‘Gulen Movement is a civil society movement, rather than a religious one’

Prof. Hakan Yavuz
Prof. Hakan Yavuz


Date posted: April 24, 2013

University of Utah professor of political science Hakan Yavuz, Ph.D, gave a lecture followed by a conversation on his latest book “Toward an Islamic Enlightenment: The Gulen Movement“. At the lecture hosted by Rumi Forum Washington D.C., Yavuz argued that the Gulen Movement should not be considered a religious movement, rather, a civil society movement. He underscored that he offers a comprehensive study of the movement in his book and, further in his presentation, focused on the motive alongside message of the book and the aspects of the movement he considered worthy of mentioning.

Yavuz, who has had a particular focus on Islamic movements in Turkey throughout his academic career, dedicated the greater part of his thesis to this phenomena. In 1990s, he did extensive research and examined the evolution of the Gulen Movement. He said there have been a number of institutions conceptualizing the movement but he was not satisfied with their work. His motive, therefore, for authoring this book is his belief that the movement is misunderstood and to explain the behaviors of the movement members. “What made me write this book is, first, the misunderstanding of the movement both in Turkey and outside. Second, somewhat, the inability of the movement members to explain what they are doing. Because the movement is very much action-oriented movement” Yavuz said.

Highlighting the fact that he wrote the book with a scholarly approach as an outsider, Yavuz said “The Gulen Movement is one of the recent interpretations of Islam. I would say, most powerful and most successful one that tries to reconcile with modernity in general, democracy, human rights and market economy.” He referred to the movement’s interpretation as “New Islam”. And speaking of the defining characteristics of this new understanding, namely, ‘New Islam” Yavuz said, “In it, the piety is not for the sake of piety. It is for the sake of improving social, political and economic condition of your society. So, here piety becomes a motivating force not just fulfilling your religious duties”. Additionally, he underscored that he regards the movement as a civil society movement rather than a religious organism. He went on to say Islam in the conceptual map of Gulen is a civil philosophy, which suggests Gulen wants to integrate Muslims into public debate. “For Gulen to build a consensus shouldn’t be left to one or two religious scholars. Islam provides a shared code of language and it offers a general sense of good life” he said.

Speaking of the movement’s objective the professor said, “Everybody is asking what the movement’s purpose is. I don’t think it is religious. Based on my studies I can suggest that its main objective is character formation, which is one of the reasons why education is significant in the movement.” In addition, as his analysis of the movement terminology indicates, he said, action precedes preaching in the methodology of the movement. “Action, activities and building institutions become much more important than preaching religion” said Yavuz. As for what the concept “dialogue” refers to in the movement, he commented that Gulen and the movement, by bridging different cultures and societies, stress bridging more than bonding.

Yavuz further brought up the inner dimensions of Islam in Gulen’s understanding. Referring to Gulen’s account of his own childhood and religious background which was largely shaped by his mother and grandmother, Yavuz claimed that Gulen feminized the notion of Islam. “Gulen believes sentimental and emotional aspects of Islam are essential in terms of action and activity” which is instilled by mothers as Yavuz argued.

Noting that his book includes parts critical of the movement, Yavuz listed his criticisms as; disappointingly low women involvement despite being better that other movements with regard to women issues, failing to be as transparent as expected and its increasing interest in politics following Ergenekon case from 2007 onwards.

Source: [in Turkish] Star. English translation is retrieved from HizmetMovement.Com, April 19, 2013


Related News

Fethullah Gulen — His Vision, Our Response

A Muslim religious leader, Fehullah Gulen, is daily in the news, as Turkish president Erdogan accuses him of plotting the recent coup, calling him a terrorist. We are so used to Muslim clerics being or being considered terrorists that we give the matter little thought.

UN praises Kimse Yok Mu for aid efforts in Somalia

Director of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) John Ging said in an interview on Thursday that Kimse Yok Mu and other Turkish NGOs’ aid efforts in Somalia should be praised.

‘Hizmet is the attempt to celebrate all of humanity’

Hizmet Movement is unique because it doesn’t try to carry out what we call cultural and religious particularism. That would be the idea that your group is the best, that you have the only form of truth, that all other groups are impure, incorrect and that they are not worthy of time, or that they’re not worthy of learning something from them. Hizmet, in fact, says the opposite. Members reach out to learn from other peoples, they actively invite people from different cultural backgrounds, people from different religious backgrounds to come and teach them, to teach them things.

Gulen’s interview with Russian media: I don’t worry about Turkey’s extradition request

Gülen : I don’t worry about Turkey’s extradition request. I live my last days anyway and it doesn’t matter if I die here, in Turkey, or somewhere else. Never have I had anything to pursue other than doing everything in my power to succeed in the next world and to receive the contentment of the Almighty.

In Turkey, how Germany’s president became ‘Germany’s imam’

The Gulen movement is primarily a civil society organization, consisting of thousands of teachers, academics, journalists, businessmen and charitable workers. A political attack against their legitimate services and institutions would be disastrous for rule of law and societal peace, both of which have already been seriously compromised in Turkey.

Hizmet Movement is not interested in attaining political power in Turkey or elsewhere in the world

[Erdogan] has called Hizmet a state within a state, which to me is a strange characterization. To me, that’s like saying that the Catholics are a state within a state in America, or the Jews, a state within a state in America. Those kinds of statements are derogatory, they’re pejoratives. Catholics have a right to seek influence in America; Jews have a right to seek influence in America, that’s how we operate here.

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

Global Spying Network: Erdogan’s Worldwide Monitoring of Gülen Supporters

Hizmet movement demonized by Erdogan regime but loved abroad

Erdoğan’s plan to contain corruption scandal

Sen. Schumer & 70+ Senate Colleagues Call on State Dept. to Address ongoing Intimidation of Media and Censorship of the Press in Turkey under President Erdogan’s Administration

Turkish language and culture festivals held in three countries

From ‘parallel state’ to ‘terrorist organization’: Dissecting Erdoğan’s labeling of Gülen

Mali Minister pledges to maintain good relations with Kimse Yok Mu

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News