Truthfulness Intention, Vision, Mana-i Ismi and Mana-i Harfi

Realisation of Four Words in Forty Years  Intention  Vision  Mana-i Ismi  Mana-i Harfi

Year of 1911  In 1911 a question is posed to Bediuzzaman Said Nursi by some of the leaders in Eastern Turkey.  The question is “what is it that we (as believers) require the most?”.  Bediuzzaman’s answer to this question is “truthfulness”.

Why Truthfulness?  The essence of Islam is truthfulness.  The signs of belief is truthfulness.  The road to progress is truthfulness.  The behaviour (ahlak-i aliye) of prophets and saints is truthfulness.

What is Truthfulness?  Seriousness in your service to God.  Not transgressing your limits.

How Do We Attain Truthfulness?  The seed of truthfulness is intention.  The seeds of our actions, services and accomplishments are our intentions.  If the seeds rot, then there will be no roses or ferns.  Life will not arise.

The Importance of Our Intentions  Our intentions are the seeds of our life.  Our intentions are the wishes of our hearts.  Our intentions can make good into bad or vice versa.

Ihlas  The most purist intention is “ihlas”.  Acting in the name of God.  Helping for the sake of God.  Within the limits of being a servant, we need to place “ihlas” at the centre of our lives.

Why is Intentions Important?  We will be judged according to our intentions together with our actions and deeds.  Our intentions are at the utmost importance if we are to attain an everlasting life.

Why Else?  Our intentions are like water.  They can be the most purist thing.  On the other hand, it is easy to cloud, can be contaminated, it can smell, can go out of date, etc...

Other Aspects of Truthfulness  Truthfulness in belief (Tevhid).  Truthfulness in understanding.  Truthfulness in thinking.

Mana-i Ismi and Mana-i Harfi  Mana-i Ismi: Things looking to itself.  Mana-i Harfi: Things looking to something other than itself.

The Mirror Example  Mana-i Ismi:  The description of a mirror: similar to glass, reflective, can break easily, etc...  The construction of a mirror: rubble, sand, etc...  Discussing and analysing these aspects of a mirror is known as the Mana-i Ismi of a mirror.

The Mirror Example cont.  Mana-i Harfi:  Not looking or analysing the mirror itself.  Rather looking at the reflection and analysing the characteristics of the thing reflecting in the mirror.  For instance, the human being.  It is alive, intelligent, powerful, beautiful, etc...

Truthfulness of Thinking  Truthfulness of thinking is Mana-i Harfi.  The skill is to make Mana-i Ismi serve Mana-i Harfi.  One must look at creation an see God’s names and attributes of power, wisdom, knowledge, etc...

Truthfulness of Thinking cont.  If we don’t, we will lose are awareness of reality.  We won’t be able to read ourselves, we will lose our relationship with God.  We will start to believe we are free and independent.  We will become like pharaohs and transgress our limits. 

Our Visions  Our visions reflect what is inside.  What we believe, what we intend, how we feel, etc...  Different from Mana-i Harfi.

Negative Examples  Vision that is blind, that carries unbelief.  Vision of a tyrant, vision that makes you feel cruelty.  Vision of traitor, you can see the desertion.  Vision of “fitne”, a vision that sprays confusion and disorder.

Negative Examples cont.  Vision that is stubborn and biased.  Vision that is envious, you can see the competitiveness.  Vision that carries animal appetites.  Vision of a pharaoh, full of ego.

Negative Examples cont.  Vision that is cold and uninviting.  These are some examples that demonstrate how dark our visions can become.  Vision of falsehood.

Positive Examples  Vision that is aware, carries belief.  Vision of wisdom, full of innovation.  Vision of sympathy, hugs you with compassion.  Vision of a scholar, swims in the deep end.  Vision of love, sprays warmth everywhere.

Positive Examples cont.  Vision of organising, prepares for the future.  Vision of honour, acts with dignity.  Vision of innocence, makes you go soft.  Vision of cure, feels like a pharmacy.  Vision that gives you life and motivation. Makes coal into diamonds.

Conclusion  Vision of humbleness, makes you respect.  These are some examples of how beautiful our visions can become.  Vision of truthfulness.  Our visions reflects our insides.  It is either inviting or discouraging.

Conclusion  How about the vision of our prophet Muhammed (sav).  Look at Omer before and after.  Look at Mecca and Medina before and after.