Page 82 - The School of Yusuf (as)
P. 82

THE SCHOOL OF YUSUF

                 Bediuzzaman said:
                 My friends who are studying together with me in this School of
                 Joseph! Since the reality is this and the Risale-i Nur proves it so

                 clearly and decisively, like sunlight, that for twenty years it has
                 broken the obstinacy of the obdurate and brought them to be-
                 lieve; we should therefore follow the way of belief and right
                 conduct, which is easy and safe and beneficial for both our own
                 worlds, and our futures, and our lives in the Hereafter, and our
                 country and nation; and spend our free time reciting the suras
                 of the Qur’an that we know instead of indulging in distressing

                 fancies, and learn the meaning from friends who teach them;
                 and make up for the prayers we have failed to perform in the
                 past, when we should have done; and taking advantage of one
                 another’s good qualities, transform this prison into a blessed
                 garden raising the seedlings of good character. With good
                 deeds like these, we should do our best to make the prison gov-
                 ernor and those concerned not torturers like the Guards of Hell
                 standing over criminals and murderers, but righteous masters
                 and kindly guards charged with the duties of raising people for

                 Paradise in the School of Joseph and supervising their training
                 and education. 27
                 Bediuzzaman also informed the prison warden in writing that
             the inmates must be educated in order for them to adopt the moral-
             ity of the Qur’an, and sought his permission to do so, because, as he

             argued, the only power that can prevent these people, who can
             commit a crime without feeling the slightest guilt, from reoffend-
             ing after their release is the fear of Allah. One who fears and loves
             Allah, and seeks His good pleasure, will not do something that He
             does not approve of. Bediuzzaman was aware of this fact, and he


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