Quotes from Fethullah Gulen

Avoiding the physical sciences due to the fear that they will lead to heresy is childish.

Only those who overflow with love will build the happy and enlightened world of the future.

Love is one of the most subtle blessings that the All-Merciful One has bestowed upon humanity.

I have always tried to be a humble servant of God and a humble member of humanity.

I feel the pain of people who suffer in my own neurons and sometimes cannot even watch TV. It is impossible not to be worried. But I trust that however cruel treatment they receive, Hizmet sympathizers will continue to respect to the law and will remain peaceful.

Islam's basic principles of belief, worship, morality, and behavior are not affected by changing times. Islam does not propose a certain unchangeable form of government or attempt to shape it. Islam has never offered nor established a theocracy in its name.

My message is, if someone beats you, act like you don't have hands. If someone slurs you, act like you don't have a tongue. Society is already polarized enough, don't make it worse.

I would curse people who resort to coups against democracy, liberty, republic.

I have said time and again that the republican order, and secularism, when executed perfectly, are blessings from God.

If somebody who appears to be a Hizmet sympathizer has been involved in an attempted coup, he betrays my ideals.

I grew up in a humble family with a shy personality.

Telling or encouraging people to vote for a party would be an insult to peoples' intellect.

Criticizing and objecting to everything means an attempt to destruction. If you do not like something, try to make something better than it. Being destructive causes ruins, while being constructive brings about prosperity.

Goodness, beauty, truthfulness, honesty, and being virtuous are the essence of the world. Whatever happens, the world will one day find this essence, for no one can prevent such an event

The lesser jihad is our active fulfillment of Islam's commands and duties.

I probably will not live to see Turkey become an exemplary democracy, but I pray that the downward authoritarian drift can be stopped before it is too late.

In many places around the world, including Turkey until the 1950s, Muslims didn't have full freedom of religion. Even personal practice was not allowed, and they had to practice in secret.

Turkey initiated true multiparty elections in 1950 to join NATO. As a requirement of its membership, NATO can and should demand that Turkey honor its commitment to the alliance's democratic norms.

I don't see a bright future for Turkey. It pains me. But I have some hope, I pray for it to be better. It is a blessed country, a NATO member, and was an E.U. candidate. These were things we wanted.

Under any circumstances, if I had to return to Turkey and face the gallows, I will not blink an eye.

Erdogan's persecution of his people is not simply a domestic matter. The ongoing pursuit of civil society, journalists, academics and Kurds in Turkey is threatening the long-term stability of the country.

We invite our friends who hold high positions in the legislative branch of government and state institutions to master the skills of administration, so they could, when the time comes, reform the Turkish state and make it more fruitful at all its levels in the name of Islam.

I've never sought to be known or recognized by people.

Savage people realize their aims through fighting, through conflict. Cultivated and intellectual souls believe that they will attain their aims through thought and discussion.