Bediüzzaman Symposium in Istanbul explores Said Nursi’s legacy

The 13th International Bediüzzaman Symposium, organized by the Istanbul Science and Culture Foundation (İİKV) under the theme ‘Quranic Solutions to Global Crises,’ is currently underway in Istanbul. The event has gathered academics, scholars, and researchers from various regions to discuss the intellectual legacy of Said Nursi.

During a session on the Islamization of knowledge, Professor Alev Erkilet described Nursi’s struggle against colonialism as a three-dimensional effort involving military, economic, and epistemic dimensions. She characterized his work as an anti-colonial movement aimed at ‘epistemic decolonization’—the struggle to free minds from colonial influence.

In another session regarding political philosophy and the concept of the state, Professor Şadi Eren addressed the importance of unity within the Islamic world. Eren discussed the distinction between ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ conflict in Nursi’s thought, noting that negative conflict is rooted in fanaticism. He emphasized that diversity should be viewed as a source of richness rather than enmity, advocating for social cohesion based on maximum commonalities.