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Attaining Inner Peace According to the Risale-I ATTAINING INNER PEACE ACCORDING TO THE RISALE-I NUR Submitted by Zuleyha Keskin Master of Arts (Islamic and Arabic Studies) A thesis submitted in total (partial) fulfilment requirements of the requirements of the degree of Philosophy School of Theology and Philosophy Australian Catholic University November 2015 STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP AND SOURCES This thesis contains no material published elsewhere or extracted in whole or in part from a thesis by which I have qualified for or been awarded another degree or diploma. No parts of this thesis have been submitted towards the award of any other degree or diploma in any other tertiary institution. No other person’s work has been used without due acknowledgment in the main text of the thesis. All research procedures reported in the thesis received the approval of the relevant Ethics/Safety Committees (where required). Zuleyha Keskin November 2015 i STATEMENT OF APPRECIATION OR DEDICATION When I thank people, I always worry I am going to forget someone, but here I go… I would firstly like to thank my Creator for giving me the strength, direction and ability to complete this task. I can never thank Him enough for all that He has blessed me with in my life. I also want to thank my supervisor, Professor Ismail Albayrak, for his ongoing support and patience throughout the years. His knowledge and wisdom on one side and his encouragement on the other, have been like two wings that have helped me complete this long journey. I would also like to thank Associate Professor Salih Yucel for being a source of strength and for being inspirational. Not only did he provide additional academic support, but he also believed in me as well. He also took on an incredible workload so I could find the time to write. I would like to thank ACU, Theology and Philosophy Faculty, Research office and ACU library. At the heart of it, I would like to thank my husband, Ahmet, for contributing so wholeheartedly to make this thesis a reality. I am grateful for his tireless efforts to keep me motivated, his ongoing assistance in the home and his extra support for the children in times of need. I would also like to thank my children, Eyup and Safiye, who have become accustomed to seeing their mother in front of the computer doing her ‘homework’. Their patience and understanding of ‘mummy’s homework’ at such a young age has meant a lot to me. Finally, I would like to thank my parents, particularly my father, who has taught me not only to aim high, but then to achieve... iii TABLE OF CONTENTS STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP AND SOURCES .................................................. i STATEMENT OF APPRECIATION OR DEDICATION ........................................ iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................ v ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................... ix INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1 Area of Research ........................................................................................................... 7 Literature Review .......................................................................................................... 9 1. Literature on Said Nursi and his Works ......................................................... 9 2. The Initial Literature Written in English ........................................................ 9 3. More Contemporary Topics .......................................................................... 12 4. Literature on Inner Peace .............................................................................. 19 5. General Literature on Inner Peace ................................................................ 19 6. Islamic Literature on Inner Peace ................................................................. 24 Conceptual Framework ................................................................................................ 28 Methodology ................................................................................................................ 30 1. Primary Sources ............................................................................................ 32 2. Secondary Sources ........................................................................................ 33 Proposed Research Outline .......................................................................................... 37 1. Chapter 1: Inner Peace in Islam: General Discussion .................................. 38 2. Chapter 2: Belief in God and Inner Peace .................................................... 38 3. Chapter 3: Knowing One’s Self Inner Peace ................................................ 38 4. Chapter 4: Islamic Worldview and Inner Peace ........................................... 39 5. Chapter 5: Nursi’s Life and Inner Peace....................................................... 39 6. Conclusion .................................................................................................... 40 CHAPTER 1: INNER PEACE IN ISLAM: GENERAL DISCUSSION ............... 41 1.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 41 1.2 Inner Peace in Islam .......................................................................................... 42 1.2.1 The Meaning of Islam ................................................................................... 42 1.2.2 Inner Peace in the Qur’ān and Ḥadī th .......................................................... 42 1.3 Islamic Concepts Similar to Inner Peace ........................................................... 46 1.3.1 Riḍā (Contentment) ...................................................................................... 46 v 1.3.2 Sakīna (Serenity) and Itṃ ī nā n (Peacefulness) ............................................. 48 1.3.3 Ḥusn al-Ẓann (Positive Thought)................................................................. 50 1.4 Reconciling Inner Peace and Negative Emotions ............................................. 54 1.4.1 Negative Emotions in the Life of Prophet Muhạ mmad ............................... 55 1.4.2 A Constant State of Low Mood – Depression ............................................. 60 1.5 Conclusion ........................................................................................................ 63 CHAPTER 2: BELIEF IN GOD AND INNER PEACE ........................................ 65 2.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 65 2.2 Belief in God ..................................................................................................... 66 2.3 Belief in Oneness of God .................................................................................. 69 2.4 Knowledge of God ............................................................................................ 72 2.5 The Relationship Between Belief in God and Inner Peace ............................... 76 2.6 The Names of God and Inner Peace ................................................................. 84 2.6.1 All-Powerful (al-Qā dir) ............................................................................... 88 2.6.2 All-Merciful (al-Rahṃ ā n) ............................................................................ 96 2.6.3 All-Just (al-’Adl) .......................................................................................... 99 2.7 Conclusion ...................................................................................................... 105 CHAPTER 3: KNOWING ONE’S SELF AND INNER PEACE ........................ 107 3.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 107 3.2 Knowing One’s Self to Know God ................................................................. 108 3.2.1 How to Know One’s Self ........................................................................... 111 3.3 Belief and Self-Evaluation .............................................................................. 117 3.3.1 Realising One’s Potential ........................................................................... 120 3.4 Proper Use of Faculties and Emotions ............................................................ 127 3.4.1 The Nafs ..................................................................................................... 128 3.4.2 The Heart and Mind ................................................................................... 132 3.4.3 Emotions .................................................................................................... 137 3.5 The Gap ........................................................................................................... 144 3.5.1 Worship; the Natural Outcome of Self-Awareness .................................... 150 3.6 Conclusion ...................................................................................................... 153 CHAPTER 4: TAWḤĪ D-CENTRIC WORLDVIEW AND INNER PEACE ..... 155 4.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 155 4.2 Summary of the Purpose of Life ....................................................................
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