Bediüzzaman Said Nursî was one of the most influential Muslim scholars of the 20th century, renowned for his efforts to revive faith, knowledge, and spirituality in the modern age. He was born in 1877 in the village of Nurs, in the Bitlis region of eastern Anatolia (Türkiye). From an early age, his remarkable intelligence and extraordinary memory distinguished him from his peers. He mastered the classical Islamic sciences within a short time and also engaged with modern branches of knowledge such as mathematics, philosophy, and natural sciences.
His intellectual vision was shaped by the conviction that religion and science are not in conflict, but rather complement one another. For this reason, he advocated for an educational model that combined traditional Islamic scholarship with contemporary scientific disciplines—a vision he called the “Medresetü’z-Zehra,” a university project meant to unite faith and reason.
Throughout his life, Said Nursî dedicated himself to strengthening the faith of Muslims at a time when materialism, positivism, and atheism were spreading rapidly. His magnum opus, the Risale-i Nur Collection, is a multi-volume commentary on the Qur’an that explains the essentials of Islamic belief in a style accessible to both scholars and laypeople. Written under challenging conditions—often during exile, imprisonment, and surveillance—the Risale-i Nur emphasizes reason, reflection, and the harmony between revelation and science.
Despite facing many hardships, including political pressures and years of exile, Said Nursî remained steadfast in his mission of serving faith and humanity. He avoided political ambitions, focusing instead on spiritual and educational reform.
He passed away in 1960 in the city of Urfa. Today, his works have been translated into dozens of languages and continue to inspire millions of readers around the world. The Risale-i Nur is regarded not only as a cornerstone of modern Islamic thought but also as a bridge between cultures, faith, and reason.