1. The Flashes Collection
Contents
THE FIRST FLASH: An important explanation of the verse, But he cried through the depths
of the darkness, “There is no God but You; Glory be unto You! I was indeed among the
wrongdoers,” the famous supplication of the Prophet Jonah (UWP), showing its relevance for
everyone.
THE SECOND FLASH: The famous supplication of the Prophet Job (UWP), When he called
upon his Sustainer saying: “Verily harm has afflicted me, and You are the Most Merciful of
the Merciful” is expounded in Five Points, providing a true remedy for all those struck by
disaster.
THE THIRD FLASH: Three Points expounding with the phrases The Enduring One, He is the
Enduring One! Two important truths of the verse, Everything shall perish save His
countenance; His is the command, and to Him shall you return.
THE FOURTH FLASH: ‘The Highway of the Practices of the Prophet (PBUH)’, this solves
and elucidates with complete clarity one of the major points of conflict between the Sunnis
and the Shi’a, the question of the ‘Imamate’, and expounds in Four Points two important
verses.
THE FIFTH FLASH is included in the Twenty-Ninth Flash.
THE SIXTH FLASH is also included in the Twenty-Ninth Flash.
THE SEVENTH FLASH: This describes seven predictions concerning the Unseen in the
three final verses of Sura al-Fath. Its Postscript describes a further example of this aspect of
the Qur’an’s miraculousness in the verses All who obey God and His Prophet... While in the
Conclusion a clear example of another aspect of its miraculousness, ‘coincidences’
(tawafuqat), is demonstrated.
THE EIGHTH FLASH is published in Sikke-i Tasdik-i Gaybi (The Ratifying Stamp of the
Unseen) and hand-duplicated editions of Lem’alar (The Flashes Collection), and not included
in the present collection.
THE NINTH FLASH: The answers to four questions asked by ‘Hulûsi Bey’:
The First concerns his descent from the Prophet (PBUH).
The Second shows with great clarity the essence of way of the Unity of Existence (vahdatu’l-
vujud) and how it is in error.
The Third concerns the science of jafr.
The Fourth is about Jesus (Upon whom be peace) having a human father.
Finally is an Addendum to the question about Ibn al-Arabi and the Unity of Existence.

2. THE TENTH FLASH: Fourteen ‘Blows dealt by Divine Compassion’ received by students of
the Risale-i Nur in the service of the Qur’an, for errors they have made due to human nature.
THE ELEVENTH FLASH: Entitled ‘The Stairway of the Practices of the Prophet and
Antidote for the Sickness of Innovations’, this important treatise consists of Eleven Points.
THE TWELFTH FLASH: Two verses are explained which have been challenged and
criticized by scientists
The First explains in Two Points that all sustenance is given directly by the All-Powerful One,
from the treasury of His mercy.
The Second proves with Two Important Matters, the First consisting of Four Points, that the
earth has seven levels in seven respects, like the heavens consist of seven levels.
THE THIRTEENTH FLASH: This explains, through Thirteen Indications, the meaning of the
phrase: “I seek refuge with God from Satan the Accursed.”
THE FOURTEENTH FLASH consists of Two Stations.
First Station: In reply to the First Question, which is about the earth resting on a Bull and a
Fish, this sets out three important principles for the understanding of Hadiths.
The Second Question is about the People of the Cloak.
Second Station: This important piece expounds Six Mysteries contained in the verse In the
Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate.
THE FIFTEENTH FLASH: The Indexes of Sözler (The Words), Mektûbat (Bediuzzaman
Said Nursi-Letters 1928-1932, and Lem’alar (The Flashes), from the First to the Fifteenth
Flash. They are included in the relevant volumes.
THE SIXTEENTH FLASH: The answers to various questions:
The First: A relief from difficulties was predicted during Ramadan by those who divine the
realities, why did it not come about?
The Second: Why did the author of the Risale-i Nur not oppose those who were oppressing
him?
The Third: Why did he oppose war, although with foreign forces interfering in the
government, it would have excited Islamic zeal?
The Fourth: Why did he advise his students to be cautious and not to show all parts of the
Risale-i Nur to everyone?
Conclusion: The reply to a question about the Prophet’s (PBUH) beard.
The answers to three further matters, disputed by atheists:

3. The First: Dhu’l-Qarnayn “saw the sun setting in a spring of murky water.”
The Second: Where is the Barrier of Dhu’l-Qarnayn? Who were Gog and Magog?
The Third is about Jesus (UWP) coming at the end of time and killing the Dajjal.
A reply about two of the Five Hidden Things.
The reply to a question about man’s Ten Subtle Faculties.
THE SEVENTEENTH FLASH consists of Fifteen Notes taken from Zühre.
The First Note shows the reality of those things which captivate the human soul, and severing
his attachment to them, turns man’s face to eternity.
The Second Note points out the Qur’anic principle of humility.
The Third Note illustrates with a comparison the true face of death and life.
The Fourth Note demonstrates that as it is generally the Divine practice to restore and return
things exactly the same, man, the perfect fruit of the universe, will be returned at the Last
Judgement.
The Fifth Note reveals by means of a comparison with Qur’anic guidance, the true face of
Western civilization. Making believers feel repugnance towards that dissolute civilization, it
offers remedies from the pharmacy of the Qur’an.
The Sixth Note unmasks the satanic wile of shaking believers in their faith due to the great
numbers of the unbelievers and their agreement in denying some of the truths of belief.
The Seventh Note silences those pseudo-patriots who drive Muslims towards Western-type
progress, greed, and worldly ambition, and offers Qur’anic cures to any looking towards
apostasy or who have fallen into sin.
The Eighth Note demonstrates how in His munificence, Almighty God has included in all
activity and striving a reward and pleasure.
The Ninth Note explains that the Prophets contain the reality of man, the seed of the universe,
so too by following the Prophets, through worship, man attains perfection and happiness.
Then the phrases “God is Most Great!” uttered in the Friday and Festival Prayers become as
though uttered by the very globe of the earth.
The Tenth Note: On knowledge of God, this shows how it should be approached, and sets
forth three sorts of evidences and proofs of knowledge of God.
The Eleventh Note points out the compassion in the Qur’an’s manner of address, and its
naturalness.
The Twelfth Note: A supplication illustrating a meaning of the Hadith “Die before you die”

4. The Thirteenth Note: Five Matters which have been the cause of confusion
The First: Those who strive in the way of truth should think only of their own duties and not
meddle in God’s concerns.
The Second: Worship and servitude of God should look only to the Divine command and
Divine pleasure.
The Third: On the meaning of “Happy is the man who knows his limits and does not exceed
them.”
The Fourth explains that it is not permissible to accept bounties not given in the True
Bestower’s name-what confuses people is cause and effect coming together-and shows clearly
the true nature of apparent causes.
The Fifth: The achievements of a community should not be ascribed to its leader or master.
The Fourteenth Note consists of four Signs alluding to Divine Unity.
First Sign: Man’s true object of worship and place of recourse can only be the One Who rules
the earth and the heavens.
Second Sign: Man’s intense innate love of immortality should be not for the mirror of his
being, but for the manifestation of the Enduring One of Glory in the mirror.
Third Sign: The tip of a vast truth warning man, for although he is created with a capacity
suitable to eternal life, sometimes he becomes entrapped in minute matters, due to the caprice
of the soul.
Fourth Sign: Worldly life and life of the flesh are like a narrow grave. With entering the life
of the heart and spirit, is a broad sphere of life; the key to this world is “There is no god but
God!”
The Fifteenth Note depicts the maximum manifestation of the Divine Name of Preserver.
THE EIGHTEENTH FLASH has been published in Sikke-i Tasdik-i Gaybî (The Ratifying
Stamp of the Unseen) and in hand-duplicated editions of Lem’alar (The Flashes).
THE NINETEENTH FLASH: On Frugality. Seven Points expounding the verse Eat and
drink, but waste not in excess.
THE TWENTIETH FLASH: On Sincerity. Seven Causes for the awesome situation portrayed
by the question: “What is the reason for the conflict among the people of truth while the
misguided and worldly co-operate without rivalry?”
THE TWENTY-FIRST FLASH: On Sincerity. Four Rules for gaining and preserving
sincerity, the most important principle in works pertaining to the Hereafter.
A Confidential Letter to Some of My Brothers.

5. THE TWENTY-SECOND FLASH consists of Three Indications which comprise questions
about the Risale-i Nur’s author, and their answers:
First Indication: Why do the worldly meddle in your Hereafter, although you do not meddle in
their world, and the law does not interfere with recluses?
Second Indication: Why do you not apply to us? One who applies the law is not a tyrant.
Through attracting attention, you oppose our principles of absolute equality.
Third Indication: Why do you elude our republican laws under the cloak of being a recluse?
Why do you assume a special position?
Conclusion: An astonishing assault.
THE TWENTY-THIRD FLASH: On Nature.
Introduction: Three phrases, representing three ways, used by believers about the existence of
things without realizing their implications.
The First Way: The formation of things through the coming together of causes in the universe.
First Impossibility: The coming together by chance of the elements of living beings in perfect
measure and balance.
Second Impossibility: If a fly, for example, is attributed to causes, it necessitates that many of
the elements and causes in the universe intervene physically in its being.
Third Impossibility: “If a being has unity, it can only have issued from one hand.” Particularly
if it manifests life, together with perfect order and balance.
The Second Way: “It forms itself.”
First Impossibility: Since the body is like an extremely finely ordered machine, if its particles
are not working in accordance with the law of the Pre-Eternal and All-Powerful One, each
would have to see all the parts of the body as well as the entire universe, and an intelligence to
understand its relations.
Second Impossibility: The particles of a living body stand together in perfect balance and
order, like a thousand-domed palace, and are constantly being renewed. If each is not
dependent on the master architect of the universe, each would have to be both dominant over
all the others, and subordinate to them.
Third Impossibility: If your being is not ‘written’ by the pen of the All-Powerful One, but
‘printed’ by Nature and causes, there would have to be printing-blocks in Nature to the
number of cells in your body, and even of all their combinations.
The Third Way: “Nature necessitates it and makes it.”

6. First Impossibility: If animate creatures in particular are not attributed directly to the
manifestation of the Pre-Eternal Sun, one has to accept that in each is a god with infinite
power, will, knowledge, and wisdom.
Second Impossibility: If attributed to Nature, there would have to present in each bit of soil
the means for the growth and formation of innumerable flowers and fruits.
Third Impossibility: Two Comparisons.
The First: A wild savage enters a palace adorned with all the fruits of civilization.
The Second: A rustic bumpkin enters the bounds of a splendid palace and sees the soldiers at
their drill, then continues to Aya Sophia and enters it at the time of the Friday Prayer.
Conclusion: Three questions and their answers.
The First: What need does God have of our worship, that He severely reproves those who give
up worship?
The Second: What is the secret in the ease in the creation and formation of things.
The Third: Philosophers say there is only composition and decomposition. Is this correct?
THE TWENTY-FOURTH FLASH: The Qur’an enjoins the veiling of women. Four Instances
of Wisdom in this.
A Conversation with the Women, My Believing Sisters of the Hereafter: Three Points
showing that since compassion is one of the chief principles of the Risale-i Nur and women
are champions of compassion, they are by nature drawn to it. Unfortunately at the present
time, certain currents are trying to exploit that valuable characteristic. The happiness of
women in both worlds therefore may be preserved by adhering to Islamic practices.
THE TWENTY-FIFTH FLASH: Message for the Sick. This consists of Twenty-Five
Remedies.
THE TWENTY-SIXTH FLASH: Treatise for the Elderly. This consists of Twenty-Six
‘Hopes’.
THE TWENTY-SEVENTH FLASH: The defence speeches from the Eskisehir trials, which
have been published in hand-duplicated editions of The Flashes Collection, and in part in the
Tarihçe-i Hayat.
THE TWENTY-EIGHTH FLASH consists of short pieces written in Eskisehir Prison.
• A Small Point Concerning an Important Verse: Hitherto unknown instances of
wisdom in the creation of flies, and other creatures.
• Some aspects of the element of air, the Throne of the Divine Will and Command, and
the ‘disjointed letters’ at the start of some Suras.
• A discussion on Divine Speech and its infinity.
• An explanation of why the verse And We sent down iron.... is phrased in this way.

7. • The same point explained in connection with the verse And He sent down for you
eight head of cattle...
• Pieces written in Eskisehir Prison as a true solace for the Risale-i Nur students.
• A Rule
• A Short Piece
• Part of My Defence Speech
• An explanation of the verse But when they forgot the warning they had received.
• A Warning -Two Short Stories
• A piece of benefit for everyone, in Two Points. First Point, the immediate reward
present in good works.
• Second Point: Two verses whose meaning is not immediately apparent.
• The times of sleep and the Practices of the Prophet (PBUH).
• “This is good as well.” On salawat for the Prophet (PBUH).
• An explanation of the ‘Unity of Existence.’
• The answer to a question about the dispute between Mustafa Sabri and Musa Bekûf on
the subject of Muhyiddin al-Arabi.
• What should be done at festival times.
• On the evil-commanding soul and its faults.
• How can incarceration in Hell for an infinite duration in return for unbelief of a short
duration be justice?
• A meaningful and subtle ‘coincidence’.
• An explanation of some verses about spying jinns and evil spirits and their repulsion
which had been criticized by the people of misguidance.
THE TWENTY-NINTH FLASH: In Arabic, this was written in compliance with the Qur’anic
command to reflect on the creational signs in the universe, and shows the essence of the way
of the Risale-i Nur, reflective thought. The Third of its Six Chapters is included in the present
collection. It is on the phrase “God is Most Great” and comprises Seven Degrees.
THE THIRTIETH FLASH: On the Six Divine Names bearing the Greatest Name.
First Point: The Name of Most Holy. This describes the cleanliness of the universe and all
beings, one manifestation of this Name.
Second Point: The Name of All-Just. The balance and equilibrium of the universe and all
beings, one manifestation of the Name of All-Just.
Third Point: the Name of Sapient consists of Five Matters.
First Matter: The greatest manifestation of the Name of Sapient has made the universe like a
book in every page of which hundreds of books have been written.
Second Matter consists of Two Topics:
First Topic: Beauty wants to reveal itself.
Second Topic: There is no place for partners in the dominions of the All-Powerful Maker
Third Matter: Each of the hundreds of sciences describes a manifestation of the Name of
Sapient in one realm of creation.

8. Fourth Matter: The wisdom of the All-Wise Maker, to which all beings testify with their
hundreds of instances of wisdom, demands the resurrection of the dead.
Fifth Matter: consists of Two Topics.
First Topic: There is no wastefulness in the nature of things; wastefulness being the opposite
of the Name of Wise.
Second Topic: The Names of Sapient and All-Wise point to and necessitate the Prophethood
of Muhammed (PBUH).
Fourth Point: The Name of Single. This consists of Seven Indications.
First Indication: Three ‘stamps’ of Divine Unity on beings.
Second Indication: The beings in the universe are so interwoven that one that does not possess
the universe as a whole, cannot have true disposal over any of its elements.
Third Indication: All things ascribe everything to the One Who created them.
Fourth Indication: Three Points proving the infinite ease of Unity and impossibility of
associating partners with God.
Fifth Indication: As rulership rejects the interference of others, so Divine rulership
necessitates Divine Unity.
Sixth Indication: Divine Singleness and Unity are the basis of all perfections, the source of the
wisdom in the universe’s creation, and the sole means of man’s desires being brought about.
Seventh Indication: The Prophethood of Muhammed (PBUH) was necessitated by Divine
Singleness and Unity. Three evidences testifying to the importance of his collective
personality.
Fifth Point: The Name of Ever-Living. This consists of Five Signs.
First Sign: The index-like answer to the questions: “What is life? What is its nature and
purpose?”
Second Sign: Both the inner and outer faces of life are transparent and unsullied; apparent
causes have not been made a veil to the disposals of Divine power.
Third Sign: As the result of the universe is life, so are thanks and worship the result of life and
the ultimate reason for the universe's creation.
Fourth Sign: Life looks to the six pillars of belief and proves them.
Fifth Sign: Life is a shining seal of Divine Unity on the face of the universe.
Conclusion: The Greatest Name is not the same for everyone.

9. Sixth Point: The Name of Self-Subsistent. This consists of Five Rays.
First Ray: Describing the greatest manifestation of the Name of Self-Subsistent, this reveals
the true face of Materialist and Naturalist philosophiesÕ explanations for the existence of
things, and refutes them utterly.
Second Ray: This consists of two Matters.
The First Matter describes one aspect of the manifestation of Self-Subsistence, which affords
a stability and permanence to all things from the heavenly bodies to minute particles.
The Second Matter points out some of the benefits and instances of wisdom in things
connected with the mystery of Self-Subsistence.
Third Ray: Discusses the disclosure of the mystery of Self-Subsistence within Divine
creativity, including the first Two Branches of the wisdom in the limitless Divine activity.
Fourth Ray: The Third Branch of the wisdom in the constant and astonishing activity in the
universe.
Fifth Ray consists of Two Matters:
First Matter: The greatest manifestation of Self-Subsistence observed in the heavenly bodies
and in minute particles.
A Summary examining the light formed by the six Names of the Greatest Name.
Second Matter: As the manifestation of Self-Subsistence in the universe is at the level of
Unity and Glory, so is it in man at the level of Oneness and Beauty. Man, who with his
comprehensive nature has the ability to understand all the Divine Names and thus may be
higher than the angels, is then explained, together with his Duties, the Aspects in which he
acts as a mirror to the Self-Subsistent One, and the two Faces of the third of those Aspects.