Self Actualization According to Bediuzaman Said Nursi (1877-1960) in Risale-I Nur

Abstract

Bediuzzaman Said Nursi is one of the thinkers and reformers from Turkey who emerged as a figure of Sufism, the savior of faith and Islam in the 19th century. This research found a formulation of the self-actualization process that was different from the concepts of other scientists. According to Said Nursi, humans' self-concept consists of several natures: the rabbani nature, the nafsani nature, the spiritual nature, the physical nature, the tafakkur nature, and the tadhabbur nature. Some of these natures depend on the characteristics of the human soul journey, which cannot be separated from the fulfillment of worldly and spiritual needs and the ultimate need in the form of spirituality. Said Nursi's self-actualization positions as one of the alternative thinking frameworks based on the Koran, which goes through a four-step self-actualization process: through devotion to Allah by burying arrogance (abdun wa al-faqr), through the light of faith in God, through manifesting Asma-ul-Husna (Names of Allah) reflected in oneself, and by following the path of the Qur'an as the path of nature. Even Said Nursi repeatedly emphasized that every human being actually has the potential in the form of intrinsic faculties residing in his heart, soul, and intellect. Those popularly known as Al-Tafakkur, Tadhabbur, Al-'Ajz, Al-Fāqr, and Al-Shāfaqah are called spiritual innovations that lead to the development of tauhid to shape character and behavior towards perfect humans (Inshan Al-Kamil).