The Risale-i Nur Prescription for the Spiritual Quest in Europe: Support Workshop for Converts Held at İİKV
Following the increasing inclination toward Islam in Europe day by day, the “Support Education Project for Converts Workshop,” organized to address the Islamic education processes and ensure that newly Muslim individuals (converts) remain Muslim, was hosted by the Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture (İİKV). In the meeting attended by academics, NGO representatives, and experts, strategic decisions were made to enable converts to learn Islam through a methodology centered on the Quran, the Sunnah, and the Risale-i Nur.
Europe is Pregnant with an Ottoman State
At the opening of the workshop, reference was made to the words of Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, expressed in the early 1900s: "Europe is pregnant with Islam; it too will give birth to an Islamic state." The fact that suicide rates remain high even in Finland, which is one of the countries with the highest welfare levels today, was evaluated as an indicator of the spiritual crisis experienced by Europe. It was emphasized that this spiritual void has increased the interest in Islam in Europe; however, if proper guidance is not provided, converts may fall under the influence of rigid and extreme interpretations.
Risale-i Nur-Based Education Model
During the meeting, to prevent converts from distancing themselves from religious life after choosing Islam, a unique educational program based on the Risale-i Nur was proposed, drawing inspiration from the models of Al-Azhar and the International Islamic University Malaysia. In the training sessions, which are planned to last between 6 and 21 days, the following topics stood out:
Arabic Language Education and Beautiful Quran Recitation,
Balanced Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence) Education,
Creed and Belief Lessons for an Unshakeable Faith.
Critical Agenda: Remaining Muslim and İttihad-ı İslam
In the discussions moderated by Said Yüce, the educational processes of converts, the social measures that will ensure they remain Muslim, and the reflections of İttihad-ı İslam (Islamic Unity) in social life were discussed. The participants agreed that converts should be supported not only with religious knowledge but also with a compassion-focused and rational perspective that will protect them from extremism.
