Fethullah Gülen’s Teaching and Practice

This is the first book of its kind about the Turkish Muslim scholar, Fethullah Gülen, since the July 2016 events in Turkey, the trauma experienced by Gülen, and the disruption to initiatives inspired by his teaching, known as Hizmet. Drawing on primary interviews with Gülen and Hizmet participants and a literature review, this Open Access book locates the clear origins of Gülen’s teaching in the Qur’an and Sunnah in dynamic engagement with their geographical, temporal and existential reception, translation, and onward communication. It argues that as Hizmet cannot be understood apart from Gülen and his teaching, Gülen and his teaching cannot be understood apart from Hizmet, while exploring the heritage of both. A more geographically focused case study is set out in author Paul Weller’s Hizmet in Transitions: European Developments of a Turkish Muslim-Inspired Movement, also published by Palgrave Macmillan (2022).

“Weller’s book gives us insight into the views of a circle of Hizmet ad-herents, who are not afraid to be critical of the movement at times, while remaining committed, perhaps even devoted, to it. It also includes a valuable interview with Gülen himself.” (Martin Whittingham, Journal of Dialogue Studies, Vol. 10, 2022)

“Paul Weller delivers a knock-out punch to those who have slandered Gülen as a “terrorist.” He shows with creativity and panache how deeply rooted Gülen’s teaching has been in orthodox Islam, while dynamically breaking taboos to bridge sacred and secular contexts. This book is essential to understand Gülen, now a “wounded exile,” and the community inspired by his teaching and practice that continues to “learn by doing.” — Jon Pahl, Peter Paul and Elizabeth Hagan Professor of the History of Christianity, United Lutheran Seminary, USA, and author of Fethullah Gülen: A Life of Hizmet: Why a Muslim Scholar in Pennsylvania Matters to the World (2019) 

 “Lionized by sympathizers and vilified by political opponents, Fethullah Gülen’s vision of inclusivist interaction has inspired a modern, open, and service-oriented Islam that threatens those who favour control and conformity. Paul Weller’s empathetic engagement with one of Islam’s most influential figures is timely, deeply informative, and quietly inspirational.” — Douglas Pratt, Honorary Professor of Theological and Religious Studies, University of Auckland, New Zealand, and Adjunct Theology Professor, University of Bern, Switzerland

Paul Weller is Non-Stipendiary Research Fellow in Religion and Society and UK Associate Director of the Oxford Centre for Religion and Culture at Regent’s Park College, University of Oxford, UK, and an Associate Member of the University’s Faculty of Theology and Religion.