Understanding Hizmet Movement

Gülen movement is considered to be one of the most significant social movements that arose from the Muslim world led by Turkish Islamic scholar and preacher Fethullah Gülen who is among the world’s most intriguing religious leaders according to Time Magazine.

The group’s priorities are set by Gülen. It is a modern Turkish-Islamic and non-political movement which functions in many areas from education, media, and healthcare services to interfaith and intercultural dialogue. The movement has no official name or membership structure but it is usually called simply Hizmet (Service) by its followers and it promotes work for the common good.

Movement emerged in 1960’s in the western port city of Izmir. 1970s and ’80s, Fethullah Gülen and his followers expanded their educational operations internationally. Movement runs more than 2,000 educational premises, schools, university departments, language centers in 160 countries. The students and graduates of many of these institutions in Turkey, the Balkans, Europe, Africa, Central Asia and the Far East take top honors in university placement tests and consistently finish at the top in International Science Olympiads. The schools have produced a number of world champions, especially in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology.

Gülen’s followers are also active in other spheres, such as the media. Zaman is the country’s largest-circulation daily newspaper. Movement has also an international news agency, a number of television stations.

The Gülen Movement’s established practice prevent it from identifying itself with or as a specific political individual or actor. It is not an ideologically driven organization. Gülen is against the use of religion as a political ideology. It would be wrong to perceive the Gülen movement as akin to political Islamism. Fethullah Gülen directly criticizes Islamist political thought. He has always supported democracy. He supported Turkey’s EU membership. Says, “There will be no going back from democracy”

Movement is open to innovation and dialogue has become part of the movement’s life. Fethullah Gülen is well versed in both Islamic and Western thought. He regularly refers to Western thinkers in his speeches. Jill Carroll Rice University Professor says “The Fethullah Gülen movement is a chance for humanity”

Ali Eminoglu