The Passing Away of Fethullah Gulen

Fethullah Gulen

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Mr. Gülen, an extraordinary figure of faith, wisdom, and intellectual and spiritual leadership for the participants of the Hizmet movement and countless others around the world. Mr. Gülen died on 20 October 2024 near the retreat center in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, where he spent the last years of his life. His teachings, based on compassion, education, and dialogue, will continue to guide and inspire those who are committed to serving humanity.

Fethullah Gülen dedicated his life to the values of peace, dialogue, and humanity. As a spiritual mentor, he has encouraged people around the world to live responsibly, to educate themselves, and to understand each other. His message built bridges – across cultures, religions, and social barriers.

This is a solemn time of mourning, reflection, and prayer for the Hizmet community. Mr Gülen’s legacy transcends the circumstances of his life. He is an extraordinary religious and intellectual thinker whose influence will affect generations. As he once said: “Our values do not depend on anyone. Their existence does not depend on the existence of any individual. These values are enough to hold people together, not to tear them apart tomorrow.”

Who was Fethullah Gülen?

Fethullah Gülen was a Muslim scholar, preacher, and social advocate who for decades advocated education, altruistic community work, and interfaith harmony, inspiring millions of people in Turkey and around the world. Described as one of the world’s most influential Muslim intellectuals, Gülen has dedicated his life to interfaith and intercultural dialogue, community service, and ensuring access to quality education.

In his home country of Turkey, Gülen has fostered a spirit of interfaith dialogue and has been a strong advocate for democracy, equal opportunities, science, and non-violence. His lifelong work in the field of interfaith cooperation won him recognition from religious leaders around the world and a personal meeting with the late Pope John Paul II in 1998.

He was among the first Muslim leaders to publicly condemn the 9/11 attacks, and in 2014 he condemned ISIS with public advertisements in major US newspapers.

In 2013, Gülen was named one of TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people and received the 2013 Manhae Korean Peace Prize.

In 2018, 2019, and 2020, Gülen was listed as one of the 100 most spiritually influential people alive by the UK’s Mind, Body and Spirit Magazine.

Gülen has also been repeatedly nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by sociologists who have studied his life and work.

For more information on Gülen, visit: https://afsv.org/about-us/fethullah-gulen/

For more information on the Hizmet movement, please visit: https://afsv.org/