Bediuzzaman Said Nursi and His Excellence in Modern Science in the Post-Caliphate Era

Zamri, N. F.; Mohamad @ Mat, M. Z.; Embong, R.; Zainal, B.; Omar, N.; Ibrahim, I.A.

doi:10.7187/GJATSI122024-16

Authors

Zamri, N. F. Institut Penyelidikan Produk dan Ketamadunan Melayu Islam, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Kampus Gong Badak, 21300 Terengganu, Malaysia
Mohamad @ Mat, M. Z. Institut Penyelidikan Produk dan Ketamadunan Melayu Islam, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Kampus Gong Badak, 21300 Terengganu, Malaysia
Embong, R. Fakulti Pengajian Kontemporari Islam, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Kampus Gong Badak, 21300 Terengganu, Malaysia
Zainal, B. Institut Penyelidikan Produk dan Ketamadunan Melayu Islam, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Kampus Gong Badak, 21300 Terengganu, Malaysia
Omar, N. Pengajian Kontemporari Islam, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Kampus Gong Badak, 21300 Terengganu, Malaysia
Ibrahim, I.A. Faculty of Shariah, Sultan Sharif Ali Islamic University, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7187/GJATSI122024-16

Keywords:

Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, Science, Natural science, Modernization, Ottoman empire

Abstract

Bediuzzaman Said Nursi was a Turkish scholar who experienced three critical phases of political transition; the fall of the Ottoman Caliphate, the establishment of the Republic of Türkiye, and the Islamic resurgence. During this period, he actively defended Islam, which was threatened by secular ideologies, through the application of science and scientific thought. The disintegration of the post-caliphate education system, which separated science from religious and divine perspectives, left the Muslim community in Türkiye in a state of dilemma and confusion without proper guidance. Amid this tension, Badiuzzaman Said Nursi challenged the dominance of Western science through his Risale-i Nur writings—a thematic interpretation of the Quran that incorporates the values of natural sciences and astronomy. Thus, this study aims to explore his background in natural sciences in light of the educational weaknesses of that time. To achieve this objective, the study employs a qualitative research framework with library research as the primary method of data collection. Data analysis is conducted using conventional text analysis methods. The findings reveal that Bediuzzaman Said Nursi's excellence in science developed organically, uninfluenced by specific individuals or circumstances. Indeed, he deserves recognition as a modern scientific figure who carries forward the legacy of scientists from Islamic civilization.

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