Risalei

Risalei is a term used in Islamic and Turkic literary contexts to denote a treatise or epistle. In Arabic, the singular is risāla and the plural rasā'il, while in Turkish the form Risale-i is commonly used as a prefix in the titles of specific treatises and collections. The plural form in Turkish is risaleler.

The word Risāla signifies a written work that conveys a message, guidance, or argument, typically on theology, jurisprudence, spirituality, or related topics. As a genre, risā'il range from short letters to extensive compendiums, and they appear across centuries and languages within the Islamic world. In Turkish and Persian, the construction Risale-i X indicates “the X treatise,” and many important works are known by such titles, often reflecting a planned or organized argument or teaching.

A well-known modern example is the Risale-i Nur Collection by Said Nursi, a 20th-century Turkish series of Qur'anic commentaries and spiritual treatises intended for lay readers and scholars alike. It emphasizes faith, ethics, and rational reflection, and has influenced contemporary Islamic thought and education in Turkey and beyond. Beyond that collection, numerous classical and regional risā'il continue to form part of religious, philosophical, and legal scholarship, illustrating the enduring role of treatises in Islamic intellectual history.

See also: Risala, Risalah, Rasa'il.