From: irfan@bode.ece.wisc.edu (Irfan Alan)
Subject: DROPLET VOL 1, NO 5, PART 1
Organization: Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison; Electrical & Computer Engineering
Distribution: usa
Date: 9 Nov 92 21:02:09 CST

DROPLET VOL 1, No 5, Part 1

D R O P L E T
From The Vast Ocean Of The Miraculous Qur'an

Translations from the Arabic and Turkish Writings of Bediuzzaman
Said Nursi, 

The Risale-i Noor

VOL 1, No 5, Part 1
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TREATISE  ON  IJTIHAD The Twenty Seventh Word 

	This treatise was once written in Arabic. Now, due to a request
of my two friends, it will be rewritten  in Turkish  to give a
lesson to the one who overstepped his bounds.

In the Name Of Allah the Compassionate the  Merciful "If they
had only referred it to the Messenger or to those charged with
authority." (Al Qur'an 4:83)

	Know O Dear Friend! The door of ijtihad, which is one of the
religious matters, is open. But at this time, there are six
barriers to enter there.

	First Barrier. In the winter when turbulent storms are plenty,
even the smallest holes have to be closed. Opening new doors is
not a good idea in any time as long as the storms last.  Under
an attack of a big flood, even the opening of holes on walls to
fix them brings disaster. Similarly, at this time of denials,
invasions of foreign customs,  appearance of numerous bid'as
(innovations), and destructions of the  dalala (deviation),
opening new doors in the palace of Islam in the disguise of
ijtihad would let the destroyers enter. This would be the
biggest murder committed against Islam.

    Second Barrier.  The fundamentals of Islam accept no ijtihad 
at all because they are definite and well-determined. Those
fundamentals are the nourishment and the power (for Muslims).
Ironically, at this time, they are abandoned and not given
enough care by many Muslims. Hence, it is necessary to focus all
the endeavors and attentions to the revival of those neglected
fundamentals. However, in viewing the details of Islam, even
though the pure and sincere opinions (ijtihads) of Salef
Salihiin (1) are enough for the needs of all times, ignoring
their genuine ijtihads, and then, following self-driven desires
and producing new ijtihads, and thus helping the growth of
bid'as would be a great betrayal towards Islam.

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1. Salef-i  Saleheen:  Strictly meant for Sahaba, eminent
scholars among tabi'aen and teba-i tabi'aen. 
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    Third Barrier. To the inhabitants of each age, there is always
an attractive and popular issue which is considered as the most
important, and on which all the attentions are focused. For
example, in this century, the most popular and praised affair is
political matters and ways of earning a comfortable earthly
life. Whereas, in the market place at the time of the Salef-i
Salihiin, the most favorite thing was to infer what the
commandments of the Creator of the skies and the earth were from
His Word (the Quran).  Furthermore, their highest purpose was
to find out and categorize the means of earning the eternal
happiness in the hereafter which was opened with the light of
the Prophethood and the Quran. With regard to this, at that
time, all the ideas, hearts, and souls were concentrated on
knowing and learning what Allah was asking from human. Thus, the
conversations, human interactions, social behaviors, and events
were all faced towards that high purpose. The one with the right
skills and abilities were always able to take lessons from the
current and common conversations. Therefore, highly qualified
skills were easily and sufficiently developed to make necessary
ijtihads. Nowadays, in contrast to that time, since the ideas
and hearts are in turmoil, mutual assistance and endeavors are
very weak, and present human tendency is towards politics and
philosophy, all the skills are directed towards gaining the
earthly life. 
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To be continued In$a Allah.
Your Br. Irfan in Islam.
 
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