Islamic Political Identity in Turkey

The Nurcu groups have evolved into the most powerful and effective sociopolitical communities in contemporary Turkey. The writings of Said Nursi, particularly his magnum opus, Risale-i Nur Külliyatl (RNK), constitute the base of this faith movement. Nursi's work has marked Islamic political discourse indelibly, offering original ideas for addressing political and sociocultural problems. By studying the Nur community, one can understand the dynamics of religion and state on the one hand and modernity and identity on the other. The Nur groups' dynamism as a social movement is rooted in their network of media, education, business, and publishing establishments. The text-based nature of the movement makes it unique; since Nursi's death in 1960, no one has succeeded him, and the movement remains very much centered around his writings. This focus has resulted in a new idiom of communication and a new message of moral and ethical renewal for society. The Nur movement's emphasis on text naturally has resulted in its involvement in the publishing and printing businesses.

As a movement of resistance to the ongoing Kemalist modernization process, the Nurcu movement is forward-looking and proactive. Said Nursi offered a conceptual framework for a people undergoing the transformation from a confessional community (gemeinschaft) to a secular national society (gesellschaft). These concepts constitute a map of meaning and provide strategies for dealing with modern challenges by redefining Islamic folk concepts and practices to

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