Fethullah Gülen Biography:- Muhammed Fethullah Gülen born April 27, 1941 is a Turkish Muslim scholar, preacher, and the leader of the Gülen movement, which reportedly had millions of followers as of 2016. He is recognized as an influential neo-Ottomanist and Anatolian panethnicist, as well as an Islamic poet, writer, and social critic. Gülen developed a theological perspective rooted in Nursian thought that seeks to reconcile faith with democratic modernity. Gülen served as a local state imam from 1959 to 1981 and was a Turkish citizen until his denaturalization by the Turkish government in 2017. Over time, he emerged as a centrist political figure in Turkey before going into self-imposed exile in the United States in 1999, where he resides near Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania.
Fethullah Gülen Biography 2025
Muhammed Fethullah Gülen is a Turkish Muslim scholar, preacher, and a one-time opinion leader, as de facto leader of the Gülen movement.
Muhammed Fethullah Gülen was born in the village of Korucuk, near Erzurum, to Ramiz and Refia Gülen. There is some debate regarding his date of birth: older accounts often cite November 10, 1938, while more recent sources, supported by official documents, confirm April 27, 1941, as the accepted date. This discrepancy has led to speculation, with some commentators noting the political significance of November 10, coinciding with the death of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey. A close student of Gülen suggests that the delay in registering his birth may also account for the confusion.
Gülen’s father was an imam, and his mother taught the Qur’an in their village, despite such teachings being restricted by the Kemalist government. His formal secular education ended when his family moved, leading him to pursue Islamic studies in various madrasas in Erzurum, where he was influenced by the ideas of Kurdish scholar Said Nursî. He delivered his first sermon as a licensed state preacher in 1958 while still a teenager.
Co-founder of the Gulen movement, popular particularly in Turkey, which stressed education and a moderate form of Islam. He has founded numerous institutions that promote interfaith and intercultural dialogue.
Before Fame
With little formal education, he began preaching in Turkey in the 1970s, and moved into politics in the 80s, getting in trouble with the Turkish government over some remarks.
Moving to the U.S., possibly to escape persecution, he authored dozens of books and articles, and spoke out in favor of Turkey’s membership in the EU, expanded women’s roles, and meshed democracy and Islam.