One of the most fundamental questions in human history is: “What are the foundations of Muslim faith?” On this subject, Bediuzzaman Said Nursi’s Risale-i Nur Collection provides strong answers by explaining Islamic belief through rational and logical proofs, offering satisfaction both to the heart and the mind.

According to the Risale-i Nur, Muslim faith consists of divine truths that reveal the purpose of human creation and guide mankind to happiness in both this world and the Hereafter. In other words, Muslim faith is not merely a rigid tradition; it is a reality affirmed by the unity of reason, heart, conscience, and soul.

What Is Muslim Faith?

Muslim faith is the acceptance of the principles of Islam, the last religion revealed by Allah. The Risale-i Nur defines faith not as a weak attachment based on blind imitation, but as investigative faith (tahqiqî îmân).

Bediuzzaman Said Nursi states:
“Imitative faith is weak in the face of doubts. Investigative faith, however, is like an unshakable mountain.” (Lem’alar)

Therefore, the foundation of Muslim belief is a faith based on solid proofs a faith that brings peace to the heart and stands firm against every doubt.

The Fundamentals of Faith in the Risale-i Nur

According to the Risale-i Nur Collection, the foundations of Muslim belief are built upon tawhid (the oneness of God), nubuwwah (prophethood), resurrection (belief in the afterlife), worship, and justice/morality. These principles appeal to the intellect, the heart, and the conscience. This is why Islam is the only true religion that leads humanity to happiness in this world and eternal bliss in the hereafter.

1. Tawhid: The Oneness of God

The perfect order in the universe shows that everything belongs to a single Creator.

“Everything bears the seal of the One and Unique.” (The Words)

For this reason, the first and greatest truth of Islam is tawhid.

2. Nubuwwah: Prophethood

The human mind alone is insufficient to discover ultimate truth. Therefore, Allah sent prophets to guide mankind.

Bediüzzaman Said Nursî states:
“Prophethood is essential for humanity.” (The Letters)

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the final messenger, and the religion he brought will remain valid until the Day of Judgment.

3. Resurrection: Belief in the Afterlife

One of the topics the Risale-i Nur emphasizes most is resurrection.
“Man was created for eternity.” (The Words)

Death is not annihilation but a transition to a new life. Without belief in the hereafter, the human soul cannot attain true peace.

4. Worship: The Essence of Servitude

The Risale-i Nur summarizes the purpose of human creation as follows:

“Man was created for worship.” (The Words)
Acts of worship such as prayer, fasting, and charity are not only individual duties but also sources of social harmony and balance.

5. Justice and Morality

Islam ensures not only individual order but also the balance of social life.

“Justice is the pillar of the universe.” (The Rays)
Justice, together with noble morality, is one of the pillars of Muslim faith. It brings harmony between a person’s inner and outer world.

The Distinctive Feature of Muslim Faith: Not Imitation, but Investigative (Tahqiq) Belief

The Risale-i Nur Collection defines Muslim faith not as a mere tradition bound to forms or blind imitation, but as investigative belief (tahqiqî iman) based on solid evidence. According to Bediüzzaman Said Nursî, true faith is that which convinces a person intellectually, emotionally, and through the conscience. Reaching this level of faith is possible not through imitation alone, but through reflection, reasoning, and the pursuit of truth.

Why Is Imitative Faith Weak?

As expressed in the Risale-i Nur:
Imitative faith is a superficial belief that a person accepts merely by observing family or social environment, without relying on evidence. Such faith is easily shaken in the face of doubts and objections. When the intellect and the heart are not provided with solid proofs, a person may even fall into the danger of denial over time.

Bediüzzaman Said Nursî describes this situation as follows:
“Faith based on imitation is weak in the face of doubts; it is quickly extinguished.” (The Gleams)

Why Is Investigative (Tahqiqî) Faith Necessary?

Investigative faith (tahqiqî iman) is one of the most emphasized forms of belief in the Risale-i Nur. This is because such faith is:

Supported by reason: A person must reflect and read the signs of evidence within the universe.
Satisfying to the heart: Faith is not only intellectual; it also requires peace of heart.
Convincing to the conscience: The human inner voice naturally inclines toward God, and investigative faith provides answers to this search.
Eliminating doubts: Investigative faith responds with solid proofs, even to the heaviest claims of denial.

Bediüzzaman Said Nursî states:
“Investigative faith occurs when truth becomes firmly established in the heart. Such faith withstands doubts as great as mountains.” (The Letters)

Happiness in This World and the Hereafter

According to the Risale-i Nur, a Muslim who possesses investigative faith:
– Finds peace in this world, since the mind and the heart no longer live in contradiction.
– Is freed from doubts, as every question finds an answer.
– Attains eternal happiness in the hereafter, since a heart that believes in God is prepared for everlasting life.

The most essential feature of Muslim belief, as emphasized in the Risale-i Nur, is that it is based not on blind imitation, but on investigative faith. While imitative belief remains weak in the face of spiritual tremors, investigative faith provides both peace in this world and eternal bliss in the hereafter.

Throughout human history, one of the most frequently asked questions has been: “What is the oldest religion in the world?” Different cultures, mythologies, and philosophical perspectives have put forward various claims, yet the Risale-i Nur Collection gives a clear and definitive answer to this question:

According to Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, the oldest religion in the world is the religion of Tawhid (Divine Unity), that is, Islam. This is because religion was not invented by human imagination or thought, but was revealed by God at the very beginning of humanity. The true religion is not what people have created with their own reasoning, but the divine truths conveyed through the prophets.

The True Religion Beginning with Prophet Adam

It is clearly stated in the Risale-i Nur:
“The first human being was also the first prophet: Prophet Adam (peace be upon him).” (The Words, 20th Word)

The Qur’an also affirms this truth:
“Indeed, Allah chose Adam, Noah, the family of Abraham, and the family of ‘Imran above all the worlds.” (Âl ‘Imrân, 33)

According to the Risale-i Nur, religion is not a system born from human imagination and philosophy, but a divine order revealed by God along with the first human being. The first man, Prophet Adam (peace be upon him), was also the first prophet. With the revelation given to him, the beginning of human history was also the beginning of Islam.

Therefore, Islam is not a later invention or belief system, but the first and true religion that came into existence together with the creation of humanity.

Islam as the Religion of Tawhid (Divine Unity)

Bediuzzaman Said Nursi expresses that all prophets conveyed the same truth as follows:
“All the prophets came from the same religion. Their laws may differ, but the religion is one. And that is Islam.” (Letters, 19th Letter)

The Qur’an also clearly declares this reality:
“Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam.” (Âl ‘Imrân, 19)

Although prophets sent in different eras brought distinct laws, in essence the religion has always been one: Islam. With the final Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), this true religion reached perfection and will remain preserved until the Day of Judgment.

Why is Islam the Oldest Religion in the World?

According to the Risale-i Nur Collection, the reasons are as follows:

The First Human Was a Prophet
“Adam was both the first human and the first prophet.” (The Words, 23rd Word)

The Qur’an also declares:
“And He taught Adam the names—all of them.” (Al-Baqarah, 31)

Tawhid (Divine Unity) is Eternal
“The truth of Divine Unity is eternal; it never changes or becomes corrupted.” (The Rays, 2nd Ray)

The Qur’an states:
“Say: He is Allah, the One.” (Al-Ikhlas, 1)

All Prophets Were Messengers of Islam
“Every prophet conveyed the truth of Islam to his own people.” (The Flashes, 15th Flash)

The Qur’an confirms:
“We certainly sent messengers before you, and We revealed to them: There is no god except Me, so worship Me.” (Al-Anbiya, 25)

Thus, in the light of the Risale-i Nur and the Qur’an, Islam is not a later religion but the eternal truth that began with the creation of humanity and continued with every prophet until it reached perfection with Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).

The Oldest Religion in the World

According to the Risale-i Nur Collection, the oldest religion in the world is Islam. This is because religion began together with humanity and was revealed to the earth with the first prophet, Prophet Adam (peace be upon him).

In later periods, some communities deviated from the true religion and developed false paths, yet the essence of the true religion was never lost. For this reason, Islam has been both the first religion and the final religion, serving as the ultimate guide for humanity.

Throughout human history, one of the most frequently asked questions has been: “What is the true religion?” In every era, different beliefs, ideologies, and ways of life have emerged; yet the human soul has always sought the truth. Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, in his Risale-i Nur Collection, responds to this search by stating that the criterion of the true religion is found solely in the Qur’an and Islam.

According to the Risale-i Nur, religion is a divine roadmap that leads human beings to happiness both in this world and in the hereafter. However, for this roadmap to be authentic, it must meet three essential conditions:

1- It must be sent by God.
2- It must be delivered to humanity through a prophet.
3- It must be in harmony with human reason, heart, and conscience.

Based on these principles, the true religions that were revealed in the past have been altered over time; only Islam has preserved its originality. Bediuzzaman Said Nursi describes the truths of the Qur’an as “bright as the sun” and emphasizes that these truths grant both faith and peace to the human being. In short, according to the Risale-i Nur Collection, the true religion is solely Islam, founded upon the Word of God, the Qur’an.

The True Religion is Islam!

According to the Risale-i Nur Collection, the only true religion is Islam. This is because Islam is founded upon the Qur’an, which is the Word of God. Bediuzzaman Said Nursi describes the Qur’an as “the sun of truth” and regards all other paths as deficient, incomplete, and misleading. The key emphases highlighted in the Risale-i Nur are as follows:

1- The Qur’an is the Word of God and the source of truth.
2- The true religion is solely the path shown by the Qur’an.
3- Humanity’s happiness in both this world and the hereafter is possible only by following this religion.

From these points, it is clear that the Risale-i Nur Collection strongly demonstrates that Islam is the only true religion. Islam is the sole divine faith that fulfills the needs of the human mind, heart, and conscience.

The Truth of Islam

In the Risale-i Nur Collection, Bediuzzaman Said Nursi explains the truth of Islam and its status as the only true religion through numerous proofs. According to him, the measure of the true religion is that it must be in harmony with reason, the heart, the conscience, and human nature (fitrah). Islam fulfills all these criteria in the most perfect way.

1. The Proof of Tawhid (Divine Unity)

All parts of the universe operate in great order and harmony. It is clear that everything is governed by a single Power. The truth of Tawhid is the essence of Islam and the greatest sign pointing to the true religion.

2. The Proof of Prophethood

Bediuzzaman Said Nursi considers the sending of prophets as essential for humanity. Human beings are in need of truth, but reason alone is not sufficient. Therefore, God has taught the truth through His prophets. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the final messenger, and the religion he brought will remain until the Day of Judgment. This firmly establishes Islam as the true religion.

3. The Proof of Resurrection (Hashr)

One of the subjects most emphasized in the Risale-i Nur is resurrection. According to Nursi, human beings have an eternal life. Death is not annihilation but a transition to a new life. Islam, with its belief in resurrection and the afterlife, offers true consolation to humanity. No other path can explain this reality in a firm and satisfactory way.

4. The Proof of Worship and Justice

The purpose of human creation is servitude to God. The Risale-i Nur highlights the principle: “Man was created for worship.” Islam places worship at the center of both individual and social life. Moreover, Islam’s system of justice protects human rights in the most perfect manner. This too proves that it is the true religion.

5. The Proof of Human Nature and Conscience

Bediuzzaman Said Nursi states that in every human heart there is a seed of faith. The conscience searches for God and desires the truth. Islam is the religion most compatible with human nature. The human soul finds true peace only through Islam.

According to the Risale-i Nur, Islam:

– Is founded upon the truth of Divine Unity in the universe.
– Proclaims the truth through the institution of prophethood.
– Guarantees eternal happiness through belief in the hereafter.
– Organizes life through worship and justice.
– Brings complete peace to man as the religion most in harmony with nature and conscience.

These proofs clearly demonstrate the truth of Islam and that the only true religion is Islam.

Not Imitative, But Investigative Faith

One of the most important aspects of the Risale-i Nur is that it leads people out of blind imitation and into investigative (verified) faith. The true religion is not merely a tradition of outward forms; rather, it is the mind, the heart, and the soul together turning toward the truth. According to Bediuzzaman Said Nursi:

– Imitative faith remains weak.
– Investigative faith is firm against all kinds of doubts.
– The true religion brings peace to human beings both in this world and in the hereafter.