University of Alberta Constructing an Islamic Ethics of Non-Violence: The Case of Bediuzzaman Said Nursi by Mehmet Salih Sayilgan A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Religious Studies ©Mehmet Salih Sayilgan Spring 2012 Edmonton, Alberta Permission is hereby granted to the University of Alberta Libraries to reproduce single copies of this thesis and to lend or sell such copies for private, scholarly or scientific research purposes only. Where the thesis is converted to, or otherwise made available in digital form, the University of Alberta will advise potential users of the thesis of these terms. The author reserves all other publication and other rights in association with the copyright in the thesis and, except as herein before provided, neither the thesis nor any substantial portion thereof may be printed or otherwise reproduced in any material form whatsoever without the author's prior written permission. This thesis is dedicated to my wife Zeyneb. Thank you for your unconditional support and patience throughout this project. I love you. ABSTRACT This thesis examines the late Muslim theologian Bediuzzaman Said Nursi’s ethics of non- violence. It argues that the non-violent ethics of Bediüzzaman Said Nursi based on the Qur’an might aid in finding solutions to the global problem of religion and violence, particularly as it is experienced in the Muslim World. The research seeks to accomplish three objectives. First, this study aims to contribute to the increasing number of works in the area of Islamic ethics which are still minimal compared to the literature dealing with Islamic law. The second scope of this project therefore focuses on the examination of the ethics of non-violence as presented in Said Nursi’s writings. Though Nursi never applied violence and constantly encouraged his followers to avoid it, he is still not known as an Islamic figure who promoted non-violence. The third objective is to demonstrate the ambiguity within the Qur’an when it comes to defining a clear stance on violence. This will be evident through the juxtaposition of Said Nursi with Sayyid Qutb. Acknowledgements I would like to thank my former supervisor Dr. Ibrahim M. Abu-Rabi’ who passed away only recently before I defended my thesis. He has been very supportive by his countless reviews, suggestions and feedbacks. I am grateful to Dr. Earle Waugh who continued to advise on this work. My special gratitude goes to Dr. Francis Landy and Dr. Willi Braun for their support throughout this research. They constantly encouraged me to move further in my studies. My professors including Dr. John Kitchen, Dr. Andrew Gow and Dr. Sylvia Brown, all of whom have been helpful from the beginning with their wisdom, guidance, and knowledge. Janey Kennedy, the department’s graduate programs coordinator, was the one who kept me on the track from the beginning. Thank you Janey. Without my parents Besra and Mehmet Zeki I could not have concluded this journey successfully. I am grateful to Dr. Faris Kaya, Director of the Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture, for giving me the opportunity to use the Nursi Studies archives of the foundation. Finally, I would like to thank the ECMC Chair of Islamic Studies at the University of Alberta for generously funding this project. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER ONE -INTRODUCTION............................................................................. 1 1 The Public Face of Islam – Violent and Radical .................................................... 4 2 Jihad – Revisited..................................................................................................... 5 2.1 Bediuzzaman Said Nursi and Non-Violence .................................................. 7 3 Structure................................................................................................................... 7 4 Literature Review..................................................................................................... 8 CHAPTER TWO ............................................................................................................ 15 Nursi and the Socio-Historical Conditions of His Time .............................................. 15 1 The Old Said ......................................................................................................... 15 2 The New Said........................................................................................................ 29 CHAPTER THREE........................................................................................................ 33 Said Nursi’s Ethics of Non-Violence ............................................................................. 33 1 Rene Girard and the Mimetic Theory................................................................... 34 1.1 Said Nursi and the Mimetic Scapegoat Mechanism ..................................... 37 2 Said Nursi’s Conceptualization of an Ethics of Non-Violence ............................ 40 2.1 The Sacred Nature of Human Beings ........................................................... 41 2.2 The Qur’anic Verse of “No soul shall bear the burden of another soul”...... 42 3 The New Scapegoats............................................................................................. 43 3.1 Jihad against Ignorance................................................................................. 43 3.2 Jihad against Unbelief and Conflict.............................................................. 44 3.3 Compassion vs. Hatred ................................................................................. 47 4 Nursi’s View of Christians.................................................................................... 51 CHAPTER FOUR........................................................................................................... 56 Sayyid Qutb and Said Nursi – The Physical Jihad vs. Spiritual Jihad...................... 56 1 Brief Comparison of Nursi’s and Qutb’s Biographical Background.................... 56 2 Intellectual Influences on Nursi and Qutb ............................................................ 61 3 Nursi’s and Qutb’s Diagnoses Regarding Their Societies.................................... 63 4 The Solutions Offered for the Future of the Ummah............................................ 67 4.1 Nursi’s Agenda of Individual Transformation.............................................. 67 4.2 Qutb’s Program of Social Transformation.................................................... 69 CHAPTER FIVE ............................................................................................................ 76 Turkey Then and Now – An Analysis of the Influence of the Nur Community on Contemporary Turkish Society and Politics ................................................................ 76 1. The Dissemination of the Teachings of the Risale-i Nur ..................................... 76 1.1 Study-Centers – Rationale and Aims........................................................... 76 1.1.1 The Structure of the Study-Centers.......................................................... 79 1.1.2 Function of the Study-Centers.................................................................. 79 1.1.3 The Role of Study-centers in Modernizing Muslims................................ 83 1.1.4 The Network of Study-Centers................................................................ 85 1.1.5 Study-Centers outside Turkey: The Case of Egypt................................... 87 1.2 The Role of Publication .................................................................................... 89 1.2.1 Yeni Asya (New Asia) Publication........................................................... 90 1.2.2 Sozler Publications.................................................................................... 90 1.2.3 Hayrat Publications................................................................................... 90 1.2.4 Envar Publications.................................................................................... 90 1.3 Symposiums...................................................................................................... 91 2 The Failure of Religious Extremism and Political Islam in Turkey: The Role of the Nur Community ...................................................................................................... 93 CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................... 99 WORKS CITED............................................................................................................ 102 CHAPTER ONE -INTRODUCTION This thesis intends to examine the late Muslim theologian Bediuzzaman Said Nursi’s (henceforth Nursi) ethics of non-violence. It will argue that the non-violent ethics of Nursi based on the Qur’an might aid in finding solutions to the global problem of religion and violence, particularly as it is experienced in the Muslim World. Nursi’s Qur’anic notion of non-violence has had a significantly positive impact on Turkish Society, thus proving its practical relevance and efficiency. The following structure will be applied in the treatment of Nursi’s ethics of non-violence. The research seeks to accomplish three objectives. First, this study aims to contribute to the increasing number of works in the area of Islamic ethics which are still minimal compared to the literature dealing with Islamic