Said Nursi and the Nurculuk Movement: Navigating Secularism and Islamic Consciousness in Türkiye

Abstract

The paper explores the life, ideology and works of Said Nursi, who is known as a prominent Muslim scholar and the founder of the Nurculuk movement in Türkiye. It investigates the impacts of Türkiye’s secular establishment on religious and ethnic minorities, particularly conservative Muslims who endeavoured to preserve their Islamic culture, traditions and economic spaces to sustain their identity. Said Nursi’s significant contributions to Islamic ideology, democracy, human rights and the free trade economy are explored. His life story and crucial role during World War I, as well as his services to the state, are examined. The paper also examines Nursi’s Dershanes Centers, which were mainly established to promote his ideology and the value of his work. A descriptive-analytical approach is employed to explore and analyze the life, writings and work of Said Nursi, as well as the impact of his ideology on Turkish politics, society and the Nurculuk movement, utilizing data from secondary sources. Finally, the paper addresses the fragmentation of the Nurculuk movement following Nursi's death. It examines the emergence of the Fethullah Gülen community, which drew inspiration from Nursi's teachings to promote human values and social harmony.