Amir Hussain on Fethullah Gulen and Hizmet Movement


Date posted: October 6, 2014

Dr. Amir Hussain is a professor of Theological Studies at Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles. He has written numerous scholarly articles, and his area of research is on the study of Islam, specifically contemporary Muslim societies in North America.

In his talk, Amir Hussain focuses on Hizmet Movement’s drive to “go out into the world as Muslims” and “do service, do justice”. Commenting on the many layers in which the Hizmet Movement provides a vehicle for people to serve others, he notes, “So, it’s not that to be religious you have to be an imam and lead the prayers in the masjid. You can be a journalist, you can be a photographer, you can be a teacher… you can live your life as a good Muslim.”

“I think the Hizmet Movement is perhaps the best face that Islam can have to say, ‘Here we are as Muslims.’”

“… here you’ve got this great movement that comes out of Islam in Turkey, to say, “how is it that we are to live our lives as Muslims?”

Well, first of all, we’re supposed to be good Muslims. We’re supposed to be observant, we’re supposed to be practicing… we do all the things that make us Muslims.

But then, how do we go out in the world as Muslims?

What are the things we’re required to do?

And we’re required to do service, we’re required to do justice.

And that’s really one of the key things about the Hizmet Movement, is that it provides a vehicle for people to do that.”

“I think, the key contribution of the Hizmet Movement, what makes it unique, is the emphasis on interfaith, the tremendous work that is being done there. The second thing, would be the emphasis on education.”

*Produced by Spectra Media exclusively for Irmak TV, Atlas of Thoughts (Fikir Atlasi) connects the scholars, politicians, jurists, religious figures, journalists, and academics reflecting on Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gulen and the Hizmet Movement with the audience. Each episode features a person from a different segment of the society with diverse experiences regarding the Hizmet activities and its volunteers. If you are interested to hear about the Hizmet and Mr. Gulen from these people’s perspectives, do not miss this show!

Source: Spectra Media

Tags: | | | |


Related News

This is too much! [About the Lies and Slanders directed to Gulen movement]

Prime minister said during the fourth ordinary general meeting of the Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON) in March of 2012:
“You are not backed by dark forces. You are not backed by the mafia, gangs, junta regimes. You are not backed by the bankers in Galata. You did not take advantage of the sources of the Treasury or public banks. You did not act according to an ideology. You did not surrender to the pressures and roadblocks. You only trusted in the people. Because you only relied on people, you are great and make this country great.”

Turkish Cultural Center in West Haven hit with graffiti in wake of unrest

Usually, if you hear about a particular ethnic group that’s a victim of graffiti, it’s from some other ethnic group or someone who doesn’t understand their culture. But a building facing the Turkish Cultural Center Connecticut recently was tagged — for the second time in three years — with graffiti that appears to be an extension of a political battle raging within Turkey itself.

Fethullah Gülen’s Message of Condolences and Condemnation of the Terrorist Attack in Istanbul

Fethullah Gülen: I condemn, in the strongest terms, the cruel terrorist attack carried out beside the Istanbul Beşiktaş Football Stadium that cost the lives of 44 of Turkish citizens, the majority of whom are members of the security forces.

Zephyrs from the Presence, the latest book by Ahmet Kurucan…

The book, Huzurdan Esintiler (Zephyrs from the Presence), published by Işık (Light) Publications in 2012, is a total of 216 pages. The author collected the articles he had previously written for Zaman, a Turkish daily newspaper, and his new articles in this book. The shared subject of these articles written in various occasions is Fethullah Gulen. In this article of both presentation and criticism I will attempt to underline these two matters: Firstly, how does Kurucan describe the conversational environment with Gulen, and secondly, how exactly does the author illustrate Gulen’s portrait?

Fatih University graduates receive Feb. 28-like treatment at İstanbul University

Some graduates of the İstanbul-based Fatih University, affiliated with the faith-based Hizmet movement, have become the latest victims of the battle launched by the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government against the movement, as they have been subjected to apparent discrimination during post-graduate interviews at state-run İstanbul University, reminiscent of the days of the Feb. 28 military coup.

Erdoğan’s AKP runs out of steam, then what?

We are now in the midst of a system crisis with unprecedented dimensions and unforeseen consequences. Turkey’s fiercely embattled Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is betting whatever the country has gained over the past years on a game of prospects that will either lead to a downfall, or turn the stakes in such favor for himself so as to speed up his irresistible rise to untouchability.

Latest News

Turkish inmate jailed over alleged Gülen links dies of heart attack in prison

Message of Condemnation and Condolences for Mass Shooting at Bondi Beach, Sydney

Media executive Hidayet Karaca marks 11th year in prison over alleged links to Gülen movement

ECtHR faults Turkey for convictions of 2,420 applicants over Gülen links in follow-up to 2023 judgment

New Book Exposes Erdoğan’s “Civil Death Project” Targeting the Hizmet Movement

European Human Rights Treaty Faces Legal And Political Tests

ECtHR rejects Turkey’s appeal, clearing path for retrials in Gülen-linked cases

Erdoğan’s Civil Death Project’ : The ‘politicide’ spanning more than a decade

Fethullah Gülen’s Vision and the Purpose of Hizmet

In Case You Missed It

Scholars: Hizmet efforts to build schools will not stop

Report reveals closure of prep schools against Constitution

Gülen’s ideas address the entire world

Gulen-inspired school raided by Turkish diplomats, Turkish soldiers in Afghanistan

Hong Kong Anatolia Cultural & Dialogue Centre, Photography Competition 2015

Turkish-American community grapples with Turkey coup’s aftermath

Lecture: What Went Wrong in Turkey?

Copyright 2026 Hizmet News