Much has been written about the thought of Fethullah Gülen in terms of the social programs and institutions inspired by his ideas. Some have studied his theory of education as the pedagogical basis for the schools, so called “Gulen Schools“, and other educational ventures founded and administered by members of the community associated with Gülen’s name. Others have focused on Gülen’s vision as the philosophical motor behind a social movement working to produce social change and renewal, whether it be in Turkey, in the worldwide Islamic umma, or in the modern world in general. Still others have underlined Gülen’s call for universal love, fellowship, and tolerance and consequently his encouragement of interreligious dialogue as an essentially Islamic obligation. Fethullah Gülen considers purity of intention to be “the wing of the bird” of a person’s life before God. The other is faithfulness, and together the two virtues make up the two wings of divine grace that God implants in the soul, which enable a person to approach God directly without hindrance. He quotes Mowlana Jalaluddin Rumi to the effect that if good deeds were a body, purity of intention would be their soul. That is, it is sincerity that makes good deeds live, be effective, and have everlasting value. Without sincerity to animate deeds spiritually, all human endeavors would remain lifeless, ephemeral, and ultimately worthless. But those who fly with the two wings of sincerity and faithfulness will fly with God’s protection and will unfailingly reach their destination, that is, “God’s approval and pleasure.”
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