Here is what Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies says about Said Nursi:

“Said Nursi (1876 –1960), the most influential Islamic scholar in modern Turkish history, is the inspiration behind the hugely popular Nur movement (Nurculuk). Guided by his masterwork, the Risale-i Nur, Nursi’s followers shun political ambition, focusing instead on a revival of personal faith through study, self-reform and service of others. Nursi lived through the upheavals that led to the establishment of a vigorously secular Turkish republic in place of the dismembered Ottoman caliphate. Nursi was educated through the medrese system in the traditional Islamic disciplines but also mastered modern Western philosophical and scientific ideas in order to address the challenges Muslims face now. In some ways the Risale-i Nur functions as an interpretation of the Qurʾan for the contemporary world; millions within and outside Turkey have found solace in that interpretation.”

The four books are the four major collections of Said Nursi’s treatises: The Words, The Letters, The Flashes and The Rays.

Among these, The Words explains and proves the fundamental matters of belief, such as God’s existence and unity, the manifestation of the divine names and attributes in creation, the resurrection of the dead and the life of the hereafter, prophethood, the miraculousness of the Qur’an, the angels, and the immortality of man’s spirit, together with such questions as the true nature of man and the universe, and man’s need to worship God. The Letters is largely a compilation of answered Said Nursi gave to his students. These letters cover issues from daily life of Said Nursi to explanations of the truths of belief and mysteries of the Qur’an, from nationalism to sufism and various treatises on how to read the Book of the Universe. The Nineteenth Letter, which describes the miracles of Prophet Muhammed (Peace be upon Him), is unquestionably the core of this book.

The Flashes (a.k.a. The Gleams) continues to expound the fundamental truths of belief, existence and science, the Practices (Sunna) of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him), and various topics relating to the social and personal lives of Muslims, including the treaties on brotherhood and sincerity.

The Rays is the final collection of the Risale-i Nur containing both argumentations on the existence of God and Nursi’s defences in the courts is a guidance for the Risale-i Nur’s way of life and for a spiritually enlightened life at the same time. The dual cores of the collection are The Supreme Sign (The Seventh Ray) which provides a wholistic testimony to God’s necessary existence and unity, and The Shining Proof (The Fifteenth Ray) which not only summarizes the argumentations on God’s existence put forward in the Risale-i Nur, but also adds short treatises on spiritual realms.

The Virtual Retreat is a virtual one. It will be on Zoom only. There will be reading sessions where native speakers will read the selected texts; and there will be discussion sessions where experts will explain certain segments of the text further. The discussion sessions are meant to add interactivity to the program. The retreat will be colored with Kahoot, Jeopardy and the like.

Although open to non-Muslims and Muslims alike, Virtual Retreats deal with texts particular to Islam. These texts are rich in references to Islam’s holy sources and tradition. No prior knowledge of Islam or of Said Nursi’s writings is required to participate, but an introductory knowledge of Islam and Islamic demonstrations of pillars of belief will certainly benefit the participants.