Basic Characteristics of the Gulen Movement

Hizmet (Gulen movement) is a transnational civil society movement calling up everyone to collaborate around a common ideal of good work for humanity. The movement aims to facilitate an environment in which all can work together in a pluralist, peaceful, all-embracing spirit and voluntary altruism, regardless of subscription to a certain faith.

As a civil-based movement, it is not directed by any domestic or international organization, government, state, or political system or ideology thereof. It engages independently, legitimately, and non-politically.

Hizmet acts upon tolerance and love from a religious and cultural perspective; dialogue and accord (reconciliation) from a social perspective; aims to elevate individuals to higher personal development and education from a behavioral and (positive) action perspective. It’s a proactive and peaceful movement that promotes positive thinking and positive action, with no room for conflict and reactions.

Even though the movement has its origins in a framework of reference based on Islamic values, it is not a movement that espouses superiority through nationalistic or religious identities. It’s not Pan-Turkish or Pan-Islamist. It is not a religious sect, fraternity, or cult; nor is it an extension or a branch of any of the above. The movement celebrates the universal moral dynamics and values that were exemplified by the Sufis of the early Islamic history and continue to be universally appreciated today; nonetheless, the movement is by no means a Sufi order, either in its classical or modern definition. The movement encapsulates a faith-inspired peace-invoking service. It promotes universal values, superiority of the law and human rights along with freedom of belief, freedom of religion and freedom of expression.

The movement and those who are morally supportive of its services are respectful towards religious beliefs, values, and the universal ethical convictions. The common objective of the majority of the devoted volunteers is to serve humanity and thus seek God’s pleasure. The pivotal motivation of those volunteers who are not within the fold of this objective is to spread the universal morality and values so much so that they’re deeply rooted in societies with the hope they will pave the way for global peace.

The Hizmet movement comprises of volunteers, who with their profound sense of responsibility feel they need to contribute in solving the problems of their own societies and of the entire world. The ultimate objective in their contributions to the society is to attain God’s good pleasure based on the conviction that ‘service to humanity is service to God.’ However this generic principle will not remove the possibility of having individuals who are seeking to satisfy their senses and their desires and who are looking to financially capitalize on this social network, rather than seek God’s pleasure.

Published on gulenmovement.us, 04 April 2012, Wednesday

Related Articles:

• Main characteristics of the Gülen movement and the importance of education in globalising world
• Basic Dynamics of the Gulen Movement - 1
• Basic Dynamics of the Gulen Movement - 2