Reflections

THE SEVENTEENTH FLASH

This treatise may be considered a Turkish translation of the original Arabic treatise entitled Zuhra, and consists of seventeen notes.

PREFACE

In 1921, twelve years before this treatise was composed, through Divine grace I perceived certain manifestations of Allah’s unity during profound reflection, a spiritual journey of the heart, and a development of the spirit. I recorded these manifestations as notes in Arabic treatises such as Zuhra, Shula, Habba, Shamma, Dharra, and Qatra. The style I employed in order to convey, each time, a portion of that profound truth and a gleam of that radiant light was intended purely to preserve them as personal notes and reminders. For this reason, others derived little benefit from them. Moreover, most of my foremost and honoured brothers did not know Arabic. Because of their persistent requests, I felt compelled to express some of these notes in detail and others briefly in Turkish as well.

Since these notes and Arabic treatises contain knowledge concerning matters related to the truths of īmān, which the New Said had to some extent perceived directly, their translations have been made in this treatise without any alteration or adjustment. For this reason, certain parts of this treatise may also occur in other treatises of the Risale-i Nur. Although some matters in this treatise are treated very briefly, they have not been further explained so that their original subtlety may not be lost.

The First Note

I looked at myself and said with conviction: O heedless Said! Know that it is unfitting to attach your heart to anything that will not accompany you after the passing of this world and that will leave you when it passes away. It is especially unwise to attach your heart to transient things that will abandon you when your generation has passed, that will not accompany you on your journey to the Hereafter, that will not see you off at the gate of the grave during your funeral, that within one or two years will separate from you forever, leaving behind nothing but sins as enduring burdens, and that, despite your desire to enjoy them forever, begin to leave you even while you are enjoying them.

If you are wise, then leave behind everything that will bring you no benefit in the Hereafter or in the ālam-i barzakh; attach no value to things that cannot accompany you on your journey to eternity; and do not grieve over their disappearance.

Look deeply into your own nature, for among your spiritual faculties there is one faculty that finds satisfaction only in eternity and in the One Who is Eternal, and it cannot turn to anything other than Him. It will never be content with anything besides Him, even if you were to offer it the entire world. This faculty is the sovereign of all your spiritual faculties. Obey that sovereign, which is subject to the command of Fātir-i Hakīm, and be saved.