Hizmet will continue its mission regardless of attacks

Turkish-Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen
Turkish-Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen


Date posted: August 11, 2014

Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, who, along with the faith-based Hizmet movement, has been subjected to numerous attacks from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has said the movement will continue to perform its mission regardless of circumstances.

The introduction video of Gülen’s latest speech titled, “Düşen Maskeler ve Karakuşî Kararları” (“Fallen Masks and Nonsense, Unlawful Rulings”) was broadcast on Sunday on the Herkul.org website.

In his speech, Gülen tells Hizmet followers that if they are insulted and assaulted by people who only think about their personal interests, they should see it as admiration from God, and they are being tested by those people they once saw as close to them.

Referring to a hadith of Prophet Muhammad, the Islamic scholar said that the difficulty of tests one is subjected to increases in proportion with that person’s depth of religion and strength.

Hizmet and Gülen have been the direct targets of Prime Minister Erdoğan ever since a corruption probe in which some senior government members have been implicated became public on Dec. 17. Erdoğan, who refers to Hizmet as a “parallel state” or “structure,” accuses the movement of being behind the corruption operation.

Erdoğan’s government has taken action to ensure the closure of schools opened by Hizmet followers in many countries around the world. Hizmet-affiliated institutions and schools in Turkey are also under intense pressure from the government.

Gülen said the latest developments have revealed how people who used to appreciate the activities of Hizmet have turned their backs on the movement in return for some financial benefits, hence giving the opportunity for Hizmet to see the real faces of those people.

The Islamic scholar has denied the government’s claims that he or Hizmet have tried to establish a parallel state.

“There is no such thing as a parallel state, and I said may God damn whoever is parallel. You have no worries, do you? You have brought your country, nation, government worldwide prestige. You have not been a parallel [structure],” Gülen said.

Complaining about efforts to close Hizmet-affiliated schools abroad, he said the government asked Russia eight times within a period of two months to close Hizmet schools there.

“The people of Anatolia have opened schools in 160 countries of every color and pattern. They are in a way acting like foreign missions. They introduce our country [to others]. Some people come up and ask for the closure of these schools… There is such hatred, enmity and feeling of revenge that 20 different ways are employed with the evilest of intentions to deter these people [Hizmet followers] who follow the path of the Prophet [Muhammad] from their mission,” he said.

Gülen told followers of the Hizmet movement that they should not be challenged by such attempts, adding that the followers will even do ironworking, polish shoes or knit socks in order to earn money to ensure that Hizmet continues to promote its mission.

The Hizmet movement promotes interfaith dialogue and the resolution of problems through peaceful means throughout the world. 

Source: Today's Zaman , August 10, 2014


Related News

Journalists and Writers Foundation holds media forum in Moscow

Gülen touched in his letter to the forum :The principle of objectivity in the media, which he said is often violated worldwide. “Adopting this principle and reflecting this principle in stories require a strong character, a strong culture, a sense of responsibility and an understanding of putting national interests above anything else.

An unshakable spiritual unity, unique to Hizmet Movement volunteers

Hizmet (Gulen Movement) was discussed by Turkish and American academics at a panel titled “Hizmet: A Transnational Social Movement with Participants in Turkey, the US, and around the World” at Georgetown University. The panel co-sponsored by Rumi Forum was moderated by Prof. John O.Vall, Georgetown University professor of Islamic History. Among the highlights, Prof. Thomas […]

Arrested Turkish Development

Another day, another mass arrest in Turkey. At least 13 journalists were taken into custody in predawn raids Monday morning, including Murat Sabuncu, the editor of Cumhuriyet, the country’s leading secular newspaper.

Turkey’s New Maps Are Reclaiming the Ottoman Empire

Erdogan, by contrast, has given voice to an alternative narrative in which Ataturk’s willingness in the Treaty of Lausanne to abandon territories such as Mosul and the now-Greek islands in the Aegean was not an act of eminent pragmatism but rather a betrayal. The suggestion, against all evidence, is that better statesmen, or perhaps a more patriotic one, could have gotten more.

Fethullah Gulen and Gulen Movement Discussed at German Symposium

The Intercultural Dialog Association in Cologne organized a symposium titled “Fethullah Gulen who Encourages the Dialog Studies”. At a weekend in Cologne, many academics, members of the parliament, representatives of some NGO’s, Turks and Germans attended the symposium.

You cannot fool all the people all the time

In a panic to save its future, the Erdoğan government calling it a “parallel state,” an “illegal organization,” a “criminal gang,” a “web of treason” and “raving Hashashins” is attempting to collectively punish the Hizmet movement, whose establishments have significantly contributed to the betterment of the country in the fields of education, business, democratization, social solidarity and international relations.

Latest News

Fethullah Gulen – man of education, peace and dialogue – passes away

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

In Case You Missed It

Turkish President calls for calm as gov’t defuses tension with Gülen movement

Supreme court calls on AK Party’s Şahin to substantiate claim about Gülen

World media covers possible anti-journalist ops; Turkish press silent

Ishak Alaton: Fethullah Gülen is the most “other” in Turkey

Police detain student over fingerprints on Gülen books

Turkish School Awarded ‘Ukraine’s Best School’

Secular Pakistanis resist Turkey’s ‘authoritarian’ demands

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News