April 15, 2013

Who is Fethullah Gülen? A sociological analysis

Doğu Ergil

Fethullah Gulen
Fethullah Gülen (b. 1938), known as Hocaefendi (pronounced as “Hodjaefendi”) to those who respect him, was born to Ramiz Efendi and Refia Hanim in Korucuk village, Pasinler town, Erzurum province, Turkey. Due to the slow pace of village life, he was registered later in the official ledger. The official ledger entry lists his birthday as April 27, 1941. Encouraged by his family and pious acquaintances, he read the Qur’an and became a hafiz (one who has memorized the Qur’an). His parents, who detected a tendency toward the religious disciplines in him, made sure that he obtained a solid religious education from Erzurum’s renowned scholars. Beginning with Osman Bektaş Hoca, he continued to pursue religious knowledge by participating in the teaching circles of leading Sufis. After finishing his studies, Gülen began his official career as an imam, a civil service position, at Edirne’s Üç Şerefeli Mosque.