Fethullah Gülen

Fethullah Gülen
Born
Muhammed Fethullah Gülen

(1941-04-27)27 April 1941
Erzurum, Turkey
Died20 October 2024(2024-10-20) (aged 83)
Pennsylvania, U.S.
EraModern era
RegionMuslim scholar
SchoolHanafi, Sufi
Main interests
Sufism, Mainstream Islamic thought, education, interfaith dialogue among the People of the Book
Notable ideas
Service (hizmet); interfaith dialogue; civil society
Influences
Signature

Muhammed Fethullah Gülen (27 April 1941 – 20 October 2024), better known as Fethullah Gülen, was a Turkish preacher, author, educator and Muslim scholar. He lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania, United States.[1][2]

Gülen taught a moderate version of Sunni / Hanafi Islam, derived from Said Nursi's teachings and modernizing them. Gülen condemns terrorism,[3] supports communication between people of different religions, and has initiated dialogue with the Vatican and some Jewish organisations.[4] Until 2013 he was an ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who later blamed him for the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt. He operated a worldwide organisation called the Gülen Movement also known as FETÖ.[5]

Teachings

Fethullah Gülen's attitude towards hijab changed over time.[6][7] In the past, Gülen, who regarded the unwinding of even a strand of women's hair as a great sin, suggested that women should cover their whole body by using veils and gloves. In his last speeches, Gülen evaluated the headscarf as a "füruat" (minor details).[8][9][10][11][12]

Creationism: According to Gülen, the Universe is a work of creation that has a purpose, and the purpose of existence is to know Allah and science can gain value if it serves this purpose.

For him, to allow views opposed to belief in creation is a devastating delusion and evolution is a Darwin fallacy.

According to Gülen, the creation of Adam as the first human and Eve from Adam's file bone are miracle creations that should not be addressed in the context of cause-effect relationship.

He wrote his anti-evolutionary ideas in his book "The Truth of Creation and Evolution". This book was prepared by compiling his speeches at the meetings he held against Darwinism and evolution. In the book he states that biology science is a "fantasy" and that the greatest biology fantasy is the theory of evolution.

Death

Gülen died at a hospital in Pennsylvania on October 20, 2024 at the age of 83.[13][14] He was being treated for heart and kidney failure.[15]

References

  1. ↑ Claire Berlinski (Autumn 2012). "Who Is Fethullah Gülen?". City Journal. Manhattan Institute. Archived from the original on 2 August 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  2. ↑ Fethullah Gülen (15 May 2017). "The Turkey I No Longer Know". The Washington Post (op-ed). Nash Holdings. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  3. ↑ Fethullah Gülen (4 February 2002). "True Muslims Cannot Be Terrorists". Fethullah Gülen Official Website. FGulen.com. Archived from the original on 17 September 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  4. ↑ Fethullah Gülen (2004). Toward a Global Civilization of Love and Tolerance. The Light, Inc. ISBN 1932099689. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  5. ↑ "Turkey coup attempt: Who is Fethullah Gülen?". BBC News. BBC. 21 July 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  6. ↑ "1977 Yılı Vaaz ve Konferansları". Fethullah Gülen Official Website. FGulen.com. 16 November 1999. Archived from the original on 9 June 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  7. ↑ "Fethullah Gülen Yazı Dizisi". Scribd. Cumhuriyet Gazetesi. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
  8. ↑ "İnanç ve İdeolojiler İnsan Tabiatına Uygun Olmak Zorunda…". Kocaeli Aydınlar Ocağı. 18 August 2008. Archived from the original on 20 April 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  9. ↑ "Son 20 yıldır her hükümette Fethullahçı bakanlar oldu". Tesbihat.asia. Archived from the original on 27 June 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  10. ↑ "Tesettür Bahsi ve Hocaefendinin Cevabı". Diyalog Sitesi. 27 February 2010. Archived from the original on 7 June 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  11. ↑ "Kadın ve Türban". Tesbihat.asia. Archived from the original on 27 June 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  12. ↑ "Fetullah: Başörtüsü Teferruattır". Belgeler.com. Belgeler.com. 28 February 2012. Archived from the original on 30 September 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  13. ↑ Daren Butler (21 October 2024). "Gulen, the powerful cleric accused of orchestrating a Turkish coup, dies". Reuters. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  14. ↑ Ishaan Tharoor (21 October 2024). "Fethullah Gulen, Muslim cleric and target of Turkey's Erdogan, is dead". The Washington Post. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  15. ↑ Ben Hubbard (21 October 2024). "Fethullah Gulen, Turkish Cleric and Erdogan Rival, Dies at 83". The New York Times. Istanbul: The New York Times Company. Retrieved 21 October 2024.

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