[Due to his writings being misunderstood and misinterpreted, for years the innocent Bediuzzaman Molla Said, who is genuine, sincere and harbours no aims other than Islam, has been forced to live in confinement. I am writing this private petition purely in the name of humanity, so that that innocent man may live in peace either where he is or on being moved to Ankara, and that he may receive recompense in his old age for the services he performed in his youth, which are now forgotten. I request your honoured self that you do not refuse this and read this petition in person. I offer my deepest respects and thanks.]

Who is Molla Said?

Molla Said, who at present is obliged to reside in the town of Emirdağ in Afyon Province, has lived since his birth among his Turkish brothers and has acquired the traits of the Turks. He fought as a voluntary militia commander in the snowy mountains of Caucasia during the Great War together with our heroic soldiers. He moved from place to place to give them guidance and was awarded the War Medal. He fought in the battle of Sarıkamış. He was wounded and fell prisoner at the fall of Bitlis, and suffered for years as a Russian prisoner-of-war. He escaped, and on returning to Istanbul was appointed to the Darü'l-Hikmeti'l-islâmiye for his knowledge and learning. On the formation of the National Forces he urged the people to join the struggle, and coming to Ankara during the first year of the Parliament, performed services in the Hacı Bayram guest house explaining the necessity to many hesitant people of defending the country. Because the works this truly patriotic person has written primarily about

worship, faith, and the tenets of belief do not conform to the regime and the approach of certain persons who dislike religion and religious people, especially the opportunist Şükrü Kaya, who at present occupies the post of interior minister, the unfortunate Molla Said has suffered the wretchedness of around twenty years' imprisonment and exile as a result of baseless accusations and false reports. Two years ago, on the pretext of those reports, handcuffs were clapped on his wrists and being taken from his torturous abode in Kastamonu, was sent to Denizli Prison together with sixty-six people whose sole crime was to have greeted him. His works, which were deemed so harmful, were scrutinized for months firstly by a committee in the Istanbul Mufti's office, then by a commission consisting of members of the Directorate of Religious Affairs and the Institute of Language and History, who could find not the slightest matter in any of his works that might infringe state policies or disturb public order. In consequence, having been imprisoned for eleven months, Molla Said, the Nur students, and those who had read his works were released on the order of the court. But although this elderly man had been permitted to reside in Denizli, a short time later he was sent away to Afyon and from there to the town of Emirdağ, where he was prevented from having contact with any of his Turkish brothers.

Respected Sir! This elderly person has been deprived of the liberties recognised by the Republic and the Constitution. He is an Islamic thinker who, having no family or relatives, in every way deserves the protection and support of an Islamic government. According to what the famous late poet [Mehmed] Âkif Bey recounted, an article about Said entitled "Fatîn al-'Asr (Genius of the Age)" published around twenty years ago in the newspaper al-Ahram by 'Abd al-'Aziz Chawish, a leading scholar of Egypt who knew several Western languages and was familiar with philosophy, was read by scholars there who had met him in person and appreciated his powerful knowledge and struggles in God's way.

Esteemed Sir! Molla Said is by nature a lover of the Turks and a servant of Islam, yet he has suffered insult and been belittled as a Kurd. {(*):} Society in our country will suffer no harm from him; rather, it will profit morally and spiritually. I testify on my honour that Molla Said is guiltless and a person of integrity. My request therefore in the name of humanity from far-

seeing persons like yourself who have laid hands on the nation's government and destiny, is that in conformity with the justice of government, your high office, and equity and generosity, justice be accorded this person who due to the malicious words of informers has been deprived of the bounty of freedom, of breathing fresh air, and of meeting with any of his Turkish brothers, and that at least once he be granted a meeting with good will. After this, whether you graciously rule on his remaining or on his departing, you will have performed your weighty duty within the law and will have added an admirable act to the record of your life. You will have shown your love of justice to the people and to free-thinking historians like myself who have lost a leg and are now outside of politics.

My Esteemed Brother in Religion!

For forty days I have been preoccupied with you as I lie ill. Owing to what I have heard and imagined, in line with "the believer is beset by many tribulations," {[*]:} it seems to me that you must be suffering some indisposition. Around ten days ago I called from my window to someone who was selling pure Afyon butter, and bought some from him. My intention was to ask about you. I was very upset to learn that you had been exiled to Emirdağ and that its people were forbidden to meet with you.

My esteemed brother! The person writing this letter to you is the former Erzurum deputy, Yeşiloğlu Mehmed Salih, who thirty-one years ago was with you during the Great War in the Esad Paşa Medrese in Erzurum and the snowy Caucasian mountains, and twenty-four years ago when I was a deputy met you in the hall of the Parliament building together with your friend, the Governor of Van, Haydar Bey.

My Dear Brother Hasan Efendi!

Please write on my behalf to our esteemed brother Salih Efendi and tell

him that till the end of my days I shall never forget this humanitarian act of his, and that I am most grateful and send many greetings and offer prayers for him. Nevertheless, I have decided to endure every sort of difficulty. Moreover, I don't expect any kindnesses from those leaders.

You sent me a copy of The Staff of Moses which is not bound and has only a yellow paper cover. The handwriting slightly resembles Husrev's, but it has the name Mustafa at the top. Who is it? Which Mustafa? The copy also has "thirteen-year-old Hatice, Ahmed's daughter" written on it. Which Ahmed is this? May God's blessings be upon both of them. It is heroic for one of the innocent children to write out at that age such a long book most carefully, beautifully and correctly, and showing the coincidences, Whoever sees it will applaud it. It will also fire the enthusiasm of the women here who have been to school.

Our brother Nazif's letter is important. In truth, there are many people in America who are devotedly attached to religion for religion's sake, not for political ends. God willing, the person who got hold of a copy of The Staff of Moses is one of them. Keçeli Salâhaddin is just like Abdurrahman; he does not want to lag behind his father in heroism. He also makes us look to this world from time to time, although it is not our custom. If that American scholar of standing wants the whole Risale-i Nur and says he will publish it, we can give him good set after having consulted with you.

Sent with Nazif's letter was a question about a retired person's doubts. If he is seriously interested in the Risale-i Nur, there is no need for him to ask such questions. He should read the Thirteenth Flash, on the meaning of "I seek refuge with God from Satan the accursed," and the part of the Twenty-Ninth Word about the existence of the angels and spirit beings. As for his meaningless doubts, there are answers to them in a hundred places in the Risale-i Nur. Atheistic materialists have seized the opportunity in the present ghastly conditions and inculcated such doubts in people. This man has been affected by them and asked that question. I send him my greetings. The Risale-i Nur can solve all his difficulties; he should work at it sincerely and with acquiescence, and should listen to it.

The letter from Marangoz Ahmed, who is one of the old and new heroes

of the Nur School, pleased and gratified me in three or four ways. Bearing the name of the school's leading student, this Ahmed is both performing the duties of the late Hâfız Ali, and together with a valuable brother like Süleyman and his young daughter, has written out three copies of The Staff of Moses. This, together with his being the grandson of the blessed (uncle) Hasan Day, alleviated my anxiety and greatly pleased me. May Almighty God restore him to good health and grant them success and happiness. Amen. Amen.

The two brothers of the late Hâfız Mehmed are carrying out his duties, and Mustafa's handwriting conforms with Husrev's pleasant script, which pleased me as greatly as two newly discovered Hâfız Mehmeds.

Through the efforts of the heroic carpenter (marangoz), the preacher from Gökdere and his three sons have become students of the Risale-i Nur and have started writing it out. I congratulate both them, and the carpenter, and their village. And I have added the verses he recited to them to The Additional Letters.

I was truly cheered up by the long letter written by lame Ali Osman from Atabey and his seriously and effectively working at spreading The Staff of Moses and the Risale-i Nur, and by Çilingir Ali, who works so hard at serving the Risale-i Nur, and his uncle Hasan helping him, and their blessed dreams and coincidences. It made me love Eğirdir even more. May the Most Merciful of the Merciful be pleased with them