The Hizmet (Gulen)
Movement
An attempt at the description
A
transnational,
 faith based,
 civil society movement.
Muhammad Fethullah Gulen
(1941-)
 Scholar,
preacher,
activist.
Historical Overview

Late 60s,
 educational

initiatives within Turkey
Late 80s,
 the dissolution of the communist
 expansion to the Central Asia.

block
Last two decades
a
truly transnational phenomenon.
Ideals and Values
 Problems:
Poverty, ignorance, rivalry
 Cures: Education and dialogue
 In search of a synthesis
 Serving creation
is serving God
The Dimensions of the Hizmet
Movement
 Education
 Interfaith-Intercultural
Dialogue
 Media
 Business
Associations
 Humanitarian Aid
 Healthcare
Education (Schools)
Non-denominational
 Non-religious
 Academic success
 “Peace Islands”

Interfaith-Intrafaith Dialogue
Activities
Conferences
 Trips
 Dinners
 Platforms
 Institutes
 Magazines

Organizational Structure
Highly de-centralized
 Loosely organized
 No membership

Berrin
Fundraising
Solely relying on donations.
 Local fundraisings
 Principle of giving

Outreach and Social Network
 Discussion
Groups
Magazines, Books, Newspapers
 Audio/Video Recordings
 TVs, Radios

Terrorism-9/11
 Gulen:
“Taking an innocent life,
for any purpose whatsoever, is
incompatible with Islam.”
Politics
 No
partisanship.
 Gulen: “There is no return from
democracy which is, although not
perfect, the best form of
governance we have.”
Sufism
Not a Sufi order
 Spiritual depth in practicing religion
 F. Gulen, Emerald Hills of the Heart

Some Recent Studies
Helen R. Ebaugh, A Sociological Analysis
of the Gulen Movement
 J. Esposito, I. Yilmaz, Islam and
Peacebuilding
