Manevi Jihad (Jihad of the Word): Risale-i Nur profers peaceful alternatives for Mindanao conflict
Muslim and Christian advocates of the Muslim visionary Bediuzzaman Said Nursi converged on Cagayan de Oro City in Mindanao, Philippines for a two-day symposium in July on the Risale-i Nur (Treatises of Light, commentary on the Qu´ran) with the theme "The Role of Justice for a Better World."
Some 300 scholars, students, academicians, lay and religious followers of the Risale-i Nur international community gathered at the Xavier Sports and Country Club for a series of presentations by Filipino, Asian and Foreign Scholars on the Risale-I Nur´s relevance in the modern world, especially in relation to the conflict in Mindanao.
"The worldwide community of the Risale-i Nur is a movement dedicated to the eradication of ignorance, poverty, and conflict through education, industry and unity," said Muhammad Rizal Dalkilic, president of the Risale-i Nur Institute Philippines, the community´s representative in the country.
Dalkilic said they are holding the international symposium in Mindanao because it is home to the world´s longest running armed struggle central to which has been the issue of justice, or the absence of it.
"It is only fitting and timely that a symposium of international coverage solely devoted to Justice will be held in this ´Land of Promise," Dalkilic said. "Of equal significance is the fact that both Muslims and non-Muslims, try to reach a resolution to this conflict through intellectual engagements like this."
Jesuit scholar Dr. Thomas Michel, S.J. said in areas of conflict where extremes are the norm and polarized views gain in popularity, middle-of-the-road views tend to be smack of compromise, old-fashioned and uncommittedness.
Thus, in conflict areas like Mindanao, Said Nursi has provided ideas on how Christians and Muslims can be united, and offers people a way to be committed without anger, a peaceful way to become a practicing Muslim.
"I´ve never known of any other place in the world where peace efforts are so widespread, so many sectors of society working towards the attainment of peace," he noted.
Michel served as Secretary for Interreligious Dialogue in the Vatican and Ecumenical Secretary for the Federation of Asian Bishops´ Conferences. After spending 2008-9 at Woodstock as an International Visiting Fellow, he joined the Jesuit community in the Turkish capital of Ankara, the only Catholic religious community working in that city.
The Jesuit scholar sees no problem with advocating the tenets of Said Nursi to both Muslims and Christians.
"Christianity and Islam are two great different things," he said. "On basic questions we are united with Muslims, on others we disagree. But on most points we agree there is One God, he is compassionate, Creator of all things, merciful and exercises moral will – God cares about how we live."
He said it is best to appreciate the Risale-I Nur as the commentary on the Q´uran of an insightful Muslim, although it is not in itself scripture. "He offers good faith-based advice and insight on life which are helpful to both Muslim and Christian."
Unlike Christian theologians like Karl Rahner and John Calvin whose writings are mostly studied by religious and theological students, Michel said Said Nursi´s teachings are more accessible to the ordinary Muslim, which makes him popular with students and youths in Turkey.
"He´s popular because he gives working Muslims a way to be modern, to live as modern Muslims," Michel said. "In the modern secular Turkish society where it´s easier to be a non-religious person rather than practice religion, the Risale-i Nur is a handy guide for Muslims without a theological background who want to live a spiritual, religious life.
Prof. Dr. Faris Kaya, director of the Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture, said this is the reason why the Risale-i Nur community of Turkey (of which the foundation is a prominent member) has been sponsoring international symposiums and conferences in many parts of the world for the last 20 years to foster consciousness at how remedies inscribed in the Qur´an and interpreted in the Risale-i Nur, can be made into tangible solutions for the illnesses afflicting humanity.
"People today suffer poverty and conflict because of ignorance," Kaya noted. Since 1979, the foundation has organized over 60 conferences all over the world in partnership with local non-government organizations (NGOs) including Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, the Middle East (Egypt, Algeria, Morocco) the United States, Canada and Europe (Germany).
Since 1990 the Foundation became a center for Nursi Studies, hosting several conferences and symposia on Said Nursi and the Risale-i Nur and. Over 60 international conferences have been held abroad in collaboration with academe and NGOs in Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Yemen, Germany, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Jordan and Chad.
Dalkilic said the Mindanao symposium sought to present a clear understanding of the concept of Justice – its essence and dimensions, its importance, functions, and roles in the myriad aspects of life; and to search ways and methods of putting it into practice towards a world consistent with human dignity.
Prof. Juvanni "Yahyah" Caballero, 31, a Balik-Islam who teaches history at the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT), has joined four congregations in his search for spirituality before embracing Islam two years ago.
Following his presentation on "Political Awareness, Social Conscience, Dialogue and Justice: Bases for Lasting Peace in Mindanao", he was asked if President Manuel L. Quezon´s decree dismantling the sultanates of Jolo and Ranao, contributed to the unending conflict in Mindanao.
Although he only began studying the Risale-i Nur about a month ago, Caballero believes Said Nursi is on the right track about having to make the choice within himself.
"I do not care if we live under one country or many as long as our people are happy and contented," Caballero replied. "If we do not change from within, we cannot see peace and progress in Mindanao."
Source: American Chronicle
Some 300 scholars, students, academicians, lay and religious followers of the Risale-i Nur international community gathered at the Xavier Sports and Country Club for a series of presentations by Filipino, Asian and Foreign Scholars on the Risale-I Nur´s relevance in the modern world, especially in relation to the conflict in Mindanao.
"The worldwide community of the Risale-i Nur is a movement dedicated to the eradication of ignorance, poverty, and conflict through education, industry and unity," said Muhammad Rizal Dalkilic, president of the Risale-i Nur Institute Philippines, the community´s representative in the country.
Dalkilic said they are holding the international symposium in Mindanao because it is home to the world´s longest running armed struggle central to which has been the issue of justice, or the absence of it.
"It is only fitting and timely that a symposium of international coverage solely devoted to Justice will be held in this ´Land of Promise," Dalkilic said. "Of equal significance is the fact that both Muslims and non-Muslims, try to reach a resolution to this conflict through intellectual engagements like this."
Jesuit scholar Dr. Thomas Michel, S.J. said in areas of conflict where extremes are the norm and polarized views gain in popularity, middle-of-the-road views tend to be smack of compromise, old-fashioned and uncommittedness.
Thus, in conflict areas like Mindanao, Said Nursi has provided ideas on how Christians and Muslims can be united, and offers people a way to be committed without anger, a peaceful way to become a practicing Muslim.
"I´ve never known of any other place in the world where peace efforts are so widespread, so many sectors of society working towards the attainment of peace," he noted.
Michel served as Secretary for Interreligious Dialogue in the Vatican and Ecumenical Secretary for the Federation of Asian Bishops´ Conferences. After spending 2008-9 at Woodstock as an International Visiting Fellow, he joined the Jesuit community in the Turkish capital of Ankara, the only Catholic religious community working in that city.
The Jesuit scholar sees no problem with advocating the tenets of Said Nursi to both Muslims and Christians.
"Christianity and Islam are two great different things," he said. "On basic questions we are united with Muslims, on others we disagree. But on most points we agree there is One God, he is compassionate, Creator of all things, merciful and exercises moral will – God cares about how we live."
He said it is best to appreciate the Risale-I Nur as the commentary on the Q´uran of an insightful Muslim, although it is not in itself scripture. "He offers good faith-based advice and insight on life which are helpful to both Muslim and Christian."
Unlike Christian theologians like Karl Rahner and John Calvin whose writings are mostly studied by religious and theological students, Michel said Said Nursi´s teachings are more accessible to the ordinary Muslim, which makes him popular with students and youths in Turkey.
"He´s popular because he gives working Muslims a way to be modern, to live as modern Muslims," Michel said. "In the modern secular Turkish society where it´s easier to be a non-religious person rather than practice religion, the Risale-i Nur is a handy guide for Muslims without a theological background who want to live a spiritual, religious life.
Prof. Dr. Faris Kaya, director of the Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture, said this is the reason why the Risale-i Nur community of Turkey (of which the foundation is a prominent member) has been sponsoring international symposiums and conferences in many parts of the world for the last 20 years to foster consciousness at how remedies inscribed in the Qur´an and interpreted in the Risale-i Nur, can be made into tangible solutions for the illnesses afflicting humanity.
"People today suffer poverty and conflict because of ignorance," Kaya noted. Since 1979, the foundation has organized over 60 conferences all over the world in partnership with local non-government organizations (NGOs) including Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, the Middle East (Egypt, Algeria, Morocco) the United States, Canada and Europe (Germany).
Since 1990 the Foundation became a center for Nursi Studies, hosting several conferences and symposia on Said Nursi and the Risale-i Nur and. Over 60 international conferences have been held abroad in collaboration with academe and NGOs in Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Yemen, Germany, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Jordan and Chad.
Dalkilic said the Mindanao symposium sought to present a clear understanding of the concept of Justice – its essence and dimensions, its importance, functions, and roles in the myriad aspects of life; and to search ways and methods of putting it into practice towards a world consistent with human dignity.
Prof. Juvanni "Yahyah" Caballero, 31, a Balik-Islam who teaches history at the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT), has joined four congregations in his search for spirituality before embracing Islam two years ago.
Following his presentation on "Political Awareness, Social Conscience, Dialogue and Justice: Bases for Lasting Peace in Mindanao", he was asked if President Manuel L. Quezon´s decree dismantling the sultanates of Jolo and Ranao, contributed to the unending conflict in Mindanao.
Although he only began studying the Risale-i Nur about a month ago, Caballero believes Said Nursi is on the right track about having to make the choice within himself.
"I do not care if we live under one country or many as long as our people are happy and contented," Caballero replied. "If we do not change from within, we cannot see peace and progress in Mindanao."
Source: American Chronicle
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