The Sirah Genre: An evaluation of Fethullah Gulen's approach

One of the main findings of this research is that Gulen reads sirah from a base of the kalām discipline, which I call the kalāmisation of sirah'. This is discussed in the context of the discipline of kalām, with special reference to the new ilm al-kalām period, which emerged during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. How Gulen links these two disciplines is addressed, together with the motivation and reasons for such an approach. In this regard, once Gulen's approach to the notion of prophethood has been examined, his main work on sirah, entitled Sonsuz Nur, is thoroughly analysed from various perspectives. This includes his particular brand of, and approach to, religious oratory, which is examined and evaluated. Of particular interest is its unique methodology which is based on the attributes of the prophets and, in particular, the attribute of fatānah (prophetic intellect).