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Fethullah Gülen

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Muhammed Fethullah Gülen
File:Gulen.jpg
Born1941, Erzurum, Turkey[citation needed]
CitizenshipTurkey
EraModern era
RegionMuslim scholar
SchoolHanafi
Main interests
Sufism, Mainstream Islamic thought, education, interfaith dialogue among the people of the book.
Notable ideas
service (hizmet); interfaith dialogue; civil society (Some pictures of Gülen together with religious and community leaders)

Muhammed Fethullah Gülen (born 27 April,1941)[citation needed] is a Turkish philosopher, [1][verification needed][2] [verification needed] modernist Islamic scholar, writer, and leader of the Gülen movement. He is the author of over 60 books.[3][unreliable source?][4][unreliable source?]

Gülen's proclaimed ideal is to promote peaceful coexistence, and dialog of civilizations[5][unreliable source?] at the international scale,[6][unreliable source?][7][8][unreliable source?] and to see a renaissance of the modern Muslim world in the local scale.[9] Fethullah Gülen has started a movement. In many countries schools are opened according to his philosophy. These schools are intended to promote peace and dialog in general[10][11][12] and offer a moderate vision of Islam in Muslim countries.[13][14]

Gülen teaches an Anatolian version of traditional mainstream Islam,[15]. Gülen condemns any kind of terrorism,[16][unreliable source?] and supports interfaith dialog among the people of the book. He initiated such dialogue with the Vatican and some Jewish organizations by meeting Jewish and Christian leaders, including the Pope.[17][unreliable source?][18][verification needed]

Gülen is characterized in the media as one of the world's most important Muslim figures,[19] with the Gülen movement as one of the world's leading Muslim movements.[12][19] Gülen has been the subject of several academic studies.[20][unreliable source?][21][22][23][24]

Gülen and his movement have been praised by Islamic and non-Muslim organisations.[6][7][25][unreliable source?][26][unreliable source?] These supporters tend to view the movement as a modernist and moderate form of Islam; a potential counterbalance to extremism.[13][27] His movement has its base in Turkey and forms a significant factor in Turkish society.[8][28][29][unreliable source?] There are also some controversies around Gülen. Some secularists claim that his objective is to abolish Turkey's secular state; although court rulings have not supported this.[30][unreliable source?] On the other hand, some hardline radical groups criticize his interfaith dialog efforts.

Biography

Gülen was born in the village of Korucuk, near Erzurum. His father, Ramiz Gülen, was an imam. Gülen started primary education at his home village, but did not continue after his family moved, and instead focused on informal Islamic education.[31] He gave his first sermon when he was 14.[32] He was influenced by the ideas of Said Nursi and Maulana Jalaluddeen Rumi.[33]

Gülen never met Said Nursi, who died in 1960. By the end of the 1970s Gülen broke ranks with the mainstream Nurcu movement [citation needed] (or Nur movement, i.e., the group following Nursi), which was governed by a council of elders,[citation needed] and created his own institutions in which he was the sole leader.[citation needed] Comparing Gülen to leaders in the Nur movement, Hakan Yavuz said, "Gülen is more Turkish nationalist in his thinking. Also, he is somewhat more state-oriented, and is more concerned with market economics and neo-liberal economic policies."[34]

His pro-business stance has led some outsiders to dub his theology an Islamic version of Calvinism.[35] Oxford Analytica says:

"Gülen put Nursi's ideas into practice when he was transferred to a mosque in Izmir in 1966. Izmir is a city where political Islam never took root. However, the business and professional middle class came to resent the constraints of a state bureaucracy under whose wings it had grown, and supported market-friendly policies, while preserving at least some elements of a conservative lifestyle. Such businessmen were largely pro-Western, because it was Western (mainly U.S.) influence, which had persuaded the government to allow free elections for the first time in 1950 and U.S. aid, which had primed the pump of economic growth." [36]

Gülen retired from formal preaching duties in 1981. From 1988 to 1991 he gave a series of sermons in popular mosques of major cities. These activities elevated him to a public figure. In 1994, he participated in the founding of "Journalists and Writers Foundation"[37] and was given the title "Honorary President" by the foundation.[38] He did not make any comment regarding the closures of the Welfare Party in 1998 [39] or the Virtue Party in 2001.[40] He has met some politicians like Tansu Çiller and Bülent Ecevit, but he avoids meeting with the leaders of Islamic political parties.[40]

In 1998 Gülen emigrated to the United States, ostensibly for health problems (he suffers from diabetes and heart disease) but arguably in anticipation of being tried over remarks (aired after his emigration to US) which seemed to favor an Islamic state.[41] In June 1999, after Gulen had left Turkey video tapes were sent to some Turkey TV stations with recordings of Gulen saying, "the existing system is still in power. Our friends who have positions in legislative and administrative bodies should learn its details and be vigilant all the time so that they can transform it and be more fruitful on behalf of Islam in order to carry out a nationwide restoration. However, they should wait until the conditions become more favorable. In other words, they should not come out too early."[42] Gülen complained that the remarks were taken out of context,[43] and questions were raised about the authenticity of the tape, which he accused of having been "manipulated". Gülen was tried in absentia in 2000, and acquitted in 2006.[44] The Supreme Court of Appeals later rejected an appeal by the Chief Prosecutor's Office.[45]

Theology

Gülen does not advocate a new theology but refers to classical authorities of theology and takes up their line of argument; his understanding of Islam is thus conservative and mainstream.[46][47] Though he has never been a member of a Sufi tarekat and does not see tarekat membership as a necessity for Muslims, he teaches that Sufism is the inner dimension of Islam and the inner and outer dimensions must never be separated.[48] His teachings differ in emphasis from those of other mainstream, moderate Islamic scholars in two respects, both based on his interpretations of particular verses of the Qur'an: he teaches that the Muslim community has a duty of service (Turkish: hizmet)[49] to the “common good” of the community and the nation [50] and to Muslims and non-Muslims all over the world;[51] also, the Muslim community is obliged to conduct interfaith dialogue with the "People of the Book" (Jews and Christians).[52]

Gülen has roundly condemned terrorism using Islamic reasoning, but in 2004 debate arose over comments by Gülen to the effect that terrorism was as despicable as atheism.[53] In a follow-up interview he explained 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.[54]

Service (hizmet) to the common good

Gülen's teachings about hizmet (altruistic service to the "common good") have attracted a large number of supporters in Turkey and Central Asia and increasingly in other parts of the world.[citation needed] These supporters and their activities are commonly known as the Gülen Movement.

Interfaith and intercultural dialogue

Gulen movement participants have founded a number of institutions across the world which promote interfaith and intercultural dialogue activities. While Gülen's earlier works are (in Bekim Agai's words) "full of anti-missionary and anti-Western passages",[55] during the 1990s he began to advocate interreligious tolerance and dialogue.[18] He personally met with leaders of other religions, including Pope John Paul II, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomeos, and Israeli Sephardic Head Rabbi Eliyahu Bakshi-Doron.[56] In recent years, movement initiated dialogue with also those of no faith. For example, the Dialogue Society in London, which is inspired by Gülen’s teaching, has more atheist and agnostic members of its Advisory Board than it has Muslims.[57]

Similar to Said Nursi, Gülen favors cooperation between followers of different religions (this would also include different forms of Islam, such as Sunnism vs. Alevism in Turkey) as well as religious and secular elements within society. He has been described as "very critical of the regimes in Iran and Saudi Arabia" due to their undemocratic, sharia-based systems of government.[39]

Women's roles

According to Aras and Caha, Gülen's views on women are "progressive" but "modern professional women in Turkey still find his ideas far from acceptable." [39] Gülen says the coming of Islam saved women, who "were absolutely not confined to their home and...never oppressed" in the early years of the religion. He feels that western-style feminism, however, is "doomed to imbalance like all other reactionary movements...being full of hatred towards men."[58]

In the Turkish context Gülen appears relatively conservative and religiously observant. For example, he supports the view that women should wear headscarfs,[39] and his female followers usually wear them.[59]

Publications

Gülen has authored over 60 books [60] 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. Several of his books have been translated into English (see: Books by Gülen Books on Gülen and the Gülen Movement).

Views on contemporary issues

Secularism

Gülen’s Islamic teaching and practice was developed in the forge of Turkey’s 20th century project to create a secular state, as initiated by the Turkish nationalist revolution of Atatürk. That project became an ideologically “secularist” one, locked in symbiotic conflict with an “Islamist” reaction. Arising from that context, Gülen has criticized a politics rooted in a philosophically reductionist materialism. But he has also argued that Islam and democracy are compatible and he encourages greater democracy within Turkey. He also argues that a secular approach that is not anti-religious and allows for freedom of religion and belief is compatible with Islam. [57]

Turkey bid to EU

Gulen favors Turkey's bid to EU and argue that neither Turkey nor the European Union have anything to fear, but have much to gain, from a future of full Turkish membership in the EU.[57]

Terrorism

Gülen condemns any kind of terrorism.[16] He warns against the phenomenon of arbitrary violence and aggression against civilians, that is terrorism, which has no place in Islam and which militates against its very foundational tenets of reverence for human life and for all of God's creation. In an article that he wrote for the Turkish Daily News a few days after the horrific events of September 11, 2001 titled "Real Muslims Cannot Be Terrorists," [61] Gülen lamented the deplorable hijacking of Islam by terrorists who claimed to be Muslims and acting out of religious conviction. He counseled that "One should seek Islam through its own sources and in its own representatives throughout history; not through the actions of a tiny minority that misrepresent it.[18]

Gaza Flotilla

Gülen criticized the Turkish-led Gaza flotilla for trying to deliver aid without Israel's consent. He spoke of watching the news coverage of the deadly confrontation between Israeli commandos and Turkish aid group members as its flotilla approached Israel's sea blockade of Gaza. "What I saw was not pretty," he said. "It was ugly.". He continued his criticism. The "organizers' failure to seek accord with Israel before attempting to deliver aid "is a sign of defying authority, and will not lead to fruitful matters." [62]

See also

References

  1. ^ Foreign Policy: The World’s Top 20 Public Intellectuals
  2. ^ Carroll, B. Jill[dead link] (2007). A Dialogue of Civilizations: Gülen's Islamic Ideals and Humanistic Discourse. The Light, Inc. {{cite book}}: External link in |author= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ Fethullah Gülen's works: English books
  4. ^ Fethullah Gülen's works: Turkish books
  5. ^ Academic says West knows little of Gülen's contributions, Zaman
  6. ^ a b Gülen movement invites people to unity, says famous rabbi, Today's Zaman
  7. ^ a b Former Norwegian PM: Our center takes same approach as Gülen
  8. ^ a b A modern Ottoman[dead link], Prospect, Issue 148, July 2008
  9. ^ Reuters: Turkish Islamic preacher – threat or benefactor?[dead link]
  10. ^ Munley, Ann. "Contributions of the Gülen Community to Muslim Dynamism and Education" conference held on March 3rd, 2008 at Marywood University.
  11. ^ Guardian: Islamic scholar voted world's No 1 thinker
  12. ^ a b Forbes: Gülen Inspires Muslims Worldwide
  13. ^ a b {{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/04/world/asia/04islam.html?ex=1367640000&en=625b88103a702f94&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink%7Cfirst=Sabrina%7Clast=Tavernise%7Cauthorlink=Sabrina Tavernise|title=Turkish Schools Offer Pakistan a Gentler Vision of Islam|date=2008-05-04|work=New York Times}}
  14. ^ Cutting Edge: An icon of universal peace
  15. ^ Sunni /Hanafi
  16. ^ a b Fethullah Gülen: A life dedicated to peace and humanity- True Muslims Cannot Be Terrorists
  17. ^ Fethullah Gülen: Interfaith-intercultural dialog meetings
  18. ^ a b c Toward a Global Civilization of Love and Tolerance
  19. ^ a b Economist: Global Muslim networks, How far they have traveled
  20. ^ Academic Conference Papers[dead link]
  21. ^ Scholar Search
  22. ^ House of Lords: Gülen Conference
  23. ^ Georgetown University: Gülen Conference
  24. ^ University of Oklahoma: Gülen Conference
  25. ^ Alevi respect to Gülen
  26. ^ Gursoy, Idris (2008-03-01). "Feb. 21 declared 'Gülen Institute Day' in Houston". Today's Zaman. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  27. ^ Interview with Sabrina Tavernise, World View Podcasts, New York Times, May 4, 2008
  28. ^ Meria Journal: Fethullah Gülen and his liberal 'Turkish Islam' movement[dead link]
  29. ^ Fethullah Gülen Web Sitesi – "I.lhan Selçuk Türkiye'dir"; Öyle mi?
  30. ^ Appeals court unanimously upholds Fethullah Gülen acquittal
  31. ^ An interview with Fethullah Gülen's primary school teacher
  32. ^ http://tr.fgulen.com/a.page/hayati/hayat.kronolojisi/a4443.html
  33. ^ The Gulen Movement: Communicating Modernization, Tolerance, and Dialogue in the Islamic World. The International Journal of the Humanities, Volume 6, Issue 12, pp.67-78.
  34. ^ http://religion.info/english/interviews/article_74.shtml
  35. ^ http://en.qantara.de/webcom/show_article.php/_c-478/_nr-907/i.html
  36. ^ "Gulen Inspires Muslims Worldwide". Forbes.
  37. ^ http://www.gyv.org.tr/changelang.asp?lang=2&page2go=http://www.gyv.org.tr/
  38. ^ The Journalists and Writers Foundation Official Web Site
  39. ^ a b c d http://www.biu.ac.il/SOC/besa/meria/journal/2000/issue4/jv4n4a4.html
  40. ^ a b Clement M. Henry, Rodney Wilson, The politics of Islamic Finance, Edinburgh University Press (2004), p 236
  41. ^ "Turkish investigation into Islamic sect expanded". BBC News. 21 June 1999. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  42. ^ Clement M. Henry, Rodney Wilson, The politics of Islamic Finance, (Edinburgh University Press 2004), p. 236
  43. ^ Gülen's answers to claims made based on the video tapes taken from some of his recorded speeches
  44. ^ WorldWide Religious News-Gulen acquitted of trying to overthrow secular government
  45. ^ http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=145680
  46. ^ Robert W. Hefner, Muhammad Qasim Zaman, Schooling Islam: the culture and politics of modern Muslim education (Princeton University Press, 2007) p. 162-3.
  47. ^ Portrait of Fethullah Gülen, A Modern Turkish-Islamic Reformist
  48. ^ Thomas Michel S.J., Sufism and Modernity in the Thought of Fethullah Gülen, The Muslim World, Vol. 95 No. 3, July 2005, p.345-5
  49. ^ Mehmet Kalyoncu, A Civilian Response to Ethno-Religious Conflict: The Gülen Movement in Southeast Turkey (Tughra Books, 2008), pp. 19-40
  50. ^ Berna Turam, Between Islam and the State: The Politics of Engagement (Stanford University Press 2006) p. 61
  51. ^ Saritoprak, Z. and Griffith, S. Fethullah Gülen and the 'People of the Book': A Voice from Turkey for Interfaith Dialogue, The Muslim World, Vol. 95 No. 3, July 2005, p.337-8
  52. ^ Saritoprak, Z. and Griffith, S. Fethullah Gülen and the 'People of the Book': A Voice from Turkey for Interfaith Dialogue, The Muslim World, Vol. 95 No. 3, July 2005, p.337-8
  53. ^ Fethullah Gülen and Atheist-Terrorist Comparison
  54. ^ http://arama.hurriyet.com.tr/arsivnews.aspx?id=219352
  55. ^ http://en.fgulen.com/conference-papers/294-the-fethullah-gulen-movement-i/2132-discursive-and-organizational-strategies-of-the-gulen-movement.html
  56. ^ Advocate of Dialogue: Fethullah Gülen
  57. ^ a b c European Muslims, Civility and Public Life Perspectives On and From the Gülen Movement
  58. ^ http://en.fgulen.com/recent-articles/2897-women-confined-and-mistreated.html
  59. ^ "A farm boy on the world stage". The Economist. 6 March 2008.
  60. ^ http://tr.fgulen.com/content/section/30/3/
  61. ^ Muslims Cannot Be Terrorists
  62. ^ [1] Wall Street Journal, Joe Lauria, Reclusive Turkish Imam Criticizes Gaza Flotilla, June 4, 2010

External links

The Gülen movement

Other sources

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