ISRA Academy Podcast

How can belief in the Hereafter make sense of our deepest longing for eternity and our love for those around us? In this episode of the Risale-i Nur series, Dr Omer Atilla Ergi explores the Tenth Word, Bediüzzaman Said Nursi’s discussion of resurrection and life after death. The conversation considers signs of divine preservation in the universe, the human desire for eternity, the meaning of mercy, and why prophethood and the Qur’an are central to belief in the Hereafter.

In this conversation, Zeynep Yuksel and Dr Zuleyha Keskin discuss the role of community in helping people meet, whether segregation can make that harder, and what matchmaking looked like during the Prophet’s time. They also explore whether communities should offer matchmaking support, why young people may hesitate to ask for help, the role of apps and reference checks, and the idea of love at first sight.

Can artificial intelligence ever become conscious? In this conversation, Dr Zuleyha Keskin speaks with Dr Omer Atilla Ergi about human consciousness, the concerns raised by AI, and whether AI could have free will. They also consider what distinguishes a real human from an AI-generated human, and how the development of AI relates to discussions about the signs of the Day of Judgment.

Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was not only a messenger and spiritual guide but also an extraordinary educator. His approach to teaching offers valuable lessons for parents, teachers, community leaders and anyone seeking to positively influence others. This video explores the educational approach of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and what his example can teach us about education and character development.

This episode summarizes the 10th Word of Risale-i Nur, presenting multiple theological arguments for resurrection and the hereafter. It explains how the world’s order, divine sovereignty, wisdom, mercy, and preservation point toward a final judgment and eternal recompense. The speaker condenses a long chapter into key points — the temporary nature of this world, the necessity of a supreme tribunal, divine generosity requiring recompense, and examples from nature and human life that reinforce the possibility and purpose of resurrection.

This episode examines the military engagements during the Prophet's life with a close look at timing, casualty figures, and strategy. Using historical sources and statistics, the talk reveals that most battles were short, many expeditions involved no fighting, and that the Prophet pursued tactics that minimized bloodshed. The episode contrasts these findings with large-scale modern conflicts and argues that understanding the Prophet’s campaign as part of state-building—rather than as a war-driven life—reveals a model centered on mercy, diplomacy, and protection of life.

Dr. Omer Atilla Ergi explains deism—the belief in a Creator who sets natural laws but does not reveal or intervene—and contrasts it with Islamic teachings on revelation, prophecy, and moral responsibility. The episode discusses philosophical challenges to deism, reasons people are drawn to it, and analogies (robots, children) that highlight the need for guidance and gratitude in a purposeful human life.

In this talk, Dr Suleyman Sertkaya explores the Prophetic method of education, reflecting on how Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught, nurtured and guided those around him with wisdom, compassion and insight. This lecture was recorded as part of ISRA and Quba Mosque’s event, The Legacy of the Beloved: Reflections on the Life and Example of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

In this episode Dr. Zuleyha Keskin explores why someone can appear religious yet display poor character: from manipulating faith for personal gain to four common reasons: incomplete understanding, focusing on rituals while ignoring character, justifying bad behavior, and blind spots. She emphasises the role of self-awareness, emotional intelligence, prophetic compassion, and seeking honest feedback (muhasabah) as paths toward genuine spiritual transformation.

In this episode of our Risale-i Nur Series, Dr Omer Atilla Ergi reads and explains The Twenty-Third Flash from Said Nursi’s The Flashes. Can nature really create? Through Nursi’s powerful arguments, Dr Ergi explores the claims that things come into existence through nature, causes, or by themselves, and why Nursi argues that creation ultimately points to a Creator.