Series of articles in honor of F. Gulen: The Smile Has Faded: Islamic Scholar and Spiritual Leader Fethullah Gülen Has Passed Away
By Zdeněk Vojtíšek – October 23, 2024 | Translated from Czech
As reported by international media, on Sunday, October 20th, in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania, one of the most prominent figures of modern Turkey—Imam Fethullah Gülen (1941–2024)—passed away.
Media outlets have largely interpreted his legacy through a political lens, as Gülen had, since 2014, become the sworn enemy of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (*1954). Initially, Gülen and Erdoğan supported each other in their shared aim of weakening Kemalism, the secular ideology of the Republic’s founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (1881–1938), and promoting a moderate form of Islam in Turkey.
However, after the massive 2013 corruption scandal involving Erdoğan’s family, Erdoğan turned against Gülen, blaming him and his movement for orchestrating the case. He began referring to what had been a religious network as the “Fethullah Gülen Terrorist Organization.” Further accusations came following the 2016 coup attempt—whose actual nature remains disputed. In the aftermath, hundreds of thousands of Gülen’s supporters were persecuted in Turkey.
Gülen himself, who had lived in the United States since 1999, avoided extradition thanks to the U.S. judiciary’s refusal to hand him over to Turkish authorities.
A Life of Faith and Influence
There is some uncertainty regarding the exact year of Gülen’s birth—some claim 1938—but his widely accepted biography, including among scholars, gives the date as April 27, 1941, and names Korucuk in Erzurum Province as his birthplace.
He studied Islam in the 1950s, during a period of relative religious liberalization in Turkey, which allowed the re-emergence of Sufi orders. Around 1956 or 1957, Gülen came into contact with a disciple of Bediüzzaman Said Nursi (c. 1877–1960), a Kurdish Islamic scholar and the inspiration behind the Nur movement. Nursi’s Risale-i Nur, a collection of religious writings, sought to revitalize Islam by reconciling it with rationalism and modern science.
The Birth of a New Movement
In 1958, Gülen completed his Islamic education and was authorized to teach religion. A turning point came in 1966, when he moved to Izmir. His popularity rapidly grew, and a new religious movement gradually formed around him. After Nursi’s death, the original movement fragmented. The community coalescing around Gülen became one of its most significant offshoots.
American scholar Joshua D. Hendrick of the University of Maryland describes Gülen’s message—which drew many followers—as follows:
“At the core of Gülen’s teaching is his call for ‘volunteers filled with love for all humanity’—ideal individuals who represent, in his words, ‘a generation of hope.’ This generation is tasked with nurturing a future ‘golden generation’ that will usher in an era of love, tolerance, and harmony—thus preparing the way for the Day of Judgment.
Education as a Sacred Duty
One of those inspired by this vision is Salih Yilmaz, a Turkish resident of Prague. In an interview with Dingir magazine, he explained:
“The goal [of the movement] is to develop individuals through education. Therefore, personal spiritual and intellectual awareness is extremely important. An individual who grows in this way can contribute positively to society. The movement has never supported violence or proselytism. It emphasizes science, education, dialogue, culture, and democracy as the only ways to shape human nature.”
He also elaborated on Gülen’s philosophy of education:
“People lacking access to education are vulnerable to manipulation by leaders, parties, or authoritarian powers. In this sense, education is as important as prayer—being self-sufficient and doing good are ways to earn divine grace. According to Gülen, education is also the foundation for social, economic, and political modernization. Without education, people cannot respect democratic principles and human rights.”
From Schools to Global Dialogue
The first Gülen-inspired schools were established in 1976, followed by the movement’s first publication in 1979. By 1982, high schools had opened in Izmir and Istanbul. In the years that followed, dozens of educational institutions—from preschools to universities—were founded.
Gülen’s followers—who refer to their work as Hizmet (“service”)—also entered the media, organized conferences, and fostered dialogue among intellectuals from different political and religious backgrounds.
Gülen became a globally recognized public intellectual. Through educational institutions and interfaith engagement, the movement reached over 100 countries. In the Czech Republic, this mission has been advanced by the Mozaiky Platform Dialog association, with noteworthy public impact.
Persecution and Demonization
The magnitude of Gülen’s influence in Turkey was evident when the crackdown began in 2014: about 130,000 people were dismissed from civil service, and around 23,000 were purged from the military. Hundreds of schools, universities, companies, and media outlets associated with the movement were closed.
These developments illustrate how Hizmet had formed a “parallel structure” in Turkish society—one that the increasingly nationalist and populist Erdoğan government perceived as a threat.
The persecution continues: followers of the movement have been imprisoned, and harassment extends beyond Turkey’s borders. Turkish embassies often intimidate diaspora members, and Erdoğan loyalists abroad repeat the regime’s rhetoric—labeling Hizmet as a “cult” or “terrorist group.”
A Smile on the Face of Islam
Poetically, Gülen’s movement has been referred to as “a smile on the face of Islam,” referencing both the movement’s ethos and the meaning of the name “Gülen,” which is derived from the Turkish word for “smiling.”
Now, that smile has faded. And it remains uncertain whether this smiling, peaceful vision of Islam will ultimately find a lasting place in the wider Muslim world.
This is another post in the series of articles commemorating the anniversary of F. Gulen’s departure from this world in November 20th 2024. Follow our page for more interviews, articles and videos speaking about the passed away leader of the Hizmet movement. You are welcome to browse through other related articles HERE.
