The Movement of Volunteers

“It is just as people join together to observe the Friday Prayer at different mosques. No one exerts pressure upon them, but the purpose of observing the Friday Prayer has definitely brought about a sense of togetherness. Similarly, this movement is a movement of volunteers formed by those who come together with the purpose of exalting people materially and spiritually.”¹⁾

“Those, who are unable to do anything without taking either several domestic establishments or a foreign nation behind them, might have difficulty to understand the Movement of Volunteers which does not rely on anything other than the public’s attraction and approval and the grace of God. Those who do not know how to give without anything in return, might not be able to conceive the notion of sacrifice in order to serve firstly their own nation but also all humanity in general. But what is clear is that everyone knows, in actual fact, very well that these efforts, of which I am a part only in encouragement, is a public’s enterprise and ‘water of this wheel’ comes from the pure chest of Anatolia. But those who could not make the water of this Anatolian fountain flow in the direction of their choice, are trying to dry it through their jealousy, hatred, and envy.”²⁾

“The expression made by individuals is as offensive as an insult to me that labels this community ‘Gülen community.’ This movement is a movement of volunteers brought about by people who accepted the idea and method for humanitarian services voluntarily. My position in this structure, no matter what others may claim, is an ordinary individual which consists of effort and endeavor. I know, some will take this as an exaggeration. Who knows, many will laugh in the sleeve, but my All-Knowing Lord knows that my whole aim is to be an ordinary person among people, who endure mind-boggling sacrifices for the present and future of this nation, and to pass away in this state.”³⁾

“I have never been alone on this road that I took fifty-five years ago and still try to walk. I have been with many people in Erzurum, Edirne, Edremit, Izmir and Istanbul who share the same feelings and thoughts. I have known so many people like Hacı Kemal Erimez, who joined this ‘caravan’ with their wealth and lives like Abu Bakr and other Companions in the Age of Happiness, who have composed the Movement of Volunteers.”⁴⁾

“As I stated it many times over previously, I feel disgusted buy expressions like ‘Fethullahist,’ and I dislike labels as (someone)-ist. I feel disturbed as if they swore at me on hearing remarks like ‘community leader.’ I deem it wrong to see as a community the people who attached their hearts to the educational activities I encouraged. I find it correct to say, ‘the Movement of Volunteers,’ while referring to the activities of sincere people whose philosophy is based on love, dialogue, tolerance, peace, and mutual understanding, and who are mobilized for education.”⁵⁾

“There is a movement of volunteers, an education campaign that has spread almost all over the world… There are people, who work with a mind-boggling altruism and selflessness and not discriminate on the basis of religion, language, race, age, and gender. If an exceptional achievement that you attain in one part of the world is to stimulate feelings of jealously and enmity of those who cannot bear such success, this achievement can have a negative impact on services undertaken in other places and can cause conditions to become unfavorable. The negative air to emerge can be imputed to those globally, through the agency of the media mentioned above. Consequently, there is a need to be more careful than ever before.”⁶⁾

“For this reason, it is very important for the dialogue and educational activities, which is also called as ‘the Movement of Volunteers,’ to be independent… In this respect, it is very important that the dialogue and educational activities mentioned as ‘the Movement of Volunteers’ be independent. Sociologists and political scientists making academic studies related to this movement mention this independence at every opportunity and say, ‘This enterprise is an independent civil society movement that does not rely on any external power.’”⁷⁾

“Personally, seeing all the beautiful work done, I have deep appreciation, and I applaud these beauties by sometimes saying, ‘the Movement of Volunteers’ and sometimes ‘a movement that sets its own examples.’ I applaud, because I witness that those sincere people draw their good examples from themselves in almost every issue.”⁸⁾

“What is expected, then, of the representatives of the Movement of Volunteers, is to embrace all people, without forgetting any group or segment. Conscience must be kept as expansive as possible, people must be respected for who they are and platforms for dialogue established, all segments of society embraced, and even those who do not/cannot come called in on personally. On the one hand, bridges of dialogue need to be established with academics, parliamentarians and such individuals who hold important positions in society, taking into account regional and local conditions. On the other hand, the poor, weak and helpless who have experienced oppression, injustice, and ill-treatment within their societies must be offered a hand and supported. As our way is a path of the Prophets that is open to everyone.”⁹⁾

“I try to mention everyone who contributed to this Movement of Volunteers in my prayers.”¹⁰⁾

“Holding no expectation in return for the services carried out and in a way dedicating one’s life for the good of those people are very important in terms of credibility. Given that the Movement of Volunteers gained acceptance in different parts of the world among different nations, that God Almighty blessed them with the reach of such scale, then it means that they are giving the due of going somewhere with a spirit of devotion and working non-expectantly, that they inspire trust, and display a genuinely trustworthy attitude.”¹¹⁾

“Today, participants of the Movement of Volunteers live together with different communities, stretching from depths of Africa to the Far East, from southern America to Canada. These communities speak various languages, have different religions and cultures. In that case, the matter that we should pay attention to is to not make mistakes when presenting ourselves.”¹²⁾

“I think the fruitfulness God Almighty granted to the works of volunteers is in a way related to their surpassing the notion of time and exerting themselves to the ultimate degree.”¹³⁾

“In fact, the most important means of preserving the spirit of self-sufficiency is to lead one’s life with the morality of altruism. In this respect, the friends in the Movements of Volunteers should become so altruistic that they should be able to prefer others to themselves in not only material but also spiritual matters.”¹⁴⁾

“It should not be forgotten that God Almighty sent Divine favors and bestowals to this Movement of Volunteers that sprang from the bosom of Anatolia.”¹⁵⁾

“In our time as well, there may be certain volunteers who migrated to different parts of the world and made important achievements. Even if it is based on innocent and sincere thoughts, speaking too highly of those persons under different spiritual titles will be a betrayal against the Movement of Volunteers as a whole, because this means forming new opposition groups envious of their achievements.”¹⁶⁾

“… this Movement of Volunteers, which is growing, expanding and deepening, should preserve its purity, sincerity and loyalty peculiar to the pioneers in every resurrection period, and say like Sayyid Nigari:

Whoever wishes for God cannot have confusions in his heart and care about properties.

Would a person, who wants life, be concerned about the Beloved?

We have entered the path of love, we are lovesick…

We do not need honor,

O dear heart, does this work befit your dignity!

Without looking back, they should walk towards embracing humanity.”¹⁷⁾

“… some friends used some expressions to appreciate the Movement of Volunteers, which was realized by God’s permission, but I can say that such expressions were not appropriate. For example, by attributing all these events to some individuals, they put on airs as if we were planning and doing all the activities in this country. They started to say, ‘the great statures’ behind these projects. In my opinion, these are not true at all. First of all, it is God Almighty, may He be glorified and exalted, Who employs us in this service by compulsory bounty. If we had engaged in these activities with our free will, I think we would have tried to escape at the beginning, considering some possible challenges.”¹⁸⁾

“Regardless of what anyone says or does, the Movement of Volunteers and mission represented by those who have put forth their lives for their religion and country will be fulfilled by the assistance and grace of God. And in the future other types of service will join them according to their suitability and compatibility. Swinging this bucket of pure water, they will benefit to the degree of their capability. Every person who is intelligent, who is aware of sociological truths, and whose spiritual horizon is open can predict this.”¹⁹⁾

Education Volunteers

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