Your third principle

 

You should know that all your power lies in sincerity and truth. Indeed, power lies in truth and sincerity. Even those who are wrong may have power through sincerity despite being wrong.

The service of the Qur’an and belief are evidence of the fact that power lies in truth and sincerity. What we have been trying to do here for seven or eight years of service has been a hundred times greater than my twenty years of service to learning and the Religion in my native region and in Istanbul. Moreover, while in my region and Istanbul I had hundreds more assistants than my brothers and sisters who work with me now, here I am alone, a stranger, and under the surveillance of unjust officials and am persecuted by them. Therefore, I have no doubt that the power which makes our seven or eight years of service here a hundred times more successful than my former twenty years of service comes from your sincerity. I also confess that through your profound sincerity you have saved me to an extent from the ostentation that results from the fame and renown which flattered my soul. I hope God will enable you to attain perfect sincerity and cause me to gain it as well.

You know that all heroes of spirituality support you due to your sincerity. If you want to receive their constant support, you should attain perfect sincerity as described in, they prefer them (their brothers and sisters in religion) over themselves (59: 9).

Prefer the souls of your brothers and sisters to your own in honor, position, public approval, and even in things like the material benefits of which the carnal soul is enamored. Be so magnanimous that you are pleased that a friend of yours, not yourself, conveys a most subtle and fine truth of belief to those who are in need of it, thus saving you from feeling conceited. If you desire to gain a reward by conveying such truths, it is harmless and does not incur a sin, but the spirit of sincerity and magnanimity, which should always exist among you, may be damaged.

Bediuzzaman Said Nursi