Risale-i Nur

Phase 4 · Weeks 12–15

The Names and the mirror

One light, seen in many colours and in every drop of water.

The sun and its colours

State of lightWhite light splits into colours

The sun is reflected whole in every drop of water and every piece of glass, and its single white light holds all the colours. In this phase that image is used for the Divine Names, each one a colour of the same light. Here, and only here, the site uses more than gold.

  1. 12Meeting the NamesThe Words · The Thirtieth Word · The Thirty-Second Word · The Letters · The Twenty-Sixth LetterOur small knowledge, mercy and power are a ruler for His infinite ones. And because we need so much, we are made to need His Names, then to long for them, then to love them.Open the week
  2. 13The Self as a MirrorThe Words · The Thirty-Second Word · Second and Third Stopping-placesA clean heart reflects the Names as a clean mirror reflects the sun, and different people reflect different Names more strongly.Open the week
  3. 14The Levels of the NafsThe Words · Addendum to the Twenty-Sixth Word · The Letters · The Twenty-Eighth LetterThe Sufi tradition maps seven levels of the self (nefs). Nursi honours that road, and points to a shorter, safer and broader one, the four steps of impotence, poverty, compassion and reflection.Open the week
  4. 15Rising Through the LevelsThe Words · The Thirty-Second Word · The Thirtieth WordWe rise through belief, worship, sincerity and service, not by willpower alone. Progress (terakki) is slow and slips are part of the path; the rungs are given from above, and our part is to hand over the weight and step on.Open the week