The Hidden Agenda of Hizmet Movement: Serving People with no Expectations

There is not a day that we don’t see a news article or a column about Hizmet (Service) Movement inspired by Fethullah Gulen. Some of these appear with sensational headlines like “Hidden Agenda” or “Grand Ambition” of Gulen Movement and get refuted by many officials and scholars. There are so many different claims and opinions about Hizmet movement that the actual agenda of the movement is really lost in that noise. This short note is to point out the obvious fact that the actual agenda of the movement is hidden in its very name “Hizmet (Service)”.

It’s no news that Fethullah Gulen dissents and disapproves referring to the movement as “Gulen movement”. It is not just because he does not like to be known for all the good done by the movement, but because that does not define and describe the movement at all. Looking at the characteristics of the people involved, Gulen calls these people as “the movement of devoted volunteers”. Because these are really a group of people committed to common good whose only goal is to serve all people without any expectations or favors in return.

As the saying goes, there is no good deed that goes unpunished, so is the case for Fethullah Gulen and the Hizmet movement. Despite all the voluntary services provided in charity, in education, interfaith and intercultural dialog; Hizmet movement is mostly discussed within the context of political conflicts. A well known socialist and political scientist, Dogu Ergil, answers most of the common claims about Hizmet in his book “Fethullah Gülen and His Movement in 100 Questions”. He explains the reason for his extensive study as “So far this phenomenon has not been analyzed from a sociological perspective that goes beyond the daily political conflicts and worries or doubts that lay their groundwork. Someone, particularly from the ‘secular camp,’ had to do something about it,” then points out that “It is a contradiction for us to try to attribute the opposite to a movement which takes pains not to be in conflict with the state and which does not demand anything from it and which categorically refrains from taking part in politics.”

It is not only politics that Hizmet movement refrains from, but also any worldly ideals or goals that any ordinary person could desire is strictly discouraged in the movement. The only agenda of the Hizmet movement is, as its name stands, to provide service. When you span the projects supported by the movement, you see the common goal is to provide voluntary service with no expectations. Moreover, there is always, a great emphasis on the “no expectations”. Fethullah Gulen himself has been reminding that on a regular basis since early 1960s till today. In his latest sermons webcasted through herkul.org, he recommends all the volunteers to renew their oath with God that what they do is only for God’s sake, and they do not ask for any worldly rewards.

Gulen advises that the only way to make any good deed worthwhile is the pure intention and sincerity behind it; and everyone should review and reexamine their intentions to see whether they are involved in those voluntary activities for only and really God’s sake but nothing else. He reiterates, the slightest thought of a reward or designation, or any expectation from others will degrade and devalue what they do, and not only will be punished in the hereafter, but also will be rejected and refused in here. We do not see these reflections in the fast stream of news media today, and do miss the actual message and agenda of Hizmet. Serving people with no expectations; that is the hidden agenda of Hizmet movement!

Published on getthefact.com