Fethullah Gulen
My core belief is to seek peace in the world, helping people eliminate certain malevolent attitudes through education as much as possible.Collection: Peace
Studying physics, mathematics, and chemistry is worshipping God.Collection: God
My philosophy - inclusive and pluralist Islam, dedicated to service to human beings from every faith - is antithetical to armed rebellion.Collection: Faith
I have spent over 50 years preaching and teaching the values of peace, mutual respect and altruism.Collection: Peace
Even if, at the helm of the country there are people who would like to replace me and suppress me and oppress me at the level of blood-sucking vampires, then I do not want to remove them with anti-democratic means. This is my attitude toward any and even the idea of the consideration of a military coup.Collection: Attitude
My message is, if someone beats you, act like you don't have hands. If someone slurs you, act like you don't have a tongue. Society is already polarized enough, don't make it worse.Collection: Society
I have said time and again that the republican order, and secularism, when executed perfectly, are blessings from God.
My position on democracy is really clear. Any attempt to overthrow the country is a betrayal to our unity and is treason.
The noble position of motherhood aside, our general opinion about women is that, while taking into account their specific needs, it should be made possible for them to take on every role, including the jobs of physician, military officer, judge and president of a country.
It is possible that people who share core values will make choices along the same lines.
I probably will not live to see Turkey become an exemplary democracy, but I pray that the downward authoritarian drift can be stopped before it is too late.
We invite our friends who hold high positions in the legislative branch of government and state institutions to master the skills of administration, so they could, when the time comes, reform the Turkish state and make it more fruitful at all its levels in the name of Islam.
Telling or encouraging people to vote for a party would be an insult to peoples' intellect.
If I were to say anything to people I may say people should vote for those who are respectful to democracy, rule of law, who get on well with people.
My message to the Turkish people is never to view any military intervention positively because through military intervention, democracy cannot be achieved.
Under any circumstances, if I had to return to Turkey and face the gallows, I will not blink an eye.
I feel the pain of people who suffer in my own neurons and sometimes cannot even watch TV. It is impossible not to be worried. But I trust that however cruel treatment they receive, Hizmet sympathizers will continue to respect to the law and will remain peaceful.
I think the United States is mindful of its reputation for its democracy and rule of law, and if they are willing to risk that reputation by extraditing me based on the request and claims made by Turkey, I would never say no. I would go willingly.
I don't see a bright future for Turkey. It pains me. But I have some hope, I pray for it to be better. It is a blessed country, a NATO member, and was an E.U. candidate. These were things we wanted.
I suffered during the military intervention of May 27, 1960, and then again on March 12, 1971 and again on September 12, 1980, and I was targeted February 28, 1997. My respect for the military aside, I have always been against interventions.
I grew up in a humble family with a shy personality.
I consider myself an ordinary Muslim who is constantly working to put himself in the framework established by the Koran and the tradition of the Prophet Mohammed. I study the works of experts of jurisprudence, Koranic commentary, hadith commentary, and Sufism.
In many places around the world, including Turkey until the 1950s, Muslims didn't have full freedom of religion. Even personal practice was not allowed, and they had to practice in secret.
When the opportunities come, Cemaat participants, just like any other citizen will make their choices based on their values.
We will never be a part of any plot against those who are governing our country.
I have never imagined being or wished to be chosen as something important in the world.
I have always tried to be a humble servant of God and a humble member of humanity.
Islam's basic principles of belief, worship, morality, and behavior are not affected by changing times. Islam does not propose a certain unchangeable form of government or attempt to shape it. Islam has never offered nor established a theocracy in its name.
I cannot accept concepts such as Gulenism or Gulenist. I was only a writer and an official preacher among people. I can have no direct influence on any person or activity. It is inconceivable that I can exert pressure on anybody.
I would curse people who resort to coups against democracy, liberty, republic.
I have always been against coups, and I cursed them.
I am neither a sociologist nor a psychologist, but you don't have to be one to see that Turkey is in a vortex of problems, isolated from the world.
Turkey is a diverse country... I think that democracy is the ideal system for a country with a social foundation such as this. My view is based on my belief that everyone should be able to comfortably live what they believe, and this is only possible in a truly democratic environment. I am insistent in my views and I strongly believe in what I say.
Erdogan thinks if he gets rid of me, he thinks ending me will end the movement. He couldn't be more wrong.
We are mortals, we will die one day.
The lesser jihad is our active fulfillment of Islam's commands and duties.
The greater jihad is proclaiming war on our ego's destructive and negative emotions and thoughts... which prevent us from attaining perfection.
I even reject and condemn in the strongest terms the idea, the consideration of a military coup. If I had the chance I would stand in front of the people who would attempt such a thing and open my arms and beg them to stop.
Avoiding the physical sciences due to the fear that they will lead to heresy is childish.
A Turkey under a dictatorial regime, providing haven to violent radicals and pushing its Kurdish citizens into desperation, would be a nightmare for Middle East security.
Turkey initiated true multiparty elections in 1950 to join NATO. As a requirement of its membership, NATO can and should demand that Turkey honor its commitment to the alliance's democratic norms.
Erdogan's persecution of his people is not simply a domestic matter. The ongoing pursuit of civil society, journalists, academics and Kurds in Turkey is threatening the long-term stability of the country.
Regardless of their religious observance, citizens can and should unite around universal human rights and freedoms, and democratically oppose those who violate them.
Profiling any segment of society and viewing them as a threat is a sign of intolerance.
I have always believed in seeking happiness in the happiness of others and the virtue of seeking God's pleasure in helping His people.
No citizen or social group can be completely isolated from politics, because policy decisions and actions affect their lives.
I don't have a need to promote myself.
I've never sought to be known or recognized by people.
I simply share ideas I believe in with people around me.
Entrepreneurs and volunteers inspired by Hizmet's values have invested in modern education and community service in more than 150 countries.