Nurism

Nurism(Turkish:Nurculuk) is anIslamistmovement that was founded inTurkeyin the early 20th century and based on the writings ofSaid Nursi(1877–1960).His movement is based onHanafilaw and further incorporates elements ofSufism.He emphasized the importance of salvation in both this life and theafterlifethrough education and freedom, the synthesis of Islam and science, and democracy as the best form of governance within the rule of law.

Through faith by inquiry instead of faith by imitation, Muslims would reject philosophies such aspositivism,materialismandatheismemerging from theWestern worldat the time.His notion of sharia is twofold.Shariaapplies to the voluntary actions of human beings and denotes the set oflaws of nature.Both of them ultimately derive from one source, God.His works on the Quran in theRisale-i Nurwere translated into almost all of the languages ofCentral Asia.The Nur Movement promotes the concept of theQuranas a "living document"which needs to be continually re-interpreted.From the Nur Movement other movements such as theGülen movementderived.

The group was opposed by the government during the 1960s and 1970s as anIslamistmovement.The group became substantially fragmented in the 1970s and 1980s.

In a 1999 academic publication, the Nur movement was said to have between 2 and 6 millions adherents.

After Said Nursi's death on March 23, 1960, many Nurist groups emerged as a result of differences of opinion on issues such as the understanding of governance, view of political events, ethnic origin, and service method.It was stated by Said Nursi that "people who are alleged to be hidden enemies" broke the unity of the Nurists.