Who is Fethullah Gulen?
“Be so tolerant that your bosom becomes wide like the ocean. Become inspired with faith and love of human beings. Let there be no troubled souls to whom you do not offer a hand and about whom you remain unconcerned.” [1]
Fethullah Gulen, "Hocaefendi" (pronounced as "Hodjaefendi" in the words who respect and love him) was born in the village of Korucuk, Pasinler, Erzurum in Turkey in 1941. His father was Ramiz Efendi and his mother Refia Hanim. With the encouragement of the family and pious acquaintances, he read the Qoran and he became a hafiz (a person who knows the entire Qoran from memory). His family , who detected a tendency toward the religious disciplines in him, made sure that he obtained good religious education from renowned scholars in Erzurum, beginning with Osman Bektas Hoca after completing the Qoran memorization. He enriched his knowledge by participating in the teaching circles of leading Sufis. After finishing his studies, Gulen began his official career (being civil servant of the Republic of Turkey) as an imam (prayer leader) at Edirne Uc Serefeli Mosque. [2]
[1] (Fethullah Gülen, Criteria or Lights of the Way. London: Truestar.)
[2] Dogu Ergil, Fethullah Gulen & Gulen Movement in 100 Questions, pg 1
Fethullah Gulen, "Hocaefendi" (pronounced as "Hodjaefendi" in the words who respect and love him) was born in the village of Korucuk, Pasinler, Erzurum in Turkey in 1941. His father was Ramiz Efendi and his mother Refia Hanim. With the encouragement of the family and pious acquaintances, he read the Qoran and he became a hafiz (a person who knows the entire Qoran from memory). His family , who detected a tendency toward the religious disciplines in him, made sure that he obtained good religious education from renowned scholars in Erzurum, beginning with Osman Bektas Hoca after completing the Qoran memorization. He enriched his knowledge by participating in the teaching circles of leading Sufis. After finishing his studies, Gulen began his official career (being civil servant of the Republic of Turkey) as an imam (prayer leader) at Edirne Uc Serefeli Mosque. [2]
[1] (Fethullah Gülen, Criteria or Lights of the Way. London: Truestar.)
[2] Dogu Ergil, Fethullah Gulen & Gulen Movement in 100 Questions, pg 1
