Fethullah Gülen

1941–2024 · Turkey · Preacher, writer and founder of the Gülen (Hizmet) movement

Fethullah Gülen was a Turkish Muslim preacher and writer born near Erzurum in eastern Anatolia; official documents give 1941 as his birth year, though an earlier date is sometimes cited. He studied in religious schools in Erzurum and was influenced by the writings of Said Nursi. After becoming a state-licensed preacher he served as an imam in Edirne and later in Izmir, and retired from official preaching in 1981.

He became the inspiration of a movement, known as Gülen or Hizmet, that built schools, media outlets, charities and dialogue organisations in Turkey and abroad, and he helped found the Journalists and Writers Foundation in 1994. He moved to the United States in the late 1990s. After the attempted coup in Turkey in 2016 the Turkish government accused him and his followers of responsibility; he denied any involvement, and the movement has been designated a terrorist organisation by Turkey.

His writings, which are mostly collections of articles, sermons and essays originally in Turkish and widely translated, discuss faith and the Qur’an, Sufi ethics, the life of the Prophet, education, tolerance and interfaith dialogue. The English translations listed here are by various translators. He died in Pennsylvania in 2024.

Photo: AlphaX News, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Archived 19 October 2026 · Biography sources: en.wikipedia.org · archive.org

Works

Books 8

BOOK 1996 · English

Towards the Lost Paradise

A collection of essays on the spiritual and moral revival of the Muslim community, in English translation from the Turkish.

Archived 19 October 2026 · Source: Internet Archive (borrowable)

Cite

Gülen, Fethullah. Towards the Lost Paradise. 1996. Internet Archive (borrowable), https://archive.org/details/towardslostparad0000feth. Archived 19 October 2026 in Islamic Internet Archives: Archive of Modern Islamic Thought. https://islamicarchives.org/authors/fethullah-gulen/#fethullah-gulen-towards-the-lost-paradise

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BOOK 1998 · English

Criteria or the Lights of the Way

A collection of short essays offering guidance on faith, conduct and the revival of Muslim communities, in English translation.

Archived 19 October 2026 · Source: openlibrary.org

Cite

Gülen, Fethullah. Criteria or the Lights of the Way. 1998. Archived 19 October 2026 in Islamic Internet Archives: Archive of Modern Islamic Thought. https://islamicarchives.org/authors/fethullah-gulen/#fethullah-gulen-criteria-or-the-lights-of-the-way

No free copy online

BOOK 2000 · English

Essentials of the Islamic Faith

An exposition of the basic Islamic creed covering belief in God, angels, scripture, prophets, the Last Day and divine decree, in English translation.

Archived 19 October 2026 · Source: openlibrary.org

Cite

Gülen, Fethullah. Essentials of the Islamic Faith. 2000. Archived 19 October 2026 in Islamic Internet Archives: Archive of Modern Islamic Thought. https://islamicarchives.org/authors/fethullah-gulen/#fethullah-gulen-essentials-of-the-islamic-faith

No free copy online

BOOK 2000 · English

Pearls of Wisdom

A collection of short reflections and aphorisms on faith, character and spiritual life, in English translation.

Archived 19 October 2026 · Source: Internet Archive (borrowable)

Cite

Gülen, Fethullah. Pearls of Wisdom. 2000. Internet Archive (borrowable), https://archive.org/details/pearlsofwisdom00glen. Archived 19 October 2026 in Islamic Internet Archives: Archive of Modern Islamic Thought. https://islamicarchives.org/authors/fethullah-gulen/#fethullah-gulen-pearls-of-wisdom

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BOOK 2004 · English

Islam and Democracy

A short work on Islamic principles of governance and their relation to democratic institutions, in English translation.

Archived 19 October 2026 · Source: Internet Archive (borrowable)

Cite

Gülen, Fethullah. Islam and Democracy. 2004. Internet Archive (borrowable), https://archive.org/details/islamdemocracy0000gule. Archived 19 October 2026 in Islamic Internet Archives: Archive of Modern Islamic Thought. https://islamicarchives.org/authors/fethullah-gulen/#fethullah-gulen-islam-and-democracy

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BOOK 2008 · English

Terror and Suicide Attacks: An Islamic Perspective

A short work arguing that terrorism and suicide attacks are contrary to Islamic law and ethics, in English translation.

Archived 19 October 2026 · Source: openlibrary.org

Cite

Gülen, Fethullah. Terror and Suicide Attacks: An Islamic Perspective. 2008. Archived 19 October 2026 in Islamic Internet Archives: Archive of Modern Islamic Thought. https://islamicarchives.org/authors/fethullah-gulen/#fethullah-gulen-terror-and-suicide-attacks-an-islamic-perspective

No free copy online

BOOK English

Key Concepts in the Practice of Sufism

An explanation of central terms and stations of the Sufi path as understood within the Sunni tradition, in English translation.

Archived 19 October 2026 · Source: openlibrary.org

Cite

Gülen, Fethullah. Key Concepts in the Practice of Sufism. Archived 19 October 2026 in Islamic Internet Archives: Archive of Modern Islamic Thought. https://islamicarchives.org/authors/fethullah-gulen/#fethullah-gulen-key-concepts-in-the-practice-of-sufism

No free copy online

BOOK English

Prophet Muhammad: The Infinite Light

A portrait of the life and character of the Prophet Muhammad, in English translation.

Archived 19 October 2026 · Source: Internet Archive (borrowable)

Cite

Gülen, Fethullah. Prophet Muhammad: The Infinite Light. Internet Archive (borrowable), https://archive.org/details/prophetmuhammadi0000gule. Archived 19 October 2026 in Islamic Internet Archives: Archive of Modern Islamic Thought. https://islamicarchives.org/authors/fethullah-gulen/#fethullah-gulen-prophet-muhammad-the-infinite-light

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