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Speech and Power of Expression
Emphasizing the esthetic concerns of the Islamic civilization as well as underlining the true nature of the religion, this insightful opus contains a collection of essays on the art of language from a revered contemporary scholar of Islam. Written separately as lead articles for the Turkish literary magazine, Yagmur, the volume eloquently articulates the author?s approach to speech as well as his definitions of poetry, history, and beauty, all of which are deeply embroidered around the lacework of Islam. With powerful emphasis on belief in God, each essay addresses an important matter of language that aptly relates to the current state of affairs in the Muslim world and the nature of human existence in the 21st century as a whole.
186 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
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About the author
M. Fethullah Gülen
300 books237 followersMuhammed Fethullah Gülen was a Turkish Muslim scholar, preacher, and leader of the Gülen movement who as of 2016 had millions of followers. Gülen was an influential neo-Ottomanist, Anatolian panethnicist, Islamic poet, writer, social critic, and activist–dissident developing a Nursian theological perspective that embraces democratic modernity. Gülen was a local state imam from 1959 to 1981 and he was a citizen of Turkey until his denaturalization by the Turkish government in 2017. Over the years, Gülen became a centrist political figure in Turkey prior to his being there as a fugitive. From 1999 until his death in 2024, Gülen lived in self-exile in the United States near Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania.
Gülen said his social criticisms are focused upon individuals' faith and morality and a lesser extent toward political ends, and self described as rejecting an Islamist political philosophy, advocating instead for full participation within professions, society, and political life by religious and secular individuals who profess high moral or ethical principles and who wholly support secular rule, within Muslim-majority countries and elsewhere. Gülen was described in the English-language media as an imam "who promoted a tolerant Islam which emphasises altruism, hard work, and education" and as "one of the world's most important Muslim figures".
In 2003, a number of Gülen movement participants allied with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's right wing Justice and Development Party (AKP), providing the AKP political and sorely-needed administrative support. This political alliance worked together to weaken left-of-center Kemalist factions, but fractured in 2011. Turkish prosecutors accused Gülen of attempts to overthrow the government by allegedly directing politically motivated corruption investigations by Gülen-linked investigators then in the judiciary, who illegally wiretapped the executive office of the Turkish president, and Gülen's alleged instigations of the 2016 coup attempt. Gülen denied the accusations.
A Turkish criminal court issued an arrest warrant for Gülen in 2016, and Turkey demanded his extradition from the United States. U.S. government officials did not believe he was associated with any terrorist activity, and requested evidence to be provided by the Turkish government to substantiate the allegations in the warrant requesting extradition, frequently rejecting Turkish calls for his extradition.
Gülen was wanted as a terrorist leader in Turkey and Pakistan, as well as by the OIC and GCC.
Gülen said his social criticisms are focused upon individuals' faith and morality and a lesser extent toward political ends, and self described as rejecting an Islamist political philosophy, advocating instead for full participation within professions, society, and political life by religious and secular individuals who profess high moral or ethical principles and who wholly support secular rule, within Muslim-majority countries and elsewhere. Gülen was described in the English-language media as an imam "who promoted a tolerant Islam which emphasises altruism, hard work, and education" and as "one of the world's most important Muslim figures".
In 2003, a number of Gülen movement participants allied with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's right wing Justice and Development Party (AKP), providing the AKP political and sorely-needed administrative support. This political alliance worked together to weaken left-of-center Kemalist factions, but fractured in 2011. Turkish prosecutors accused Gülen of attempts to overthrow the government by allegedly directing politically motivated corruption investigations by Gülen-linked investigators then in the judiciary, who illegally wiretapped the executive office of the Turkish president, and Gülen's alleged instigations of the 2016 coup attempt. Gülen denied the accusations.
A Turkish criminal court issued an arrest warrant for Gülen in 2016, and Turkey demanded his extradition from the United States. U.S. government officials did not believe he was associated with any terrorist activity, and requested evidence to be provided by the Turkish government to substantiate the allegations in the warrant requesting extradition, frequently rejecting Turkish calls for his extradition.
Gülen was wanted as a terrorist leader in Turkey and Pakistan, as well as by the OIC and GCC.
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March 27, 2015
Di tengah-tengah kekalutan dan kekeliruan pertembungan peradaban, buku Speech and Power of Expression: On Language, Esthetics, and Belief karya M Fethullah Gulen ini wajar untuk ditekuni.
Bagi umat Islam, mereka memiliki kekuatan tetapi tersilap memilih tali untuk mengekang kemarahan dan pedang yang tidak pernah didahului dengan ilmu yang benar.
Justeru, ilmuwan Muslim kelahiran Turki yang kini menetap di Amerika Syarikat (AS) yang diletakkan sebagai tokoh berpengaruh dunia menguak sedikit pengetahuan kita terhadap kekuatan yang sebenar.
Berbekalkan ilmu yang mendalam dan latar orator yang hebat, Gulen menulis bab Speech and Power of Expression yang menjelaskan bagaimana kata-kata yang bermula dengan al-Quran menjadi suara yang dapat menerobos hati meskipun degil atau taksub.
Metafora yang digunakan sangat mengagumkan yang dapat memecahkan benteng keraguan kita dan menumbuhkan keyakinan terhadap kekuatan kata-kata.
Gulen kemudian menulis satu bab yang sangat signifikan kepada kolum dan halaman ini, iaitu The Power of Literature yang memulakannya dalam konsep adab atau sastera dalam bahasa Arab.
Tulisan itu mengingatkan penekanan yang dibuat oleh ilmuwan besar, Tan Sri Prof Dr Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas yang boleh dibaca antara lainnya Risalah Untuk Kaum Muslimin.
"Manusia akan menggunakan bahasa sebagai senjata dan berusaha menembusi hati melalui bahasa itu, sekali gus menguasai jiwa dengan tarikan kesusasteraan," jelas Gulen.
Tidak hairanlah, bab Language and Thought mengingatkan pembaca terhadap bahasa yang menjadi jambatan menghubungkan kita dengan kekayaan khazanah warisan silam sehingga dapat menjadi teladan dan sempadan dalam perjalanan untuk masa depan.
Kekuatan kata-kata berbekalkan bahasa dan sastera itulah yang menguak mata hati kita terhadap keindahan sebenar seperti ditekankan dalam bab Beauty and the Beautiful.
Bagi Gulen, perbincangan estetika atau keindahan tidak terpisah daripada Pemiliknya, sekali gus menjadikan unsur itu lebih 'abadi' kerana beliau tidak melihatnya berdasarkan pandangan alam Barat, tetapi berdasarkan hati yang memperakukan ketuhanan dan mengakui keabdian seperti yang ditekan dalam tradisi sufi.
Tanpa hakikat itu, ia pasti disalah guna seperti ingatan beliau dalam Poetry from a Humble Perspective yang menegaskan puisi yang sebenar digabungkan daripada metafora dan simbol yang lahir daripada hati, bangkit seperti awan dan mengambil bentuk cakerawala.
"Ayat yang dibentuk selain daripada itu bukanlah puisi, sebaliknya kalimah tiruan yang setiap satu bertentangan dengan maksud hati sebenar.
"Ungkapan dan kata-kata itu yang belum terbentuk dalam jiwa seseorang seperti suara kesedaran menyebabkan semuanya lompong, tidak kira bagaimana mereka menghiaskannya atau bagaimana mereka menjadikannya berkilau," tulisnya.
Daripada kekuatan kata-kata yang dimiliki bersama itulah, Gulen menyelongkar pelbagai tema baik yang disentuh secara ringkas, tetapi mengikat hati khususnya mengenai kelahiran Rasulullah SAW yang baru saja kita sambut atau wanita sebagai sumber kasih sayang.
Justeru, pembacaan buku ini di tengah-tengah kekalutan dan kekeliruan mutakhir, memberikan nafas segar terhadap penyelesaian yang dapat ditawarkan oleh umat Islam, iaitu kebenaran dan kebahagiaan hakiki melalui kekuatan yang sudah sedia dimiliki.
Bagi umat Islam, mereka memiliki kekuatan tetapi tersilap memilih tali untuk mengekang kemarahan dan pedang yang tidak pernah didahului dengan ilmu yang benar.
Justeru, ilmuwan Muslim kelahiran Turki yang kini menetap di Amerika Syarikat (AS) yang diletakkan sebagai tokoh berpengaruh dunia menguak sedikit pengetahuan kita terhadap kekuatan yang sebenar.
Berbekalkan ilmu yang mendalam dan latar orator yang hebat, Gulen menulis bab Speech and Power of Expression yang menjelaskan bagaimana kata-kata yang bermula dengan al-Quran menjadi suara yang dapat menerobos hati meskipun degil atau taksub.
Metafora yang digunakan sangat mengagumkan yang dapat memecahkan benteng keraguan kita dan menumbuhkan keyakinan terhadap kekuatan kata-kata.
Gulen kemudian menulis satu bab yang sangat signifikan kepada kolum dan halaman ini, iaitu The Power of Literature yang memulakannya dalam konsep adab atau sastera dalam bahasa Arab.
Tulisan itu mengingatkan penekanan yang dibuat oleh ilmuwan besar, Tan Sri Prof Dr Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas yang boleh dibaca antara lainnya Risalah Untuk Kaum Muslimin.
"Manusia akan menggunakan bahasa sebagai senjata dan berusaha menembusi hati melalui bahasa itu, sekali gus menguasai jiwa dengan tarikan kesusasteraan," jelas Gulen.
Tidak hairanlah, bab Language and Thought mengingatkan pembaca terhadap bahasa yang menjadi jambatan menghubungkan kita dengan kekayaan khazanah warisan silam sehingga dapat menjadi teladan dan sempadan dalam perjalanan untuk masa depan.
Kekuatan kata-kata berbekalkan bahasa dan sastera itulah yang menguak mata hati kita terhadap keindahan sebenar seperti ditekankan dalam bab Beauty and the Beautiful.
Bagi Gulen, perbincangan estetika atau keindahan tidak terpisah daripada Pemiliknya, sekali gus menjadikan unsur itu lebih 'abadi' kerana beliau tidak melihatnya berdasarkan pandangan alam Barat, tetapi berdasarkan hati yang memperakukan ketuhanan dan mengakui keabdian seperti yang ditekan dalam tradisi sufi.
Tanpa hakikat itu, ia pasti disalah guna seperti ingatan beliau dalam Poetry from a Humble Perspective yang menegaskan puisi yang sebenar digabungkan daripada metafora dan simbol yang lahir daripada hati, bangkit seperti awan dan mengambil bentuk cakerawala.
"Ayat yang dibentuk selain daripada itu bukanlah puisi, sebaliknya kalimah tiruan yang setiap satu bertentangan dengan maksud hati sebenar.
"Ungkapan dan kata-kata itu yang belum terbentuk dalam jiwa seseorang seperti suara kesedaran menyebabkan semuanya lompong, tidak kira bagaimana mereka menghiaskannya atau bagaimana mereka menjadikannya berkilau," tulisnya.
Daripada kekuatan kata-kata yang dimiliki bersama itulah, Gulen menyelongkar pelbagai tema baik yang disentuh secara ringkas, tetapi mengikat hati khususnya mengenai kelahiran Rasulullah SAW yang baru saja kita sambut atau wanita sebagai sumber kasih sayang.
Justeru, pembacaan buku ini di tengah-tengah kekalutan dan kekeliruan mutakhir, memberikan nafas segar terhadap penyelesaian yang dapat ditawarkan oleh umat Islam, iaitu kebenaran dan kebahagiaan hakiki melalui kekuatan yang sudah sedia dimiliki.
August 15, 2025
Review of Speech and Power of Expression by M. Fethullah Gülen
One chapter that stood out to me was “Woman”, especially the analogy using nitrogen and oxygen—it was a simple yet powerful illustration. Beyond that, I really appreciated the way the book blends both scientific reasoning and literary depth to explore speech, poetry, and the human experience. There’s no sense of competition between these fields; instead, they complement one another beautifully, working together to explain the concept of human beliefs, values, and their origin.
I found Gülen’s inclusive discussion of poetry, the role of the Qur’an, and the prophets’ influence to be truly inspiring. He challenges the perception that poetry, linguistics, and literature are “unnecessary,” showing instead how they guide us through life—and even beyond it. At the same time, he elevates science, presenting it not as contradictory to faith but as another means to demonstrate that life is not a coincidence.
One recurring theme I’ve noticed in Gülen’s works, and something I value deeply, is his emphasis on the vicegerency of human beings—their elevated status and responsibility in this world. It’s a concept that feels almost forgotten today, in a society that often reduces people to political or social labels and even judges them by shallow standards of physical beauty. There was a chapter that touched on beauty standards, showing how society often misplaces value on outward appearance rather than inner character and spiritual worth. In contrast, the language and perspective offered in religion, as described here, are far more appreciative and profound, reminding us of the sacredness and significance of human life.
I also loved the references to influential poets like Rumi, Namık Kemal, Sully Prudhomme, and Said Nursi. Their works, as Gülen explains, were often inspired by the Qur’an and religious texts, serving as a means to guide people toward understanding life and the afterlife. The final chapter’s focus on Rumi was particularly moving—a short biographical reflection that highlighted his transcendent love for God and how his words became a lifelong expression of devotion. This section alone was deeply inspiring and tied the entire book together beautifully.
One chapter that stood out to me was “Woman”, especially the analogy using nitrogen and oxygen—it was a simple yet powerful illustration. Beyond that, I really appreciated the way the book blends both scientific reasoning and literary depth to explore speech, poetry, and the human experience. There’s no sense of competition between these fields; instead, they complement one another beautifully, working together to explain the concept of human beliefs, values, and their origin.
I found Gülen’s inclusive discussion of poetry, the role of the Qur’an, and the prophets’ influence to be truly inspiring. He challenges the perception that poetry, linguistics, and literature are “unnecessary,” showing instead how they guide us through life—and even beyond it. At the same time, he elevates science, presenting it not as contradictory to faith but as another means to demonstrate that life is not a coincidence.
One recurring theme I’ve noticed in Gülen’s works, and something I value deeply, is his emphasis on the vicegerency of human beings—their elevated status and responsibility in this world. It’s a concept that feels almost forgotten today, in a society that often reduces people to political or social labels and even judges them by shallow standards of physical beauty. There was a chapter that touched on beauty standards, showing how society often misplaces value on outward appearance rather than inner character and spiritual worth. In contrast, the language and perspective offered in religion, as described here, are far more appreciative and profound, reminding us of the sacredness and significance of human life.
I also loved the references to influential poets like Rumi, Namık Kemal, Sully Prudhomme, and Said Nursi. Their works, as Gülen explains, were often inspired by the Qur’an and religious texts, serving as a means to guide people toward understanding life and the afterlife. The final chapter’s focus on Rumi was particularly moving—a short biographical reflection that highlighted his transcendent love for God and how his words became a lifelong expression of devotion. This section alone was deeply inspiring and tied the entire book together beautifully.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews