religion and refusal to bow before the dead leader and his picture, and their demonstrating their lack of support for atheism and innovations. You should also take into consideration that it is of the greatest importance that the Risale-i Nur emerges from obscurity and in a momentous general question at a time they are contesting themselves in their centres, the hesitant and bewildered people of belief can find the students behind them and by not running away it can be shown to them that the students are bound to an unshakeable and invincible truth. Beware! Take no notice of each other’s faults; have respect instead of feeling angry, and help each other rather than being critical.
* * *
My Dear, Loyal, Faithful Brothers!
For the past few days I have changed the form of my supplications. I no longer say “faithful” in the phrase “faithful students of the Risale-i Nur” when repeating perhaps a hundred times “forgive us” or “give us success.” Then those of our brothers who feel themselves obliged to act as though they have dispensations, or due to the anxiety and despair caused by distress, act contrarily to resolution and fidelity by apparently denying or holding back, are not left out of those prayers.
In His Name, be He glorified!
My Dear Brother Hafiz Ali!1
Do not worry about your illness. My Almighty God grant you healing. Amen! You are making a high profit since one hour’s worship in prison is the equivalent of twelve hours’ worship. If you want some medicine, I have some here; I can send them to you. Anyway there is a slight illness doing the rounds. I am certain to be ill the day I attend the court. Perhaps you have taken on a little of my illness in order to help me, like those of former times who with extraordinary self-sacrifice, were ill and died in each other’s places.
Hafiz Ali: A leading Risale-i Nur student in the Isparta area. He was from the village of Islâmköy, many of whose inhabitants he led in serving the Risale-i Nur. He fell ill and died in Denizli Prison in 1944.