An unshakable spiritual unity, unique to Hizmet Movement volunteers

Dr. Thomas Michel, SJ.
Dr. Thomas Michel, SJ.


Date posted: February 19, 2013

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 Michel, SJ.  commented that Hizmet Movement cannot be compared to other civil institutions as a unique and unshakable spiritual unity exists among its volunteers.

The presentation reviewed a social movement, known as Hizmet, originated by observant Muslims around the ideas of Turkish scholar, preacher and social advocate Fethullah Gulen. The movement combines personal spiritual development with social responsibility. Primary areas of activity include education, dialogue, media, healthcare, and disaster relief. Recently the movement and its source of inspiration, Mr. Fethullah Gulen, attracted attention due to political developments in Turkey and the controversy around public schools in the U.S. In Turkey, the struggle for democratization brought the movement to the limelight as many adherents of the historically authoritarian military-judicial tutelage system were brought to civilian courts by alleged Gulen sympathizers. Questions about the future of Turkish democracy, Kurdish citizens, freedom of the press, the authoritarian tendencies in the political system and the movement’s role in this context were discussed by Turkish and international media. In the U.S. the nature of Gulen’s influence on Turkish-American teachers who work at highly successful public schools were brought to the national attention. This presentation examined the history, activities, organizational nature and motivational factors within the movement and responded to some of the questions and allegations regarding what appeared in the mass media.

Underscoring his non-Turkish and non-Muslim identity, Prof. Michel noted that he has been observing the movement for years now and come to the conclusion that its primary mission is to combat ignorance, poverty and disunity, the three enemies of Muslims according to Said Nursi. He said Fethullah Gulen, as a scholar inspired by Said Nursi, reflected and built up on this view. “This gifted scholar, Fethullah Gulen declared war on the same three enemies by mobilizing people to establish a wide range of institutions. Kimse Yok Mu against poverty and dialogue initiatives against disunity exemplify these institutions. There are over 200 of those dialogue institutions operating in the US alone” Michel said. Additionally, “The movement cannot be compared to other civil institutions in the sense that a unique and unshakable spiritual unity exists among its followers, which others lack.” he claimed.

Later on, Alliance of Shared Values President Prof. Alp Aslandogan gave a presentation examining the movement under the categories including media, healthcare and dialogue. According to Prof. Aslandogan, the movement’s sympathizers share common grounds on values such as personal spiritual development, social responsibility, dialogue, peace building and equality. And the movement was pioneered by Fethullah Gulen in Turkey.

Calling attention to Gulen’s preaching background, Aslandogan said: ” Unlike typical preachers, Gulen reinterpreted Islamic tradition while staying true to the past and traditions. With his decent personality, he convinced and appealed to people and eventually gained their support.”

The panel in cooperation with Rumi Forum was held in Georgetown University Bunn Intercultural Center.

Source: [in Turkish] Medya73.com, 08 February 2013. English translation is retrieved from Hizmetmovement.com.


Related News

Fethullah Gülen strongly condemns US consulate attack, extends condolences

Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen has strongly condemned at attack on US Consulate in Benghazi that killed four Americans, including Libyan ambassador, and expressed deep condolences to the American people. He said he was saddened to learn the death of Christopher Stevens and three other consulate workers and described the ambassador as “guest in Libya.” […]

Police detain student over fingerprints on Gülen books

According to a report, the police were informed that books written by Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen were thrown in the garbage by unidentified people in the Belediyeevleri neighborhood of the Canik district of Samsun province. After the investigation, fingerprints on the books were matched to those of A.E.A, a 22-year-old university student.

Question in the aftermath of the Turkey coup – Who is Fethullah Gulen?

Gülen embraces an inclusive and peaceful understanding of Islam. His commitment to dialogue and altruism has inspired the Hizmet Movement. Mr. Gülen and Hizmet participants are known for their commitment to peace, democracy and non-violence, and oppose turning religion into a political ideology.

Amnesty International researcher criticizes witch-hunt in Turkey

Amnesty International’s Turkey researcher has leveled sharp criticism against Turkey over ongoing purges that have followed a failed coup attempt in July and said arrests and firings over alleged links to the Gülen movement have now turned into a wide-ranging witch-hunt. He said arrest and detentions, which are based on no evidence, are bound to inflict damage to the notions of rule of law and freedom of expression.

Fethullah Gülen’s brother laid to rest amid grief

Hundreds bid farewell to Hasbi Nidai Gülen, the brother to one of Turkey’s leading Islamic scholars Fethullah Gülen, at a funeral ceremony in his hometown of Erzurum on Sunday. Gülen died Friday morning in a hospital in Ankara, where he was receiving treatment for lung cancer. He was 66. Following a funeral prayer at the […]

‘I am just Fethullah the son of Ramiz’

During my week long visit to the esteemed Fethullah Gülen, we occasionally got together with around eight to 10 people to converse over tea. I would like to share the thoughts that resonated with me by referencing the notes that I took during those get-togethers:Egocentrism (selfishness) is a block of ice. It is very difficult to melt it by throwing it into a pool of modesty.

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

Before Oprah: Scholar’s Philanthropic Work Has Huge Impact on Africa

Fethullah Gülen’s Statement on the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression

Fethullah Gulen’s Message of Condolences for Victims of Terrorist Attack at Istanbul Ataturk International Airport

Does Islam Promote Violence?

Turkey’s New Anti-Americanism (NY Times Editorial)

As Turkey’s war on Gulen escalates, so does impact on Africa

Organization (Kimse Yok Mu?) helped 79 Syrian families

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News