see the testimony of that blessed time, we challengethem with Arabia's present-day reality. Let them go there with hundredsof philosophers, sociologists, and psychologists for a century and see if they can achieve even one-hundredth of what the Prophet achieved in ayear.

Ninthdroplet:

 An unimportant person cannot lie to a group of peopleabout something insignificant without giving himself or herself awaythrough anxiety or unease. And yet this person, while undertaking a tre-mendous task in the name of Messengership and needing protectionagainst his enemies, easily speaks about great causes before large

124

 

congregations without any anxiety or hesitation. Furthermore, no contra-dictions can be found in what he proclaims with such pure sincerity andgreat seriousness. In addition, he does so in such an intense, elevatedmanner that he irritates his enemies. How could there have been any de-ception? What he speaks is nothing but Revelation revealed. The truthcannot be deceptive, and one who sees it cannot be deceived. His path,which is pure truth, contains no deception.

Tenthdroplet:

 Consider the curiosity-arousing, attractive, necessary,and awesome truths that he shows and the matters that he proves. Allpeople are curious. Suppose someone said: "If you give half of yourproperty, someone will come from Mars or Jupiter to tell you aboutthem, as well as your future and what will happen to you." If you haveany curiosity at all, you will do as requested. But this person talks of oth-er things: of a Monarch in whose realm the moon flies round a moth(Earth) like a fly, and the moth flutters round a lamp (the sun), which is just one of thousands of lamps in one of the Monarch's countless guest-houses. Also, he speaks truly of so wondrous a world and predicts sucha revolution that it would not be strange if Earth was a bomb and ex-ploded. Listen to the

 suras

 he recites, which begin with:

When the sun is folded up. (81:1)When the sky is cleft asunder. (82:1)(The day) of Noise and Clamor. (101:1)

He speaks so truly of such a future that, in relation to it, the future inthis world is like a trifling mirage. He informs us so solemnly of suchhappiness that all worldly happiness is like a flash of lightning in com-parison to an eternal sun.

Eleventhdroplet:

 Such wonders await us under the universe's appar-ent veil. We need a wonderful and miracle-working person to commu-nicate and explain these wonders to us. His conduct proves that he hasseen—and sees—them, and he tells us what he sees. He teaches us whatthe One God of those heavens and Earth, Who nourishes us with His bounties, wants of us and how we can please Him. While we shoulddrop everything in order to run to and then heed this person who in-structs us in these and many other necessary and curiosity-arousingthings, most people are so deaf and blind—even mad—that they do notsee, hear, or understand this truth.

Twelfthdroplet:

 As well as being an articulate proof and truthfulevidence of the Oneness of the Creator of all beings, this person is a

125

 

decisive proof and clear evidence of the Resurrection and eternal happi-ness. Given that he is the cause for gaining eternal happiness through hisguidance, he is the cause of its existence and the means of its creationthrough his prayers and supplications.See! While supplicating during this supreme prayer, it is as if Ara- bia—even Earth—prays through his sublime presence and makes its pe-tition. He entreats amid so vast a congregation that it is as if all illustri-ous people of perfection from the time of Adam until the end of time arefollowing him and saying "Amen" to his supplications. He implores on behalf of so universal a need that the inhabitants of Earth and the heav-ens, indeed all beings, join in his prayer, declaring: "Yes, O Master, grantthat to us, for we also desire it." He supplicates so needily and sorrow-fully, and in such a loving, longing, and entreating fashion, that he brings the universe to tears and causes it to join in his prayer.And see! The goal and purpose for which he prays elevates humanityand the world, even all of creation, from the lowest ranks of humiliation,worthlessness, and uselessness to the highest ranks of having value, per-manence, and sublime duties. He supplicates and petitions in a mannerso elevated and help-seeking, so sweet and mercy-imploring, that it is asif he causes all beings and the heavens and the Divine Throne of Grace tohear. And then, bringing them to ecstasy, he causes them to exclaim:"Amen, O God, Amen!"He begs his needs from so Powerful a Being, All-Hearing and All-Gen-erous, from so All-Knowing a Being, All-Seeing and All-Merciful, thatthat Being sees the most hidden being's secret need, hears and accepts itsentreaties, and has mercy on it. He meets its need, even though this be-ing asks for it through the tongue of its disposition, and gives it in such awise, seeing, and compassionate form that it leaves no doubt that only anAll-Hearing and All-Seeing One, One Most Generous and Most Merciful,can do so.Thirteenth droplet: What does he want, this pride of humanity, thisunique being and glory of all beings, who stands for prayer with all em-inent people behind him and with hands upraised? He is seeking eternalhappiness, eternal life, a meeting with God, and Paradise. He wants allof these through the Divine Names, which display their beauty and oper-ations in the mirrors of beings. Even one of his prayers, were it not forsuch innumerable causes as Mercy, Grace, Wisdom, and Justice fulfillingthat request, would be enough to build Paradise, which is as easy forDivine Power as creating spring. Just as his Messengership opened this

126

 

place of trial, his worship and servitude to God opened a way to the nextworld.I wonder how the universe's perfect order, which causes wise and re-flective people to say that no "new" universe could be more original andwonderful, as well as the flawless beauty of His Mercy's art and HisMastership's matchless beauty, could be at all consonant with ugliness,mercilessness, and disorder. I wonder how He could refuse the most im-portant and necessary desires while satisfying the most insignificantwishes. Such a thing is impossible!So, my imaginary friend, let's return. Even if we stayed for 100 yearswe could not comprehend fully even one-hundredth of his marvelousand remarkable acts. We would never tire of observing him. During ourreturn, we will look at each century to see how each has bloomed fullythrough the flow of light received from that Sun of Guidance, and how ityielded thousands of such illustrious fruits as Abu Hanifa, Shafi'i,Bayazid al-Bistami, 'Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani, Shah Naqshband, ImamGhazzali, and Imam Rabbani.Postponing the details of our observations, we should invoke blessingson that worker of miracles and bringer of guidance that refer to some of his certain miracles:Upon him—our master Muhammad—to whom the All-Compassion-ate and All-Merciful One sent the Wise Criterion of Truth (the Qur'an)from the Mighty Throne, be peace and blessings equaling the number of his community's good deeds. Upon him whose Messengership was fore-told by the Torah, Gospels, and Psalms; whose Prophethood was pre-dicted by wondrous events prior to his Prophethood, and by the voicesof jinn, saints of humanity, and soothsayers; and at whose gesture themoon split, may there be peace and blessings equaling the number of hiscommunity's breaths.Upon him at whose beckoning trees came; by whose prayer rain fell;whom the cloud shaded from the heat; who made one dish of food satis-fy hundreds of people; from whose fingers water flowed like the Springof Kawthar; to whom God caused the lizard, the gazelle, the wolf, thecamel, the mountain, the rock, the pole, and the clod of earth to speak;the one who made the Ascension (Mi'raj) and

 whose eye did not waver,

may there be peace and blessings equaling the number of letters (in theQur'an) formed in the words represented, with the All-Compassionate'spermission, in the mirrors of the airwaves when all reciters of the Qur'an,from the beginning of Revelation until the end of time, recite its words.

127

 

Forgive us and have mercy upon us, O God, for the sake of each of those blessings. Amen.

Fourteenthdroplet:

 The Qur'an, the treasury of miracles and itself asupreme miracle, proves Muhammad's Prophethood and God's Onenessso decisively that no further proof is needed. We now define this miracleand refer to one or two flashes of its miraculousness that have beencriticized.The Qur'an, which makes our Master known to us, is an eternal trans-lator of the great Book of the Universe; the discloser of the DivineNames' treasures hidden in the pages of Earth and the heavens; the keyto the truths lying beneath the lines of events; the treasury of the All-Compassionate's favors; the eternal addresses coming from the Unseenworld beyond this visible world's veil; the sun of Islam's spiritual and in-tellectual world; the foundation, plan, and map of the Hereafter's worlds;the expounder, lucid interpreter, articulate proof, and clear translator of the Divine Essence, Attributes, and acts; humanity's educator, trainer,guide, and leader; and true wisdom. It is a book of wisdom and law,prayer and worship, command and summons, invocation and know-ledge of God; a book that contains books for all of humanity's spiritualneeds, like a sacred library offering books from which all saints, emin-ently truthful people, and all purified and discerning scholars derivetheir particular ways.Consider the flash of miraculousness in its reiterations, which are ima-gined to be a fault. Yet such reiteration is desirable, for the Qur'an is a book of invocation, prayer, and summons. In this context, reiteration is amost necessary and beautiful eloquence, for invoking God requires thatthe Qur'an be able to impress and enlighten hearts. Through repetition,prayer acquires and gives strength and becomes ingrained in hearts.Commands and summons need restatement to be confirmed andenforced.Moreover, not everyone can read the whole Qur'an any time he or shewants, but usually he or she can read one

 sura

. This is why the Qur'an'smost important purposes are reiterated in most of the longer

 suras

, eachof which thereby becomes like a small Qur'an. Such purposes andthemes as Divine Unity, Resurrection, and the story of Moses are re-peated so that no one is deprived of their benefits. Furthermore, spiritualtastes and needs vary, just like bodily tastes and needs. Humanity is inneed of some at every breath. Just like the body needs air, the spiritneeds the particle

 Hu–Huwa

 (He–God). It needs others every hour, like

128

 

Bismillah

 (In the Name of God). Reiteration therefore arises from recur-ring need, and to point out those needs, make them deeply felt, andawaken people to the need to satisfy them.Also the Qur'an is the founder and basis of the perfect religion (Islam)and the foundation of its world. It came to change humanity's social lifeand answer people's recurring questions. Repetition is necessary for afounder to affirm, and reiteration is necessary to emphasize. Establishingsomething new requires confirmation and strengthening, and thereforerepetition.The Qur'an speaks of such important matters and subtle truths that re-iteration is necessary in different contexts in order to impress them onpeople's minds and hearts. Actually, such repetition is merely apparent,for in reality each word has manifold meanings, numerous benefits, andmany aspects and levels. The words or verses always occur in a differentplace, way, context, and for a different meaning, purpose, and benefit.Certain cosmological matters are mentioned in a concise, allusive way.Doing so is not a fault, as some unbelievers and atheists assert, but rathera flash of miraculousness, for the Qur'an came to guide humanity.

129