Prof. Scott Alexander: Hizmet is a social movement for peace

Associate Professor of Islam and Director of Catholic-Muslim Studies Program at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, Scott C. Alexander recently delivered a lecture entitled “A Global Movement for Spiritual Transformation and Societal Peace”, at an event organized by Mersin’s Foundation of Intercultural Dialogue Center (MEKADIM).
Associate Professor of Islam and Director of Catholic-Muslim Studies Program at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, Scott C. Alexander recently delivered a lecture entitled “A Global Movement for Spiritual Transformation and Societal Peace”, at an event organized by Mersin’s Foundation of Intercultural Dialogue Center (MEKADIM).


Date posted: October 14, 2013

Associate Professor of Islam and Director of Catholic-Muslim Studies Program at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, Scott C. Alexander recently delivered a lecture entitled “A Global Movement for Spiritual Transformation and Societal Peace”, at an event organized by Mersin’s Foundation of Intercultural Dialogue Center (MEKADIM). Referring to Hizmet as “a social movement for peace”, which means, as Alexander further underscored, a movement of those who not only fulfill their responsibilities to themselves or to those in their circle but set out to extend a hand to “others” as well so that they can benefit prosperity, spirituality and transformation.

Hizmet combines tradition and values of the contemporary human

“What I have personally observed is that Hizmet is a movement that embraces contrasts and in which everyone can find a place for themselves. It’s a globally transformational movement. It is, on the other hand, able to combine tradition and modernity and bring them around the common values. Although I might not be necessarily exercising your values, I consider myself a part of this movement. The principles that lead the movement are what lead my life as well.” Alexander remarked.

Noting that Hizmet’s participants have a vision and grand ideal of life, “They have a motivation and ambition in the path to God’s pleasure, which are inspired based on the Honorable Gulen’s teachings.” “One of the leading aspects of Hizmet is that it preaches by example. I personally had the opportunity to meet the Honorable Fethullah Gulen. But I can tell you that I had previously met him actually. I had been to a great many places around the world. I had the opportunity to meet Hizmet participants not only in the US but in a vast area ranging from Europe, Turkey, South Africa, Taiwan and Australia. I myself have witnessed in those people how they exercise and model Gulen’s values in their lives,” Alexander said.

Modesty as the common attribute among Hizmet people

Based on his observations, Alexander reflected that modesty, humility, devotion, and doing service for others, preferring others over oneself, commitment to family and instilling family values are the common attributes among Hizmet participants. “If reason does not function in sync with compassion and affection, it can lead to tyranny and despotism,” the professor further noted.

Speaking of the upcoming Eid al-Adha, Alexander “To me, Eid al-Adha is sacrificing one’s life to others’ like Hizmet participants are modeling. Through this devotion and dialogue, those people who have sacrificed themselves to others are shaping and transforming the world. By donating sacrifice animals, you are extending your hands not only to those in your community but others around the globe as well. I have witnessed Eid al-Adha activities in various places. I keep you in my prayers all the time for what you’ve been doing.”

Gulen is a self-sacrificing personality

In response to the question “What struck you most about Fethullah Gulen when you met with him?” Alexander said, “He is a man with no ego at all. He is modest. You can feel his proximity to God as you spend some time and converse with him. His life is all about sacrificing. Apparently, he has devoted and sacrificed himself to others. He himself is presenting a role model in the best way for each and every one of us to see we can do the same. Through his love for God, he is leading us along the way to become a man or woman of love. So, when I think of the Honorable Gulen, what come to my mind are modesty, love for humanity and love for God.”

Source: HizmetMovement.Com , October 14, 2013


Related News

Gülen, Hizmet, the state and the AKP

Gülen has placed much emphasis on education. With a new ijtihad (independent reasoning), he always stated that instead of building a mosque, religious businessmen must establish secular schools that will educate the future’s engineers, doctors, lawyers, journalists and yes, police, prosecutors and judges.

Mosaic Foundation brings together Denver’s prominent people over a friendship dinner

Multicultural Mosaic Foundation in Denver, Colorado, recently held its traditional Dialogue and Friendship Dinner at one of the city’s prestigious venues, Cable Center. Having the author-journalist Mustafa Akyol, on his “Islam without Extremes” promotion tour, as its keynote speaker, the event saw the attendance of several assembly members and senators of the states Colorado and Wyoming.

Autistic child injures self to express grief after father detained in Malaysia: mother

Ten-year-old autistic child of Ihsan Aslan, a Turkish businessman who was detained in Malaysia last week, has been physically harming himself to express his sadness, his mother Ainnurul Aisyah Yunos told press on May 8.

Kimse Yok Mu reaches out to Syrians in joint project with UNHCR

Speaking to Sunday’s Zaman, Kimse Yok Mu Secretary-General Savaş Metin said they have been able to reach out to 17,000 people from 2,900 families with this project, which will conclude by the end of February.

Gülen lawyers file complaint against prosecutors over wrongful probe

Lawyers representing Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen have filed a complaint against two İstanbul prosecutors who are conducting an investigation into their client, accusing them of violating procedural rules in the manner the probe is being conducted. The prosecutors have also lied on many occasions in writing, according to Gülen’s lawyers, who say that the prosecutors […]

Political thunder from Turkey rumbles all the way to New Orleans

And how appalling that they should now be exposed to the atrocious anti-Muslim diatribes of a U.S. presidential candidate not all that different from Erdogan in his threats and his bigotry.

Latest News

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

University refuses admission to woman jailed over Gülen links

In Case You Missed It

“We will root out every single Gülenist from the Balkans,” Erdoğan says in Serbia

Kimse Yok Mu volunteers help restore eyesight to African cataract patients

The US Should Not Extradite Fethullah Gülen, To A Paranoid Turkish Government

‘Parallel state’ and ‘theft of national will’

Cartoonists put Refugees’ Plight on Canvas

Australian PM praises int’l language festival’s contribution to peace

Qatar deports 45 Turkish nationals over Gülen links

Copyright 2024 Hizmet News