Misplaced Pages

Fethullah Gülen

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Arnoutf (talk | contribs) at 20:04, 29 May 2009 (Reverted 1 edit by Nurefsan; Discussed before: Consensus-Sources not reliable-Version POV - Revert-Do not set back. (TW)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Revision as of 20:04, 29 May 2009 by Arnoutf (talk | contribs) (Reverted 1 edit by Nurefsan; Discussed before: Consensus-Sources not reliable-Version POV - Revert-Do not set back. (TW))(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
The neutrality of this article is disputed. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until conditions to do so are met. (January 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
M. Fethullah Gülen
Religious life
ReligionIslam
Muslim leader
Based inTurkey

Fethullah Gülen (born 27 April 1941) is an Islamic preacher and educator from Turkey, and leader of the Gülen movement.

He is the author of over 60 books.

Biography

M. Fethullah Gülen was born in Erzurum, Turkey in 1941. He started primary education at his home village, but did not continue after his family moved, and instead focused on informal Islamic education. He gave his first sermon when he was 14. He became a follower of Said Nursi, an Islamic leader, before he was 18. In 1959 he was awarded a state preacher's license in Edirne. In 1966 he was transferred to a post in İzmir. It was here that Gülen's recurring themes began to crystallize and his audience base began to expand. He also traveled around the provinces in Anatolia and gave sermons in mosques, town meetings and coffee houses among other places. From İzmir on, he placed a special emphasis on promulgating his ideas to high school and college students and recruiting them for his movement.

The range of topics in his speeches was more diverse than that of other Islamic preachers; he talked about education, science, Darwinism, the economy and social justice. As such, he gained a large following in society . More broadly, adopting a theme that was previous explored by Said-i Nursi, he envisioned a society of devout Muslims who nevertheless would adopt methods and technical knowledge that led to the West's superiority over the Muslim world . . His popularity was aided by the emotional intensity of his sermons; at the climax he would display great emotion, often burst into tears. All his sermons have been taped and published regularly.

In spite of the accusations, there have not been any court decisions against Gülen. A recent decision based on the accusations by the Appeals Court unanimously upheld Fethullah Gülen acquittal. The court’s decision emphasized that the claims against Gülen were “unreal and inconclusive.”

By the end of the 1970s he broke ranks with the mainstream Nur (light) movement which was governed by a council of elders and instituted his own where he was the sole leader. Gülen retired from formal preaching duties in 1981. From 1988 to 1991 he gave a series of sermons in popular mosques of major cities. His long career had made him a well-known figure in Islamic circles, and in particular, within the Nurcu movement, however, it was the Islamic political activism and his courtship with the center-right political parties in the 1990s that made him a public figure. In 1994, he helped in the founding of "Journalists and Writers Foundation". and was given the title "Honorary Leader" by the foundation.

Philosophy and activities

Gülen's published works in the 1990s advocated dialogue among communities and faiths, tolerance, and acceptance of others. He personally met with religious leaders, including Pope John Paul II, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomeos, and Israeli Sephardic Head Rabbi Eliyahu Bakshi-Doron.

According to Gülen his theological views lie solidly within the Turkish Sunni mainstream while being more responsive to modern world than other Islamic movements . He has also adopted the views and tradition of founder of the Nur (light) movement, Said Nursi.

Gülen claims the modern world is plagued by individuals' lack of faith, and in particular, the failure to adopt scientific methods while in the same time preserving moral values and belief in God. Gülen argues that faith can be scientifically proven, and that science can benefit from or requires a moral foundation from religion.

He has guided his supporters to open about 500 educational institutions in more than 90 countries in Eurasia, Africa and North America.

The Gülen movement

The Gülen movement consists of volunteer organizations that are ideologically connected under the leadership of Gülen. The predominantly Turkish volunteers, who are educated or have received support from the institutions founded by the movement, run more than a thousand schools all over the world. It has founded universities of its own, an employers' association, unions, and hundreds of sub-organizations, lobby groups, and student bodies. The movement as a whole counts several hundred thousand of members, making it one of the largest Islamic movements in Turkey.

One of the main characteristics of the movement is that it is faith-based but not faith-limited. There are many Christians, even at the community leadership level, in several countries feel themselves close to or inspired by the movement.

In an article in The Economist, the Gülen movement is reported as a Turkish-based movement, vying to be recognized as the world's leading Muslim network .

Ann Munley, president of Pennsylvania's Marywood University, has stated that "Turkish people establish schools all across the world and show great self-sacrifice in educating people of all races and religions. The Gülen movement considerably contributes to the establishment of these schools." In a recent article titled 'Turkish Schools Offer Pakistan a Gentler Vision of Islam', in New York Times, it is stated that the Turkish schools, which have expanded to seven cities in Pakistan since the first one opened a decade ago, offer an alternative approach that could help reduce the influence of extremism .

Professor Thomas Michel from Georgetown University expressed belief that the Gülen movement is not political in nature.

Doctor B. Jill Carroll of Rice University in Houston, has noted in an Interfaith Voices program, an independent public radio show that promotes interfaith understanding through dialogue, that the Gülen movement has become a global and transnational one:'Gülen has greatly impacted three generations in Turkey. He also influences considerable masses all across the world with his speeches and deeds. He leads a very modest life. Thousands of institutions have been established all around the globe by the Gülen movement, but he doesn’t undertake the administration of even one of them. When people see such aspects of this movement, they say ‘these are not Muslims in words, they are real Muslims' . She also praised Turkish schools, established around the globe with Gülen’s pioneering. 'These schools invest in the future and aim at creating a community that offers equal opportunities for everyone.'

A world-famous Turkish sociologist Nilüfer Göle, known for her studies on modernization and conservatism, classified the Gülen movement and the schools governed by the movement as the world's most global movement. She stated that Turkish schools bring people of different ethnic and religious backgrounds together in peace .

A recent article titled 'A modern Ottoman' says: 'Fethullah Gülen leads a global movement inspired by Sufi ideas. He promotes an open brand of Islamic thought and he is preoccupied with modern science.' It also states, 'He and his movement are at home with technology, markets and multinational business and especially with modern communications and public relations.' .

Gülen Thoughts on Terrorism

Gülen does not approve use of Islam and terrorism together . That is, he agrees that such terrorism exists but argues that it is not Islamic or Muslim. He has written an article in response to the September 11 attacks saying:

We condemn in the strongest of terms the latest terrorist attack on the United States of America, and feel the pain of the American people at the bottom of our hearts.

A question asked by Nuriye Akman: It appears that al-Qaeda network has a cell in Turkey. You explained about the religious side of the matter. Does it have different meanings as well? And he said: "One of the people in the world I hate the most is Bin Laden, because he has spoiled the bright appearance of Islam. He has created a dirty image. Even if we try to fix that terrible damage with all our best, it would take years. We will tell about it everywhere in different platforms. We will write books about it. We will say, 'this is not Islam.' Bin Laden replaced Islamic logic with his feelings and desires. He is a monster, as are the men around him. If there is any one similar to them, they too are nothing more than monsters."

Works

Gülen has authored over 60 books and many articles on a variety of topics: social, political and religious issues, art, science and sports, and recorded thousands of audio and video cassettes. He contributes to a number of journals and magazines owned by his followers. He writes the lead article for the Fountain, Yeni Ümit, Sızıntı, and Yağmur, Islamic and philosophical magazines in Turkey.

Bibliography in English

Pearls of Wisdom, Emerald Hills of the Heart, Prophet Muhammed as Commander, Questions and Answers, Essentials of the Islamic Faith, The Infinite Light vol 1–2, Towards the Lost Paradise, Truth Through Colors, Muhammad: The Messenger of God, Questions and Answers about Faith, Towarda Global Civilization of Love and Tolerance, Key Concepts in the Practice of Sufism (3 vols), The Statues of Our Souls, etc. His Books

Controversies

Gülen is a controversial figure for some secularists in Turkey.Template:Http://www.newsweek.com/id/197896 While his followers and some part of Turkish society respects him as a humanistic figure at the service of Islam, another portion of society perceives him as a significant threat who aims to transform the country's secular system. For example, his followers' concern for education for all does not include education for women. Template:Http://www.newsweek.com/id/197896

He has been living in the United States since 1998. Several months after Gülen had moved to the United States to receive better treatment for his health problems (he suffers from diabetes and a range of its side effects) a scandal developed. Gülen was claimed to have urged his followers in the judiciary and public service to "work patiently for the sake of the (Islamic) state." In 2000 Gülen was prosecuted for inciting his followers to plot the overthrow of Turkey's secular government. He was acquitted in 2006. The Supreme Court of Appeals has rejected the Chief Prosecutor's Office's objection to the acquittal of Fethullah Gülen . This is the final decision for his long trial process started in 2000.

The authenticity of the tapes used in the scandal is debated. Gülen explained the footage in question was taken out of context (he was giving advice to a group of official employees who felt marginalized by other groups within the state system that wanted them gone), and that he cannot be judged for intent, only deeds.

Gülen's appeal to various ideological strands in Turkey differs. His supporters probably constitute the most influential Islamic and political movements in Turkey both for its human and financial capital. Various other shades of the Islamic movement and conservative segments of society are generally sympathetic to him. For the elites, the ranks are broken by certain liberals, who point out that Gülen's group, at least in its public representation, has proven to be most willing to evolve and most open to international influence.

Due to its spearheading westernization and secularization since the late Ottoman era, and later founding the secular republic under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the military has always viewed Islamic movements with suspicion and since the 1980s has identified Gülen's group as a threat to the republic. In 1986, a military court has determined the existence of Gülen's supporters in the military academy and the group was purged. From then on, the Turkish military has repeatedly alleged that Gülen tries to infiltrate its ranks and pressured politicians to take action against Gülen.

Gülen was widely criticized in 2004 when he, in contrast with his public calls for tolerance, commented that he considered terrorism to be equally despicable as atheism. In a follow-up interview he declared he did not intend to equate atheists and murderers; rather, he wanted to highlight the fact that according to Islam both were destined to suffer eternal punishment.

References

  1. http://tr.fgulen.com/content/section/30/3/
  2. An interview with Fethullah Gülen's primary school teacher
  3. http://tr.fgulen.com/a.page/hayati/hayat.kronolojisi/a4443.html
  4. Konya DGM Başsavcılığı, 1987/60 Hz. 1987/21 K. 15.06.1987 T.; Ankara DGM Başsavcılığı, 1992/256 Hz. 1992/137 K. 14.10.1992 T.; Ankara DGM Başsavcılığı, 1995/304 Hz. 1995/232 K. 20.11.1995 T.; Ankara DGM Başsavcılığı, 1997/18 Hz. 1998/24 K. 20.03.1998 T.; İstanbul DGM Başsavcılığı, 1998/1283 Hz. 1998/209 K. 25.06.1998 T.
  5. http://www.gyv.org.tr/changelang.asp?lang=2&page2go=http://www.gyv.org.tr/
  6. The Journalists and Writers Foundation Official Web Site
  7. Toward a Global Civilization of Love and Tolerance
  8. Advocate of Dialogue: Fethullah Gülen
  9. Yeni Aktüel Weekly Magazine, 11–17 October 2005, No:13.
  10. M. Hakan Yavuz and John L. Esposito, eds. Turkish Islam and the Secular State: The Gülen Movement (Syracuse University Press, 2003)
  11. Qantara.de - Porträt Fethullah Gülen - Ein moderner türkisch-islamischer Reformdenker?
  12. Guardian Unlimited | Archive Search
  13. "Contributions of the Gülen Community to Muslim Dynamism and Education" conference. March 3rd, 2008. Marywood University.
  14. "This movement has never been engaged in politics. It has reached millions of children all across the world and helped with their education regardless of their races, languages, religions and nationalities. This is a great self-sacrifice and success."
  15. Fethullah Gülen: A life dedicated to peace and humanity - True Muslims Cannot Be Terrorists
  16. Fethullah Gülen: A life dedicated to peace and humanity - Fethullah Gulen's Response to the Sep 11 Terrorist Attack on US
  17. Fethullah Gülen: A life dedicated to peace and humanity - Islam Abhors Acts of Terror
  18. Fethullah Gülen: A life dedicated to peace and humanity - Muslims Should Say, "In True Islam, Terror does not Exist."
  19. http://tr.fgulen.com/content/section/30/3/
  20. BBC News | Europe | Turkish investigation into Islamic sect expanded
  21. WorldWide Religious News-Gulen acquitted of trying to overthrow secular government
  22. Gülen's answers to claims made based on the video tapes taken from some of his recorded speeches
  23. ,,BBC News: Army chief demands Islamist purge
  24. Fethullah Gülen and Atheist-Terrorist Comparison

External links

The Gülen movement

Other sources

Categories: