ADNAN OKTAR’S LIVE INTERVIEW ON KACKAR TV (8 January 2009) 

ADNAN OKTAR:Said Nursi makes it quite clear that Hazrat Mahdi (as) will appear. He says he will come as an individual, but that even some of his own followers, some of Bediuzzaman’s own followers do not expect Hazrat Mahdi (as) to come, even though he openly tells them that he will. He speaks of the return of the Prophet Jesus (as), but that does not interest them, either. They say that they are both collective personalities, there is not such a reality, they will not appear as individuals but as collective personalities, they say. The fact is that hadith, Said Nursi’s statements and the Qur’an expressly state that the Prophet Jesus (as) ascended to the sky in bodily form and will return again in bodily form. Yet some people feign ignorance about it. Said Nursi says that that some people whose faith is weak, but whose ego and arrogance is strong, just chose to deny these facts.  They deny it because it bears hard on them to come under his command and to obey him when Hazrat Mahdi (as) comes, and to have to obey the Prophet Jesus (as) if he returns, because some people regard themselves as greater than Hazrat Mahdi (as) and the Prophet Jesus (as) and even, Allah is beyond that, as greater than Allah Himself. For that reason the idea of obedience bears very hard on them. As you know, obedience came as very difficult to satan. Allah told him to prostrate himself before the Prophet Adam (as), but because of his pride and arrogance satan was maddened and refused to do what Allah commanded. He was enraged, and became the first entity to behave like a psychopath. People who follow satan are similarly proud and arrogant, and are unwilling to recognize and obey any authority over them. It may sometimes stem from this, and sometimes from ignorance. Sometimes people’s faith may be weak, and other people may be apathetic, unconcerned by anything in this world. 

ADNAN OKTAR’S LIVE INTERVIEW ON KRAL KARADENIZ TV (3 April 2009) 

ADNAN OKTAR:This question of the collective personality is emphasized 38 times in 36 different places in the Risale-i Nur Collection, saying that Hazrat Mahdi (as) is a person, a human being and an individual. Look, he says 38 times in his book, in 36 different places, that he is an individual human being. 

For example, there are three repetitions of “that great personage of the End Times.” “He will be from the Ahl al-Bayt of our Prophet (saas).”

For example: “Muhammad Mahdi (first expression) from the Ahl al-Bayt, a radiant personage (second repetition), that individual (third repetition), (will prepare a plan for himself  (look, fourth repetition) from the works made by lengthy analysis and investigation of a community. However that great personage of the End Times…(fifth repetition)” Even an unintelligent person can grasp that. It is because Said Nursi was well aware of it that he kept repeating it, so that others would understand; yet they still deny it. That is unbelievable. 

For example, he refers to Hazrat Mahdi (as) as “that unique individual (sixth repetition) who will come in the future, and that great commander (seventh repetition) and great renovator (see how he refers to Hazrat Mahdi (as) as a renovator, as an individual) (eighth repetition) and the greatest mujaddid (ninth repetition) and a judge (someone who will serve as a judge, tenth repetition), and the qutb-u azam (greatest saint of the century) (there can only be one qutb-u azam, eleventh repetition), and radiant personage (that means a single individual, twelfth repetition), and that person (thirteenth repetition)... and goes on…” He says that by Allah’s leave the true owners long in the future, in the broad sphere of the End Times (look how he describes the Risale-i Nur), long in the future, in the broad sphere of the End Times (refers to this period, the period after the year 1400 according to the Islamic calendar), in other words Hazrat Mahdi (as) (fourteenth repetition) and his followers will come, and will broaden that sphere and the seeds thereof will sprout. If someone still fails to understand then I really do not know what else I can say. 

For example, “A collective personality can only combine in the End Times in Hazrat Mahdi (as) (fifteenth repetition) who represents the radiance of the community of the Ahl al-Bayt of our Prophet (saas) and in his community (group of followers).” In other words we have Hazrat Mahdi (as), his community, and also a collective  personality. In other words, there is a government, a prime minister, ministers, and the collective personality of the government. There is a prime minister, and the collective personality of the government as a whole. Is there any invisible government in Turkey? It is not a collective personality, there is prime minister and there is government. 

For example, “… the individual (sixteenth repetition) awaited in the End Times…”; “..holy community represented by Hazrat Mahdi (as) (seventeenth repetition)...”; “…therefore can be seen to be that holy individual (an individual is a person, is that not right? (Eighteenth repetition) who will come in the future; that individual (who will come in 1400 according to the Islamic calendar, nineteenth repetition)...”; “..who is truly awaited and will appear in the next century is of course that great personage (twentieth repetition) of the End Times...” 

ADNAN OKTAR:I can go on with a few more. In the Rays he says; “there are separate different reports about Hazrat Mahdi (as) who will be descended from our Prophet (saas) and come from the Ahl al-bayt (twenty-first repetition)”. He says “I am not a sayyid, but Hazrat Mahdi (as) is a sayyid.” They rejected them saying he is descended from the Prophet (saas) (twenty-second repetition).” He refers to Hazrat Mahdi (as) and his followers as those luminous individuals. For example, “Of course a great and sovereign power will appear, and Hazrat Mahdi (as) will pass to its head and will encourage the truth and the true signs (twenty-fourth repetition).” It goes on, and if someone still fails to understand, then I am totally at a loss for words. 

ADNAN OKTAR’S LIVE INTERVIEW ON KOCAELI TV AND KACKAR TV (30 April 2009)

ADNAN OKTAR: Said Nursi expounded this in hundreds of pages; I do not think that those who read it have not understood it. It is very clear, even a five-year old would understand it. Probably, Allah forbid, some might have weak faith, or some others might think what would happen in case he did not come and thus Said Nursi proves to be wrong. They are not in a position to make an explanation about this subject; may be they would like to make an explanation regarding his location if he came. They might have been in such a deadlock. Otherwise, Said Nursi’s explanations are quite clear. The part where our brother has read and explained is very explicit. It says that he will perform all the three duties together. I ask your attention; one, two, three; he says that he will render all the three duties at the same time and that is why he has earned the title of Great Hazrat Mahdi (as). He says that the others have not earned the title of Great Mahdi. He says this very explicitly and adds that, in one respect, he has performed the first duty. This is very clear, explicit. Islam will prevail over the Earth, Christians and Muslims will unite, Prophet Jesus (as) will descend. When all these will become clear, Islam will entirely prevail over the earth. Yet people here, some of them, employ a style that denies this. Said Nursi also brings an explanation to this. Some hodjas, he says, whose faith is weak but whose ego is strong, whose arrogance is strong, just chose to deny these facts. That is, they simply say, he does not exist. Some, on the other hand, say Hazrat Mahdi (as) has come and passed away. Now; those brothers of us are the addressee of this saying of Said Nursi; they are the ones who say “he has come and passed away.” Some others say “he does not exist”; they are the ones whose faith is weak. Said Nursi also adds that some others await the kind of Mahdi with impossible features. For instance they think he has a cloud over his head with an angel appearing within who says, “This is Mahdi”. According to them, this angel continuously says, “This is Mahdi so comply with him.” In this case, of course, everyone would comply with Hazrat Mahdi (as). In this case, a person’s free will would not be taken away. This aside, he would no longer be tested. Besides, he says that tank, cannon, atom bomb, nothing would have an affect upon him. Does such a person go through pain=? Think of how much suffering have the prophets gone through. All the prophets have suffered. Does such a person ever face trouble, a person upon whom tanks, cannons or atom bombs have no affect? 

He says, “atom bomb or bomb will have no affect on him.” Bomb, cannon, none of them have any affect on him. This being the case, then how will Hazrat Mahdi (as) go through suffering? Is it possible to put a person upon whom bombs or cannons have no affect into prison? He will be imprisoned, go through suffering and be oppressed. Why should such a person hide? A person who is not affected by tanks or cannons? Look how stupid this claim is. This aside, there will be a cloud above his head, and an angel upon this cloud and say, “This is Hazrat Mahdi (as).” In this case, who would not have faith? Who can challenge him? Think of a man upon whom neither tanks nor cannons can have affect. This would hinder one’s ability to exercise his freewill. There is also an angel upon his head and it says, “This is Hazrat Mahdi (as).” That is, so foolish. At this point, these people make one abandon the religion and give harm to the religion. The fact is, however, in the realm of angels, for instance, there is Hazrat Jibril (as), Hazrat Mikhail (as) and Hazrat Israphil (as). There are angels everywhere but we can not see them, for Allah says that if they descend to Earth, then people would have no reprieve. Even, as related in the Qur’an, unbelievers say that there had to be an angel next to our Prophet (saas) to confirm him. In other words, this is the style employed by unbelievers. Allah has granted angels to none of the prophets. In the Qur’an there is not one incident in which an angel comes and commands people to obey the prophet. They say, “Why has an angel not been sent down to him so that it can be a warner along with him?” Said Nursi says that since there will not be an angel with him, people will not lose their discretion and even Hazrat Mahdi (as) himself will not know that he is Mahdi. So how can this be possible? If there exists an angel above his head and tells that he is Hazrat Mahdi (as), and neither tanks nor cannons can have any affect upon him, what would you do if you were him? What does tank or cannon mean? This means that no power can withstand him. 

Said Nursi refutes the statements of those who say Hazrat Mahdi (as) is a collective personality a hundred times but some of these people have the reasoning of the djinn.

This is very hard to believe. Even this point closes the subject. In other words, it is obvious that Hazrat Mahdi (as) will not be a sayyid. He talks about a person. He calls him “person” about forty times. He says Hazrat Mahdi (as) will come after him. It is evident that collective personality will not be sayyid. He talks about  a person and calls him “a person” for forty times and adds that he will come after him. He calls him a “peculiar person” and stresses that he will perform three of the duties simultaneously. That person insistently talks about two duties. Can’t you see the difference between the number three and two? Said Nursi tells that it will be three. At this point, people should respect Said Nursi’s statements. If one is a diciple of Nur, if he respects Said Nursi, if he believes that what Said Nursi says is true, then he should believe that Hazrat Mahdi (as) will perform three of the duties altogether, for Said Nursi clearly stresses various times that he will perform three of the duties at the same time. Even he states that Hazrat Mahdi’s (as) first duty will be to demolish materialism and Darwinism. He says this is his greatest and most important duty. He also adds that Hazrat Mahdi (as) will tell people the signs leading to faith. If a person witnesses these words and still insists that he has two duties, then we have nothing to say to him. 

ADNAN OKTAR: Sayyid Salih Ozcan is one of the most reliable trustees. He is a descendant of our Prophet (saas), he is a sayyid. He is one of the beloved students of Said Nursi. He told that Said Nursi tapped him gently on his forehead—he told this to me—he said, “He [Said Nursi] touched my forehead and said, “Kecili, I won’t be able to see him [Hazrat Mahdi (as)] but you will.” This is clear. For instance, I also talked to Brother Sungur, and we were talking about the predominance of Islam, he also stated there, “He [Said Nursi] told me that, I won’t see him, but you will.” and there were his disciples there. They were all astonished, he told this for the first time. This was an explanation he had never made before. I was surprised. I met Brother Sungur years ago, in 1986 in a mosque, the Kilic Ali Pasha Mosque. He was there. We were having a conversation with our friends there. He proceeded, indicating that he wanted to talk to me in private, and I said, “Yes sir.” He asked my name and last name and made a numerological analysis. He did this calculation on a notebook he took from his pocket. But he did not tell me what he was doing. He only made a numerological calculation. Asking my name and last name, he made an analysis. Meanwhile I asked him, “Sir, will Hazrat Mahdi (as) be a disciple of Said Nursi?” He answered, “Said Nursi told me that he [Hazrat Mahdi (as)] will be a totally different person, a totally different movement.” He explained that he will be dissimilar. I hesitated to ask more questions not to bother him since it was a very important piece of information; it was an information that was not revealed to anyone before. So I did not insist, and was contended with that [the answer.] 

But probably with good intentions, some of them might have thought that the good opinion about the Master could be harmed. They might have thought that if he were known as Hazrat Mahdi (as), he would become more respectable and efficient. The fact is, however, Said Nursi is also the guide of Hazrat Mahdi (as). Because he says that Hazrat Mahdi (as) will spread and adopt the Risale-i Nur as a ready program for himself. In other words, he says that he is a private, a vanguard for Hazrat Mahdi (as) laying the groundwork for him. As you see he is such a modest and good-natured person. He feels the pride of being a soldier to Hazrat Mahdi (as). He does not take offence from it. He does not consider it as an abnormality. This does not belittle him. This [state] glorifies him.  For instance, I can even not be a nail of Said Nursi. He is a very great and precious person. I love him very very much. And he is the kind of person having lots of metaphysical features; he is a very important person of this age. This does not belittle him. They say, “If there is a greater Mahdi, what would his state be?”  People should leave the appreciation to Allah. I tell this is to people who express their opinions.  Isn’t it? Allah knows who is superior or inferior. Allah knows the status of people. Furthermore, we will not say that that particular person is definitely Hazrat Mahdi (as). This will be clear in the Hereafter. People say that Hazrat Mahdi (as) should write a work such as the Risale-i Nur. The fact is however, Hazrat Mahdi (as) will focus on the signs leading to faith, he will actually have books, and from the accounts we understand that even Jesus (as) will find his books, and benefit from them. The fact that he writes about the signs leading to faith does not necessitate that he employs the same style as Said Nursi. Furthermore, Said Nursi says that he will prepare these books basing them on some ready works. For instance, Said Nursi says that while struggling against materialism and Darwinism, Hazrat Mahdi (as) will not have enough time and condition to work on this subject. As you see, he gives so many details. He does not have the time and proper conditions. For this reason, he will benefit from [the existing information] in some of the works of scientists, the Western scientists, the ones around the world and fulfil his first duty by the help of them that is he will prepare his books by the help of them. He will base his works on them because he will not have the time to make research himself. Even if you put the lifetimes of ten people together, it will still not suffice to discharge such a task.  He says, he will have such a work. Despite this explanation, they still feign ignorance about this subject. But feigning ignorance does not change the destiny and the events. But feigning ignorance, on the other hand, is the shield and veil of Hazrat Mahdi (as). By this way Hazrat Mahdi (as) will not be apparent.  They, in fact, comply with their destinies. This is how their destinies are.  For the disciples of Hazrat Mahdi (as), Said Nursi says “Although they are very few in number, they will spiritually be as strong and precious as an army.” They are very few in number. 

PRESENTER:Was it 313? 

ADNAN OKTAR:That is true, 313. Prophet Abraham’s disciples were 313 people. The number of Ahl al-Badir was 313. The number of people who crossed the river with Talud was also 313. Also the disciples of Hazrat Mahdi (as) are 313. They are  all 313. In addition there is also another team made up of 50 women. It is related in the hadith that there is a team of 313 people made up of both women and men, and another team of  50 women, in addition to the first one. This is very meaningful. 

PRESENTER:Is this second group also close to Hazrat Mahdi (as)? 

ADNAN OKTAR:Of course, of course. But for some wisdom, in the hadith it is explained as a second part. It is mentioned that Hazrat Mahdi (as) will be a sayyid. But Said Nursi says he himself is not a sayyid. But people say that he is absolutely a sayyid. Why should Said Nursi tell a lie? It is the person himself who knows himself best, right? If he says that he is not a sayyid, then he is not. Besides, not being a sayyid is not a crime. Does the fact that our Master is a Kurd belittle him? No, this does not belittle him. Because they are all descendants of Adam (as). Someone having the spirit of Allah. And Said Nursi is a very precious scholar. A very precious Kurdish scholar. But what a scholar! In my opinion, he is the greatest mujaddid, that is reviver, and interpreter of Islamic law of the last thousand years. In addition, he is an extraordinary person with metaphysical aspects. 

ADNAN OKTAR: In the Barla Addendum, Said Nursi told that he is a soldier, a private and a vanguard of Hazrat Mahdi (as). They say, “No, that is not, true.” In other words, they claim that he told a lie. “He told so, but this is not the case”, they say. What is written in his books are fundamental for us. We do not act based on the myths we hear from you. What is written in the works in the Risale-i Nur Collection are essential. They say, “Said Nursi told this but this is not the case.” This is unacceptable. We consider the explanations in his book. For instance Said Nursi says that Hazrat Mahdi (as) will be a sayyid and that he is not one. He says that with his works, he lays the ground for Hazrat Mahdi (as).  He says that these books belong to him (Hazrat Mahdi (as)), that the real owners of these books are Hazrat Mahdi (as) and his disciples. He further says that Hazrat Mahdi (as) will come one century after his time, in his Kastamonu Addendum, page 57. What I have just told is written in Tasdiki Gaybi of the Risalei Nur collection, on page 189. He says he would be deceased by the time Hazrat Mahdi (as) comes. Tasdiki Gaybi, on page 172. He explains that attribution of Mahdism to him is an error and a confusion. He states that Hazrat Mahdi (as) will discharge all three duties in the fields of politics, reign and religion, all of them. I ask your attention here; Politics, reign and religion. He will discharge the three great duties altogether, all of them, he says. Hazrat Mahdi (as) will render the irreligious movements based on denial of Allah such as materialism, atheism and Darwinism ineffective in its real sense and save people’s faith in Allah, he says. Hazrat Mahdi (as), as also stated by our Prophet (saas), will carry the title of being the spiritual leader of all Muslims. That he will revive the essentials of Islamic morality.  He says, he will be recognized by all the Islamic world. As we know, this is not the case right now. There are very few people who accept Said Nursi as the leader of the Islamic World. Hazrat Mahdi (as) will bring peace, justice and equity to the entire world and remove the cruelty inflicted on the Islamic world. This is on Emirdag Addendum, page 259. On Letters, page 411 and 440. On Rays, page 456. He tells that Hazrat Mahdi (as) will have the feature of the Grand Mujaddid (Reviver). He further explains that Hazrat Mahdi (as) will abolish all Islamic schools and give judicial opinion as the Grand Interpreter of the Islamic Law. This is in Talismans journal, in Letters, 411. For instance, Bediuzzaman did not abolish the Islamic schools; throughout his life he abided by the Shafii school. Hazrat Mahdi (as), on the other hand, will abolish all Islamic schools.  This is also related in the hadith, and Said Nursi also tells this. He also relates that Hazrat Mahdi (as) will establish Islamic Unity. In Emirdag Addendum, page 260. Muslims all around the world did not come under a single roof during his time. He says, this will occur in the time of Hazrat Mahdi (as). He stresses that this will happen after him. He explains that Hazrat Mahdi (as) will receive the support of all Islamic scholars, all sayyids coming from the descent of our Prophet (saas) and all Muslims, but during his time Said Nursi did not receive the support of such masses. He says that he will accomplish it with the support of millions of self-sacrificing sayyids. This event is still in the process of formation. Said Nursi did not receive the support of masses, but he says that Hazrat Mahdi (as) will. There are hundreds of explanations, these are just a few examples that I give. 

ADNAN OKTAR’S LIVE INTERVIEW ON BASKENT TV INTERVIEW
(23 January 2009) 

ADNAN OKTAR:If a Muslim appears and announces that he is Hazrat Mahdi (as), then he is declaring himself to be irreligious, and we can also tell from this that he is not Hazrat Mahdi (as) at all. Such a thing is impossible according to the Qur’an. What does such a claim mean? It means I am destined for Paradise, I have no need of the test, I am free of sin and like an angel. But that is unlawful. No Muslim can say such a thing. We come here to be tested, and we may end up in Paradise or in Hell. Nobody can make such a claim and it is impossible to make this claim. Because the innocence of the prophets is set out in the Book. And since no Book will be sent down, how can anyone claim to be Hazrat Mahdi (as)? Everyone who has claimed to be Hazrat Mahdi (as) to date has lied, and that is definitive proof they are not Hazrat Mahdi (as), and they would have to repeat the Kalima Shahadat, that is to testify that there is none worthy of worship besides Allah, in order to re-enter the religion.

A Muslim may say to his brother that he may be Hazrat Mahdi (as). He may say, insha’Allah you are Hazrat Mahdi (as). One may call everyone that he loves a blessed person. I regard Imam Rabbani as a saintlike person, but I cannot say so for certain. Said-i Nursi is a virtuous person, a kind of saint, insha’Allah, and a kind of Mahdi. But nobody can say that he’s saved with 100% certainty. And it is no sin if someone comes up and says to me that I am Hazrat Mahdi (as). I will take it as a compliment. Insha’Allah I may be him, I will say. And I will pray that he may be Mahdi insha’Allah. It may be me or it may be someone else, as being Hazrat Mahdi (as) is a great glory and blessing. We want people to be saintlike and to go to Paradise. Insha’Allah they will enter Paradise, we say. It means exactly the same thing. Hoping someone is Hazrat Mahdi (as) is the same as hoping him to go to Paradise.   

ADNAN OKTAR’S LIVE INTERVIEW ON KON TV (8 February 2009) 

ADNAN OKTAR:And Hazrat Mahdi (as) will reject the oath of allegiance. They will say, “May the blood of the entire community of believers be upon you, may all the blood, the innocent blood spilled be upon you” if you refuse. They will curse and threaten him, and eventually he will accept. But Hazrat Mahdi (as) will not accept it in any other way. He will especially deny that he is Hazrat Mahdi (as). They will say: “All the signs are upon you. Your physical attributes match them, and your line of descent, and events, and the place and your activities, all match them. You match the descriptions given by Said Nursi, and the hadith and everything.” They will cite whatever evidence the time provides. But he will say that he makes no such claim and that he is just a poor servant of Allah. He will say that I am someone who has surrendered to Allah, and I may go to Paradise or I may go to Hell. But then Hazrat Mahdi (as) will say, but since you consider me to be the proper person, and since you lay such a responsibility upon me, and since you say the blood of all Muslims be upon me, then I will accept. And so he will assume the leadership.