Digital Transformation and Governance through the Risale-i Nur: A Foundational Study

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between digital transformation, digital governance, and the Qur'anic worldview through the perspective of the Risale-i Nur by Bediuzzaman Said Nursi. It argues that the principles of precision, recording, preservation, accountability, and order, which constitute the foundations of contemporary digital governance, have deep roots in the Qur'an and the Prophetic tradition. The study adopts an analytical and inductive methodology by examining Qur'anic verses, Prophetic traditions, and selected passages from the Risale-i Nur that emphasize the concepts of divine recording, universal order, and comprehensive preservation. It further analyzes Nursi's interpretations of concepts such as al-Imām al-Mubīn, al-Kitāb al-Mubīn, and the manifestations of Divine Unity as conceptual foundations for an integrated digital governance model. The study concludes that digital transformation is not merely a technological development but can be understood as a value-based system grounded in ethical principles, transparency, justice, and accountability. It also demonstrates that the Risale-i Nur provides an original intellectual framework capable of enriching interdisciplinary studies that integrate Islamic thought with digital technologies and governance. Finally, the study recommends expanding research on AI-assisted Qur'anic studies and developing digital governance models inspired by Islamic ethical values.