AN EMINENT SCHOLAR AND TEACHER

In order to encourage the love and respect for a person worthy of this respect, it is our duty to duly emphasize the outstanding qualities and characteristics of that individual. The eminent scholar Fethullah Gülen always redirected any interest in his person to the Qur’an, the Creator, and to the Messenger of God, and never desired or sought the love or respect of others. He constantly referred to the Qur’an and the noble Prophet, guiding all toward the Straight Path of truth. The souls of those familiar with him, who listened to his sermons, were awakened to the desire to learn about religious matters; they harbored an even greater love for God and His Messenger. One day, a young man who had listened to the scholar’s sermons and read his articles conveyed his thoughts in these words:

Sir, before listening to your sermons, in my eyes the beloved Prophet was simply a name written between the pages of a book. It was as if everything to do with the noble Prophet had happened during that period and then came to an end. I have not had the opportunity of listening to all of your sermons, only a few. But now my heart is so overwhelmed with love for God and His Messenger that I bear the hope and expectation that he will enter through every door that opens, will fill the empty seat in my car, or appear amidst a light that shines through the darkness. In particular your words “Whoever claims that the Messenger of God is dead, he is in fact testifying that he himself is dead” appealed to me. It was as if there were an empty space in my heart, and when I heard these words that space was no longer empty. When I witness that modesty in your speech and actions I am overwhelmed, and I never want to depart from that atmosphere of tolerance and indulgence. Sir, I am not sure if I will be asked [about this] on the Day of Reckoning, but I would like to explain and bear witness that you give immense regard to God and His Messenger, not to yourself, and that you embedded the love and respect of God into the hearts of countless people.

Knowledge

When he was still only ten years old, the eminent scholar gave convincing speeches and memorized whatever he read. (He says: “In the old days, I would immediately memorize whatever I read. Now my memory has grown weak; I must read something twice to memorize it.”)

It is virtually impossible to present a book beneficial to people that he has not read. However, he also reads books containing damaging notions in order to prove harmful opinions conveyed in error.

In addition to his thorough knowledge in every field, he speaks in an appealing manner, without interruption and without referring to any books or scripts. Occasionally, the consecutive statements in the eminent scholar’s sermons even take on poetical characteristics.

In his sermons, he always gives the references (specific pages of specific books) when he speaks. While his friends would fill their rucksacks with food during his years as a young shepherd, he filled his bag with books of the noble Prophet’s traditions.

His Playful Aspect

Occasionally, even on cold winter days the eminent scholar bathed and performed ablutions with ice cold water. While he was camping, he lifted a rock that three people were unable to lift and placed it in the stream. When he was small, he ran so fast no one could catch him.

His Memory

• The eminent scholar always remembered the faces and names of people he met. He remembered the names of thousands of people. For example, even if he met someone only for a short time and did not see that person again for a long time, he remembered that person’s name.

• He memorized the Qur’an at the age of six, and sometimes even memorized eight chapters or 160 pages of the Qur’an in a single day.

• He read about the lives of thousands of Companions and memorized the names and lives of all the Companions mentioned in these books. Once he said, “I am familiar with them all as if they were members of my own family.”

• He memorized all the traditions of the noble Prophet recorded in books, and also the chains of those who narrated the traditions.

• He would place a box at gatherings for attendees’ questions, and he would answer each question they cared to ask.

His Spiritual and Intellectual Life

• He did not accept visitors for a few days before his sermons, being occupied with preparing his speeches. During this preparation process he exerted himself immensely.

• At the age of four, he learned to read the Qur’an and read the whole of the Qur’an in just a month. He began to pray at the age of four and never neglected his Prayers thereafter.

• At the age of ten or eleven, he began to deliver sermons from the pulpit.

• He related an event as if he had actually experienced it personally, without referring to any books or scripts.

• In each of his sermons, he always gave examples from the life of the noble Prophet and Companions. He had great love and affection for the Companions, and began to read and learn about the Companions when he was just nine years old.

• Before he came to the school he herded sheep in the mountains. While he was herding the sheep, he read all of his father’s books. His adoration for the Companions increased even more as he read these books.

His Daily Life

There are three things he disliked:

Eating excessively: He ate very little. He was most accustomed to eating yogurt and salad. Occasionally when he was attending the school, he went without food for days.

Sleeping excessively: He says, “Three hours’ sleep is sufficient, at most five hours. Five hours’ sleep is known as the normal sleep duration, which is more than sufficient.”

Speaking excessively: Since his childhood, the eminent scholar spoke very little. The time he spent speaking to his father was very limited. As soon as the time for the Evening Prayer began, he prayed immediately and never wasted his time with unnecessary speech.

Fethullah Gülen’s Life in Brief

Fethullah Gülen, who was taught the Qur’an with great precision at the age of four, continued to attend primary school in his village for two to three more years. However, when his father Ramiz Effendi was appointed as imam of the Alvar village in 1949, Fethullah was unable to continue his education. He later completed his primary education as an external student in Erzurum.

Fethullah Gülen began to pray at the age of four and never neglected his Prayers thereafter. In fact, assuming that he may have made mistakes in Prayers performed during a certain period of his life, he performed the Prayers for that period again. Although he was scorned and mocked by one of his teachers for praying, this young boy never neglected performing Prayers that coincided with school time. During these years, he had another teacher, Belma Özbatur. Contrary to the other teachers, Ms. Özbatur, who was successful in establishing a positive relationship with her pupil, continuously complimented and praised him for his determination to learn, his devotion and discipline. One day when she noticed him among a group of pupils who had misbehaved in the classroom, she remarked, “Not you too!” These few words were more than sufficient. Ms. Özbatur was certain that her pupil would have a promising future. One day, looking at him, she conveyed this with these words: “One day a young lieutenant will pass over the Galata Bridge. It is as if I were watching him now.” Ms. Özbatur expressed her pride her student’s service to society with these words:

Fethullah was very different from the other students; he was extremely serious, pleasant and hardworking, a child who observed everything. I was extremely proud of him. . . . He would observe everything from a distance. Unlike the other children, he did not misbehave. He sat in the back row near the window. He was well built, light-skinned and always looked at me attentively when I spoke. . . . He was a determined child; he would avoid any incidents, and just stood and observed from a distance. He was a serious child and would not join in with the other children but watched them from afar he was considerate and an individual of depth. Fethullah was well behaved and as a teacher I was very proud of him. With his efforts in the field of education, he promoted the Turkish flag and nation throughout the entire world. This is more than sufficient to make me proud of him.

The distinction between him and other children of his age was not only apparent in his manners and behavior but also in certain life events. When he was just seven or eight years old, he woke up one night reciting, “Here I am, O Messenger of God.” His mother, Refia, witnessed this and was extremely surprised. This continued for a few days, which both astonished and alarmed his mother.

She conveyed this to her husband Ramiz Effendi. One night, Fethullah’s parents sat at his bedside. While he was sleeping he suddenly began to talk, but neither of them could understand what he was saying. When the young Fethullah woke up, his parents asked what had happened, but he changed the subject. The importance he gave to worship when he was still a child is another significant aspect of this eminent scholar’s spiritual life. One night upon returning home, when his mother asked where he had been he replied, “I went to the mosque, I was praying.” So his mother asked “What Prayers?” and he replied, “Supererogatory Prayers.”

In particular, he would return home even later on nights of sacred significance. In fact, when his mother complained, “Your father is an imam, but he returned home long ago and is sleeping,” he always replied, “I was praying.” He was devoted to worship, to the Prayers he performed from the age of four and never neglected throughout his life.

Questions

1) What was the first muezzin chosen by our beloved Prophet?

A) Zaid ibn Harith

B) Abdullah ibn Amr

C) Bilal al-Habashi

D) Ali ibn Abi Talib

2) Between which two cities was the first emigration performed?

A) Medina and Abyssinia

B) Mecca and Abyssinia

C) Medina and Mecca

D) Abyssinia and Medina

3) Who was the caliph noted for his justice?

A) Umar ibn al-Khattab

B) Ali ibn Abi Talib

C) Abu Bakr

D) Uthman ibn Affan

4) One day the noble Prophet asked an Archangel, “Do you have any share in the mercy contained in the Qur’an?” The Archangel replied, “Yes, O Messenger of God,” saying, “I was not certain about my fate, but when the verse ‘One obeyed (by his aides) and trustworthy (in fulfilling God’s orders, most particularly conveying the

Revelation)’ (at-Takwir 81:21) was revealed, I felt secure.” Which Archangel had the beloved Prophet spoken to?

A) Archangel Azrail (Azrael)

B) Archangel Israfil (Raphael)

C) Archangel Jibril (Gabriel)

D) Archangel Mikail (Michael)

5) Which of the following is not one of the aspects of Fethullah Gülen’s life?

A) Eating little

B) Having a good memory

C) Sleeping excessively

D) Performing Prayers from the age of four