THE 500 MOST INFLUENTIAL MUSLIMS - CESD

THE 500 MOSTINFLUENTIALMUSLIMS2010

THE500 MOSTINFLUENTIALMUSLIMS=2010first edition - 2010

CHIEF EDITORSDr Joseph Lumbard and Dr Aref Ali NayedPREPARED BYUsra GhaziDESIGNED AND TYPESET BYSimon HartCONSULTANTSiti Sarah MuwahidahWITH THANKS TOAftab Ahmed, Emma Horton, Mark B D Jenkins, Lamya Al-Khraisha,Mohammad Husni Naghawi, Kinan Al-Shaghouri, Farah El-Sharif,Jacob Washofsky and Zahna ZurarAll rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproducedin any manner without the prior consent of the publisher.Copyright © 2010 by The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre (//) ISBN: 978-9975-428-37-2( ) the royal islamic strategic studies centre

CONTENTS=introduction 1the diversity of islam 7top 50 25runners-up 91the lists 951. Scholarly 972. Political 1073. Administrative 1154. Lineage 1255. Preachers 1276. Women’s Issues 1317. Youth 1378. Philanthropy 1399. Development 14110. Science, Technology, Medicine, Law 151

11. Arts and Culture 155Qur’an Reciters 16112. Media 16313. Radicals 16714. International Islamic Networks 16915. Issues of the Day 171glossary 175appendix 181Majority Muslim Countries 183Muslim Population Statistics 185not listed in 2010 197index 205note on format 219

INTRODUCTION=

introductionAs an inaugural endeavor, The 500 Most Influential Muslims—2009challenged the definition of influence in the Muslim world while reportingon the contributions of those leaders and change-agents who have shapedsocial development and global movements in the past few years. Witharound 150,000 downloads of the e-book, it is no surprise that the list ofMuslim leaders has been both widely scrutinized and praised.Major critiques of The 500 Most Influential Muslims—2009 addressthe methodology which informed the selection process of influentialcandidates. The individuals in this publication have been nominated andselected because they are influential as Muslims, deriving their influencefrom their religious identity. They are considered influential because theirwork impacts all fields of work and particularly, the religious endeavorsof the Muslim world. Their influence and accomplishments have beenweighed against others in their respective fields and the heralds who havemade it to the top ranks this past year are profiled in the following pages.However, like any other superlative-themed ranking, there is bound to be adegree of subjectivity and this publication is no exception. Comparing thework of leaders across continents and diverse fields of work is a mammothtask structured on the premise that there is no absolute common measurebetween the people in these pages. Despite this reality, the benefit of sucha list is that it elucidates the multiplicity of challenges and successes facingthe Muslim world and the beacons at the forefront of these developments.In many cases, the leaders’ influence is derived from political and religiousauthority—which is common to most of the individuals in the top 50.These people possess powerful positions but it is the potency of theirwork and the roles they play in the lives of the average citizen that garnerinfluence. Naturally, heads of state and leading scholars comprise thehighest ranks. Leaders from last year’s edition, such as His Majesty SultanQaboos bin Sa’id al Sa’id or US Representative Keith Ellison, are presentedagain for 2010 because they continue to affect global society through theircapacities as political leaders. The other major criterion that warrantsinclusion is if the leaders have had a major impact on the world in thepast year.3

IntroductionIn total, we present 500 leaders in 15 categories of influence—Scholarly,Political, Administrative, Lineage, Preachers, Women’s Issues, Youth,Philanthropy, Development, Science/Technology/Medicine/Law, Arts andCulture, Media, Radicals, International Islamic Networks, and Issues ofthe Day. Changes in rank, and new entries are denoted by correspondingicons. Leaders are listed in alphabetical order by country and name.Disclaimer and Invitation to ParticipateWe thank all those who submitted nominations for The 500 MostInfluential Muslims—2010. RISSC will continue to keep the processas open as possible and we ask you to please submit nominations atwww.rissc.jo.Demography of InfluenceInfluence in the Muslim world is particular to its context. There is nota clear hierarchy or organized clergy for Muslims through which theyidentify a leader, such as a Patriarch for Orthodox Christians or a Pope forCatholics. Islam as a religion is based on the individual’s relationship withGod, without an intermediary. Influence in the Muslim world is derivedfrom two sources: scholarship, and respect and trust. Scholars are able toeducate the masses or give esteemed opinions, and respected and trustedpersons carry the weight of social and historical capital as leaders in theirsocieties.As you will see, three types of people—monarchs, religious scholars, andleaders of religious networks—dominate the Top 50 list. Monarchs arewell represented because of the influence they gain from their politicalpower, the length of time they spend in office, their lineage in light of theinstitution of monarchy, and the deeply rooted establishments that theymay inherit. Religious scholars are also strongly present in the list becausethey may be able to make religious rulings, and due to the simple fact thatMuslims, of every hue, need figures from whom they can source concreteanswers to practical questions. In a globalized world, networks of peopleand of institutions permeate our international society and accordinglyhave great power because of their ability to affect people’s lives, whetherit be through funds or services. The Muslim world is no different andleaders of Islamic networks are represented in the top rungs of our list of500.4

IntroductionThe one clear exception to this rule however is Amr Khaled who throughsheer force of popularity and innovation—as the Muslim world’s firsttelevangelist— exerts tremendous influence as a Muslim. Khaled has beenable to chart his own course as a key figure in the Muslim world throughthe vehicle of mass media, and although as a layperson his religiousauthority is still somewhat limited he remains the great ‘start-up’ of thelist.Another important exception is Fethullah Gülen, a preacher, thinker andeducator. Although, he assumed the leadership of a religious movementstarted by Said Nursî (1878-1960) and thus leads an expansive network, hehas gone on to become a global phenomenon in his own right. Gülen’spopularity and authority in Turkey have been the driving force of the socialmovement that is widely thought to have brought around the social andeventually political changes of which politician Recep Tayyip Erdogan hasbeen the ultimate heir—that is the enfranchisement of Muslim politics inTurkey.Geography is also an important issue in terms of influence, with the MiddleEast and North America and Europe holding disproportionate influencein relation to the quantity of Muslims in these regions. It is importantto clarify that individuals from the Middle East have a disproportionateinfluence in the Muslim world, due to the fact that the region has manyof the oldest and most well-esteemed institutions for Muslims, and mostimportantly is home to the holy sites in Mecca and Medina. Europe andNorth America are host to a large proportion of the world’s most highlyrespected educational institutions and draw talented, influential peoplefrom around the world, with global outreach through their wealth andhigh academic standing. Many important international institutions arealso based in Europe and North America, which adds to this asymmetry.5

THEDIVERSITYOF ISLAMi. the house of islam 9The Essence of Islam 9The Canon of Islam 11Islam in History 12ii. major doctrinal divisions within islam 14a. Sunni 14b. Shi’i 15c. Ibadi 15iii. major ideological divisions within islam 17a. Traditional Islam 18b. Islamic Modernism 21c. Islamic Fundamentalism 21

I. the house of islamThis section reprinted by permission of Vincenzo Oliveti © 2001(with the exception of President Obama’s speech)The religion of Islam is based on belief in the One God (who in Arabic is calledAllah). It was founded by the Prophet Muhammad (570-632 CE) in the ancientcities of Mecca and Medina, in the west coast of the Arabian Peninsula (knownas the Hijaz). God revealed to the Prophet Muhammad the Holy Qur’an, theSacred Book of Islam. The religion this created, however, was not a new messagebut simply a final restatement of God’s messages to the Hebrew Prophets and toJesus. The Holy Qur’an says:Say ye: we believe in God and that which is revealed unto us and that whichwas revealed unto Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the Tribes,and that which Moses and Jesus received, and that which the Prophets receivedfrom their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and unto Himwe have submitted. (The Holy Qur’an, 2:136)Moreover, the Holy Qur’an did not exclude the possibility of revelations otherthan those that were given to the Prophets mentioned in the Bible (and thusdid not exclude the possibility of other genuine ancient religions other thanJudaism, Christianity and Islam). God says, in the Holy Qur’an:Verily we have sent Messengers before thee [O Muhammad]. About some ofthem have we told thee, and about some have we not told thee . . . (40:78).And verily we have raised in every nation a Messenger [proclaiming]: serveGod and shun false gods . . . (16:36).THE ESSENCE OF ISLAMThe essence and substance of Islam can be easily summed up by three majorprinciples (which are also successive stages in the spiritual life): Islam (meaning‘submission to God’s will’); Iman (meaning ‘faith in God’), and Ihsan (meaning‘virtue through constant regard to, and awareness of, God’). The second Caliph,the great ‘Umar ibn al Khattab, related that:One day when we were sitting [in Medina] with the Messenger of God [theProphet Muhammad] there came unto us a man whose clothes were ofexceeding whiteness and whose hair was of exceeding blackness, nor werethere any signs of travel upon him, although none of us knew him. He satdown knee upon knee opposite the Prophet, upon whose thighs he placed thepalms of his hands, saying: ‘O Muhammad; tell me what is the surrender9

the house of islam(Islam)’. The Messenger of God answered him saying: ‘The surrender is totestify that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is God’s Messenger,to perform the prayer, bestow the alms, fast Ramadan and make if thou canst,the pilgrimage to the Holy House.’ He said, ‘Thou hast spoken truly,’ and wewere amazed that having questioned him he should corroborate him. Thenhe said: ‘Tell me what is faith (Iman)’. He answered: ‘To believe in God andHis Angels and his Books and His Messengers and the Last Day [the Day ofJudgement], and to believe that no good or evil cometh but by His Providence.’‘Thou hast spoken truly,’ he said, and then: ‘Tell me what is excellence (Ihsan).’He answered: ‘To worship God as if thou sawest Him, for if Thou seest Himnot, yet seeth He thee.’ ‘Thou hast spoken truly,’ he said...Then the strangerwent away, and I stayed a while after he had gone; and the Prophet said tome: ‘O ‘Umar, knowest thou the questioner, who he was?’ I said, ‘God andHis Messenger know best.’ He said, ‘It was Gabriel [the Archangel]. He cameunto you to teach you your religion.’ 1Thus Islam as such consists of ‘five pillars’: (1) the Shahadatayn or the ‘twotestimonies of faith’ (whose inward meaning is the acknowledgement of God).(2) The five daily prayers (whose inward meaning is the attachment to God). (3)Giving alms or Zakat—one-fortieth of one’s income and savings annually to thepoor and destitute (whose inward meaning is the detachment from the world).(4) Fasting the Holy month of Ramadan annually (whose inward meaning isdetachment from the body and from the ego). (5) Making the Hajj (whose innermeaning is to return to one’s true inner heart, the mysterious square, blackshroudedKa’ba in Mecca being the outward symbol of this heart). Thus alsoIman as such consists of belief in all the essential doctrines of religion (and theinner meaning of this is that one should not go through the motions of religionand of the five pillars of Islam blindly or robotically, but rather have real faithand certainty in one’s heart). Thus, finally, Ihsan as such consists in believingthat God always sees us, and therefore that one must be virtuous and sincere inall one’s actions. In this connection the Prophet said: ‘By Him in whose Handis my Life, none of you believes till he loves for his neighbour what he loves forhimself ‘. 2 In summary, we could say that the essence of Islam is exactly the TwoCommandments upon which Jesus said hangs all the Law and the Prophets:And Jesus answered him, The first of all commandments is...the Lord our Godis one Lord; And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and withall thy soul, and with all thy understanding, and with all thy strength: this isthe first commandment. And the second commandment is like, namely this,Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandmentgreater than these. 31 Sahih Muslim, ‘Kitab al Iman', 1, N.I. (The Hadiths of the Prophet, like all sacred texts, are writtenabove in italics).2 Sahih Muslim, 'Kitab al Iman', 18, n. 72.3 The Gospel according to Mark 12:29 –31. (See also Deuteronomy 6:5; and Matthew 22:37- 40).10

the house of islamTHE CANON OF ISLAMIslam does not, like Christianity, have a clergy. There is no temporal or evenspiritual institute that holds it together or unifies it. So how has it held together—and indeed, flourished—for the last fourteen centuries approximately, when itsscholars and temporal policymakers keep changing and dying out over time?How has it remained so homogeneous that the Islam of 1900 CE was doctrinallyexactly the same as the Islam of 700 CE? Where have its internal checks andbalances come from?The answer is that Islam has a traditional canon: 4 a collection of sacred textswhich everyone has agreed are authoritative and definitive, and which ‘fix’ theprinciples of belief, practice, law, theology and doctrine throughout the ages.All that Muslim scholars (called ulema and muftis or sheikhs and imams) haveleft to do is to interpret these texts and work out their practical applicationsand details (and the principles of interpretation and elaboration are themselves‘fixed’ by these texts), so that in Islam a person is only considered learned tothe extent that he can demonstrate his knowledge of these texts. This does notmean that Islam is a religion of limitations for these texts are a vast ocean andtheir principles can be inwardly worked out almost infinitely in practice. Itdoes mean, however, that Islam is ‘fixed’ and has certain limits beyond whichit will not go. This is an extremely important concept to understand, becausemisunderstanding it, and setting aside the traditional canon of Islam, leads topeople killing and assassinating others in the name of religion. The traditionalcanon of Islam is what protects not just the religion of Islam itself, but the world(including Muslims themselves) from terrorism, murder and oppression in thename of Islam. The canon is Islam’s internal check and balance system; it iswhat safeguards its moderation; it is ‘self-censorship’ and its ultimate safetyfeature.To be more specific, the traditional Sunni Islamic Canon starts with the Qur’anitself; then the great traditional Commentaries upon it (e.g. Tabari; Razi;Zamakhshari/Baydawi; Qurtubi; Jalalayn; Ibn Kathir; Nasafi; and al Wahidi’sAsbab al Nuzul); then the eight traditional collections of Hadith, the sayingsof the Prophet, (e.g. Muslim; Bukhari; Tirmidhi; Ibn Hanbal, al Nasa’i; alSijistani; al Darimi and Ibn Maja); the later Muhaddithin, or Traditionists (e.g.Bayhaqi; Baghawi; Nawawi and ‘Asqalani); then the traditional biographicaland historical works of Sira (Ibn Ishaq, Ibn Sa’d, Waqidi; Azraqi; Tabari; andSuhayli); the Risala of al Shafi’i: the Muwatta’ of Imam Malik; the Ihya’ ‘Ulumal Din of Ghazali; Ash‘arite and Maturidian theology; the (original)’Aqida ofTahawi; Imam Jazuli’s Dala’il al Khayrat, and finally—albeit only extrinsically—Jahiliyya poetry (as a background reference for the semantic connotations of4 Even the English word 'canon' comes from the Arabic word kanun meaning 'law' or 'principle' .11

the house of islamwords in the Arabic language). We give a specific (but not exhaustive) list herein order to minimize the possibility of misunderstanding.ISLAM IN HISTORYIt is evidently not possible to do justice to the role of Islam in world history,thought and civilization in a few words, but the following paragraph by Britain’sPrince Charles attempts it:‘The medieval Islamic world, from Central Asia to the shores of the Atlantic,was a world where scholars and men of learning flourished. But becausewe have tended to see Islam as the enemy, as an alien culture, society, andsystem of belief, we have tended to ignore or erase its great relevance toour own history. For example, we have underestimated the importanceof eight hundred years of Islamic society and culture in Spain betweenthe 8th and 15th centuries. The contribution of Muslim Spain to thepreservation of classical learning during the Dark Ages, and to the firstflowerings of the Renaissance, has long been recognized. But Islamic Spainwas much more then a mere larder where Hellenistic knowledge was keptfor later consumption by the emerging modern Western world. Not onlydid Muslim Spain gather and preserve the intellectual content of ancientGreek and Roman civilization, it also interpreted and expanded upon thatcivilization, and made a vital contribution of its own in so many fields ofhuman endeavour—in science, astronomy, mathematics, algebra (it selfan Arabic word), law, history, medicine, pharmacology, optics, agriculture,architecture, theology, music. Averroes [Ibn Rushd] and Avenzoor [IbnZuhr], like their counterparts Avicenna [Ibn Sina] and Rhazes [Abu Bakral Razi] in the East, contributed to the study and practice of medicine inways from which Europe benefited for centuries afterwards. 5 ’On 4 June, 2009, US President Barack Obama said the following at CairoUniversity:‘As a student of history, I also know civilization’s debt to Islam. It was Islam—at places like Al Azhar—that carried the light of learning through so manycenturies, paving the way for Europe’s Renaissance and Enlightenment.It was innovation in Muslim communities that developed the order ofalgebra; our magnetic compass and tools of navigation; our mastery of pensand printing; our understanding of how disease spreads and how it canbe healed. Islamic culture has given us majestic arches and soaring spires;5 HRH the Prince of Wales, 'Islam and the West', a lecture given at the Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford onOctober 27th, 1993, pp.17-18.12

the house of islamtimeless poetry and cherished music; elegant calligraphy and places ofpeaceful contemplation. And throughout history, Islam has demonstratedthrough words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racialequality.I also know that Islam has always been a part of America’s story. The firstnation to recognize my country was Morocco. In signing the Treaty ofTripoli in 1796, our second President, John Adams, wrote, ‘The United Stateshas in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquilityof Muslims.’ And since our founding, American Muslims have enrichedthe United States. They have fought in our wars, they have served in ourgovernment, they have stood for civil rights, they have started businesses,they have taught at our universities, they’ve excelled in our sports arenas,they’ve won Nobel Prizes, built our tallest building, and lit the OlympicTorch. And when the first Muslim American was recently elected toCongress, he took the oath to defend our Constitution using the sameHoly Koran that one of our Founding Fathers—Thomas Jefferson—keptin his personal library.’ 66 Barack Obama's speech in Cairo, 'Remarks by the President on a New Beginning' June 4, 2009.13

II. major doctrinaldivisions within islamA. SUNNI DOCTRINE1) Ash‘ari and Maturidi Schools: Sunni Orthodoxy 1These two schools of doctrine are followed by the bulk of Sunni Muslims anddiffer only in minor details.Ash‘ari School: This school is named after the 9th century scholar Abu al Hasanal Ash‘ari (874-936 CE) and is widely accepted throughout the Sunni Muslimworld. They believe that the characteristics of God are ultimately beyondhuman comprehension, and trust in the Revelation is essential, although theuse of rationality is important.Maturidi School: This school is named after the 9th century scholarMuhammad Abu Mansur al Maturidi (853-944 CE) and has a wide followingin regions where Hanafi law is practiced. They have a slightly more pronouncedreliance on human reason.2) Salafi SchoolThis school was developed around the doctrines of 18th century scholarMuhammad ibn Abd al Wahhab (1703-1792 CE). Salafis have specific doctrinalbeliefs, owing to their particular interpretation of Islam, that differentiate themfrom the majority of Sunnis, such as a literal anthropomorphic interpretationof God. Salafis place a great emphasis on literal interpretation of the Qur’an andHadith, with skepticism towards the role of human reason in theology.3) Mu’tazili SchoolThis school was developed between the 8th and 10th centuries. Although it istraced back to Wasil ibn Ata (d. 748 CE) in Basra, theologians Abu al Hudhaylal ‘Allaf (d. 849 CE) and Bishr ibn al Mu’tamir (d. 825 CE) are credited withformalizing its theological stance. Mu’tazili thought relies heavily on logic,including Greek philosophy. Although it no longer has a significant following, asmall minority of contemporary intellectuals have sought to revive it. Mutazilitesbelieve that the Qur’an was created as opposed to the Orthodox Sunni viewthat it is eternal and uncreated. Moreover they advocate using rationalism tounderstand allegorical readings of the Qur’an.14

major doctrinal divisions within islamB. SHI’I DOCTRINE1) The Twelver SchoolBelief in the infallibility (‘Ismah) of the Twelve Imams descended from the familyof the Prophet (Ahl al Bayt) who are believed to be the spiritual and rightful politicalauthorities of the Muslim community (Umma). The twelfth Imam, the Mahdi,is believed to be in occultation to return in the future.2) Isma’ili SchoolThe Qur’an and Hadith are said to have truths lying with a single living Imam,descended directly from the Prophet. Also known as ‘seveners’ for their beliefthat Isma’il ibn Ja’far was the seventh and final leading-Imam of the Muslimcommunity.3) Zaidi SchoolThe infallibility of the Twelve Imams and the notion of occultation are rejectedin favor of accepting the leadership of a living Imam. The Imamate can be heldby any descendant of the Prophet (Sayyid). Zaidis are also known as ‘fivers’for their belief that Zayd ibn Ali was the fifth and final leading-Imam of theMuslim community.C. IBADI DOCTRINEIbadis believe that God created the Qur’an at a certain point in time, and thatGod will not be seen on the Day of Judgment. They also believe in the eternalnature of hell for all those who enter it.15

THE DIVERSITY OF ISLAM(1.6 Billion People 2010)Major Ideological Divisions within IslamTraditional Islam (96%)Islamic Fundamentalism (3%)Sunni(90% of 96%)1. DoctrineAsh’ari and Maturidi SchoolsMu’tazili School (now defunct)1. Schoold of LawHanafi (45% of 96%)Maliki (28% of 96%)Shafi’i (15% of 96%)Hanbali (2% of 96%)Shi’i(9.5% of 96%)Ibadi(0.5% of 96%)1. BranchesTwelvers (8% of 96%)Usuli (99% of 8%)Akhbari (1% of 8%)Isma’ilis (Seveners) ( > 0.5% of 96%)Zaidis (Fivers) ( > 1% of 96%)2. Mystic BrotherhoodsIrfanSunni Shi’i1. Muslim Brotherhood2. Wahabism/SalafismIslamic Modernism (1%)1. Revolutionary Shi’ism2. Mystic BrotherhoodsQadiriyyaNaqshabandiyyaTijaniyyahShadiliyyahRifa’iyyahSubrawardiyyahKubrawiyyahChistiyyahBa’AlawiyyahKhalwatiyyahBadawiyyah16

III.major ideological divisionswithin islamTRADITIONAL ISLAM(96% OF THE WORLD’S MUSLIMS)Also known as Orthodox Islam, this ideology is not politicized and is largelybased on scholarly consensus of correct opinion—thus including the Sunni,Shi’a, and Ibadi branches of practice (and their subgroups) within the fold ofIslam, and not groups such as the Druze or the Ahmadiyya, among others.ISLAMIC MODERNISM(1% OF THE WORLD’S MUSLIMS)Emerging from 19th century Ottoman Turkey and Egypt, this subdivisioncontextualized Islamic ideology for the times—emphasizing the need forreligion to evolve with Western social advances.ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISM(3% OF THE WORLD’S MUSLIMS)This is a highly politicized religious ideology popularized in the 20th centurythrough movements within both the Shi’a and Sunni branches of Islam—characterized by aggressiveness and a reformist attitude toward traditionalIslam.17

ideological divisionsIIIa. traditional islamSUNNI(90% OF THE WORLD’S TRADITIONAL MUSLIMS)The largest denomination of Muslims are referred to as Ahl as Sunnah wa’l Jama’hor ‘people of the prophetic tradition and community’—with emphasis onemulating the life of the last Prophet, Muhammad.SCHOOLS OF ISLAMIC LAWHanafi (45.5%) Named after Imam Abu Hanifa (699-767 CE/ 89-157 AH) in Iraq.Shafi’i (28%) Named after Imam al Shafi’i (767-820 CE/ 150-204 AH) in Medina.Maliki (15%) Named after Imam Malik (711-795 CE/ 93-179 AH) in Medina.Hanbali (2%) Named after Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal (780 -855 CE/ 164-241AH) in Iraq.MYSTIC BROTHERHOODSBa’alawiyyahFounded by al Faqih Muqaddam As Sayyid Muhammad bin Ali Ba’Alawi alHusaini (d. 1232 CE) in the Hadramaut valley of Yemen. Influence: popularacross the Arabian Peninsula, India, the North and West Coasts of Africa andthe Malay Archipelago.NaqshbandiyyahFounded by Baha al Din Naqshband (d. 1389 CE) in Bukhara, modern dayUzbekistan. Influence: popular from China to North Africa, Europe andAmerica.QadiriyyahFounded by Persian scholar and saint 'Abd al Qadir al Jilani (1077-1166 CE) inBaghdad, Iraq. Influence: stretches from Morocco to Malaysia, from CentralAsia to South Africa.TijaniyyahFounded by the Algerian saint Ahmad al Tijani (d. 1815 CE) who settled andtaught in Fez, Morocco. Influence: major spiritual and religious role in Senegal,Nigeria, Mauritania and much of Sub-Saharan Africa.18

ideological divisionsShadiliyyahFounded by the Moroccan saint Abu'l-Hassan al Shadili (d. 1258 CE). Influence:most influential in North Africa and Egypt.Rifa'iyyahFounded by Ahmad ibn 'Ali al Rifa'i (d. 1182 CE) in southern Iraq. Influence:widely practiced across the Muslim world with a strong presence in Egypt.SuhrawardiyyahFounded by Persian scholar Abu Najib Suhrawardi (d. 1168 CE) in Iraq.Influence: a strong presence in India.KubrawiyyahFounded by Najm al Din Kubra (d. 1221 CE) from Khawarzm, modern dayUzbekistan. Influence: mostly present across Central Asia.MawlawiyyahA Turkish order founded by the Persian saint and poet Jalal al Din Rumi (d. 1273CE). Influence: mainly in Turkey.ChishtiyyahFounded by the Persian saint Mu'in al Din Chishti (d. 1236 CE) in Khurasan.Influence: highly influential in India.KhalwatiyyahA Turkish order founded by the Persian saint 'Umar al Khalwati (d. 1397 CE).Influence: large presence in the Balkans, Syria, Lebanon and North Africa.BadawiyyahAn Egyptian order founded by the Moroccan saint Ahmad al Badawi (d. 1276CE), considered by many as the patron saint of Egypt. Influence: active role inEgypt and the Sudan.19

ideological divisionsSHI’A(9.5% OF THE WORLD’S TRADITIONAL MUSLIMS)SCHOOLS OF ISLAMIC LAWThe second-largest denomination of Muslims are referred to as Shi’atu ‘Alior ‘the party of ‘Ali,’ the fourth caliph of Islam and first Imam in Shi’ism.Twelvers (8% of Muslims) Named after Imam Ja’far al Sadiq (702-765 CE/ 83-148 AH) in Medina.Usuli (99% of Twelvers) This dominant school favors the use of ijtihad,independent legal reasoning, with an emphasis on four accepted collectionsof Hadith. It derives legal opinions from living ayatollahs, or mujtahids, whoserulings become obligatory. Taqlid, the practice of following rulings withoutquestioning the religious authority, is a core tenet of this school. The name Usuliis derived from the Arabic term usul meaning ‘principle’.Akhbari: Akhbaris reject the use of ijtihad or reasoning, and do not follow marjaswho practice ijtihad. They also prohibit exegesis of the Qur’an. They derive legalrulings from the Qur’an, Hadith, and consensus. The name Akhbari is derivedfrom the Arabic term akhbar meaning ‘traditions’. They can trace their roots toMuhammad Amin Astarabadi (d. 1627 CE). Akhbaris continue to exist to thisday, although in small, concentrated pockets, particularly around Basra, Iraq.Isma’ilis (Seveners) (Less than 0.5% of Muslims) Named after of Muhammadibn Ismail (746-809 CE/128-193 AH) in Medina.Zaidis (Fivers) (Less than .8% of Muslims) Named after of Imam Zaid ibn ‘Ali(695-740 CE) in Medina.MYSTIC BROTHERHOODSIrfanIrfan, which means ‘knowing’ in Arabic and ‘most beautiful and knowledgeableperson’ in Pashto, is Shi’a mysticism. Mulla Sadr al Din Muhammad Shirazi(1571-1636 CE) from Iran is considered a leading theorist of Irfan in Shi’a Islam.IBADI(0.5% OF THE WORLD’S TRADITIONAL MUSLIMS)The Ibadi school has origins in and is linked to the Kharijites, but the modernday community is distinct from the 7th century Islamic sect. It was foundedafter the death of Prophet Muhammad and is currently practiced by a majorityof Oman’s Muslim population. It is also found across parts of Africa.20

ideological divisionsIIIb. islamic modernismIslamic modernism is a reform movement started by politically-mindedurbanites with scant knowledge of traditional Islam. These people hadwitnessed and studied Western technology and socio-political ideas, andrealized that the Islamic world was being left behind technologically by theWest and had become too weak to stand up to it. They blamed this weaknesson what they saw as ‘traditional Islam,’ which they thought held them back andwas not ‘progressive’ enough. They thus called for a complete overhaul of Islam,including—or rather in particular—Islamic law (sharia) and doctrine (aqida).Islamic modernism remains popularly an object of derision and ridicule, and isscorned by traditional Muslims and fundamentalists alike.IIIc. islamic fundamentalismSUNNIMuslim BrotherhoodThe Muslim Brotherhood, or Al Ikhwan Al Muslimeen is a transnational Sunnimovement, with no particular ideological agenda. It is the largest politicalopposition organization in many Arab states, particularly in Egypt where it wasfounded in opposition to colonial rule by Hassan al Banna in 1928.Al Banna originally sought to revive Muslim culture from its position ofexploitation under colonial rule, through charitable and educational work: togive Islam a central role in people’s life. Sayyid Qutb (1906-1966 CE) was also aleading member of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood in the 1950s and 1960s.Wahhabism/SalafismWahhabism/Salafism are terms used interchangeably to refer to a particularbrand of Islam. Salaf, meaning predecessors in Arabic, refers to the very earlypractice of Islam by Muhammad and his immediate successors. Salafismproposes to revive the practice of Islam as it was at the time of the Prophet and iscritical of emphasis being placed on thinkers from after this period. Muhammadibn ‘Abd al Wahhab (1703-1792 CE) was the central figure in the formulation ofthis ideology therefore Salafism is often simply known as Wahhabism.21

ideological divisionsSHI’ARevolutionary shi’ismRevolutionary Shi’ism is an ideology based on the teachings of the late AyatollahRuhollah Khomeini (1902-1989 CE), which shares many similarities withMarxist revolutionary thought. Khomeini believed that the only way to secureindependence from colonial or imperial forces was through the creation of aShi’a state, under the idea of Velayat-e Faqih (Guardianship of the Jurist). Thismeans that all politics is subject to the opinion of the Supreme Leader who isresponsible for the continued success of the revolution. Revolutionary Shi’ismis only practiced in Iran.22

NotesNotes:1. Orthodoxy in Islam is based on verse 2:285 of the Holy Qur’an, and has beenbest defined by the historical 2005 international Islamic consensus on the ‘three points’of the Amman Message(see: www.ammanmessage.com), these points being:(a) Whosoever is an adherent to one of the four Sunni schools (Madhabs)of Islamic jurisprudence (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i and Hanbali), the two Shi’aschools of Islamic jurisprudence (Ja‘fari and Zaydi), the Ibadi school of Islamicjurisprudence and the Thahiri school of Islamic jurisprudence, is a Muslim.Declaring that person an apostate is impossible and impermissible. Verily his(or her) blood, honour, and property are inviolable. Moreover, in accordancewith the Sheikh Al Azhar’s fatwa, it is neither possible nor permissible to declarewhosoever subscribes to the Ash‘ari creed or whoever practices real Tasawwuf(Sufism) an apostate. Likewise, it is neither possible nor permissible to declarewhosoever subscribes to true Salafi thought an apostate.Equally, it is neither possible nor permissible to declare as apostates any groupof Muslims who believes in God, Glorified and Exalted be He, and His Messenger(may peace and blessings be upon him) and the pillars of faith, and acknowledgesthe five pillars of Islam, and does not deny any necessarily self-evident tenet ofreligion.(b) There exists more in common between the various schools of Islamicjurisprudence than there is difference between them. The adherents to the eightschools of Islamic jurisprudence are in agreement as regards the basic principlesof Islam. All believe in Allah (God), Glorified and Exalted be He, the One and theUnique; that the Noble Qur’an is the Revealed Word of God; and that our masterMuhammad, may blessings and peace be upon him, is a Prophet and Messengerunto all mankind. All are in agreement about the five pillars of Islam: the twotestaments of faith (shahadatayn); the ritual prayer (salat); almsgiving (zakat);fasting the month of Ramadan (sawm), and the Hajj to the sacred house of God(in Mecca). All are also in agreement about the foundations of belief: belief inAllah (God), His angels, His scriptures, His messengers, in the Day of Judgment,and in Divine Providence in good and in evil. Disagreements between the ulema(scholars) of the eight schools of Islamic jurisprudence are only with respect tothe ancillary branches of religion (furu’) and not as regards the principles andfundamentals (usul) [of the religion of Islam]. Disagreement with respect to theancillary branches of religion (furu‘) is a mercy. Long ago it was said that variancein opinion among the ulema (scholars) ‘is a good affair’.(c) Acknowledgement of the schools of Islamic jurisprudence (Madhabs)within Islam means adhering to a fundamental methodology in the issuance offatwas: no one may issue a fatwa without the requisite personal qualificationswhich each school of Islamic jurisprudence determines [for its own adherents].No one may issue a fatwa without adhering to the methodology of the schools ofIslamic jurisprudence. No one may claim to do unlimited ijtihad and create a newschool of Islamic jurisprudence or to issue unacceptable fatwas that take Muslimsout of the principles and certainties of the sharia and what has been establishedin respect of its schools of jurisprudence.23

THE TOP 50=1. His Majesty King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, King ofSaudi Arabia, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques2. His Excellency Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister of theRepublic of Turkey3. His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Hajj Sayyid Ali Khamenei,Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran4. His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein, King of theHashemite Kingdom of Jordan5. His Majesty King Mohammed VI, King of Morocco6. His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Sa’id al Sa’id, Sultan of Oman7. His Eminence Professor Dr Sheikh Ahmad Muhammad alTayeb, Grand Sheikh of the Al Azhar University, Grand Imam ofthe Al Azhar Mosque8. His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Hussein Sistani, Marjaof the Hawza, Najaf, Iraq9. His Excellency President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Presidentof Indonesia10. His Eminence Sheikh Dr Ali Goma’a, Grand Mufti of The ArabRepublic of Egypt11. His Eminence Sheikh Abdul Aziz Ibn Abdullah Aal al Sheikh,Grand Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia12. Dr Mohammed Badie, Supreme Guide of the MuslimBrotherhood13. Hodjaefendi Fethullah Gülen, Turkish Muslim Preacher14. Sheikh Dr Yusuf al Qaradawi, Head of the International Unionof Muslim Scholars15. Amr Khaled, Preacher and Social Activist

16. Hajji Mohammed Abd al Wahhab, Amir of Tablighi Jamaat,Pakistan17. Sheikh Dr Muhammad Sa’id Ramadan al Bouti, Leading IslamicScholar in Syria18. Seyyed Hasan Nasrallah, Secretary General of Hezbollah19. Dr KH Said Aqil Siradj, Chairman of Indonesia’s NahdlatulUlama20. His Royal Highness Shah Karim al Hussayni, The Aga Khan IV,49th Imam of the Ismaili Muslims21. His Highness Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir ofQatar22. His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan,Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commanderof the UAE Armed Forces23. His Royal Eminence Amirul Mu’minin Sheikh as SultanMuhammadu Sa’adu Abubakar III, Sultan of Sokoto24. Her Eminence Sheikha Munira Qubeysi, Leader of the QubeysiMovement25. Sheikh Salman al Ouda, Saudi Scholar and Educator26. Mufti Muhammad Akhtar Raza Khan Qaadiri Al Azhari, GrandMufti of India, Barelwi Leader and Spiritual Guide27. His Excellency Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, Brother Leader of theRevolution of the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya28. His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddinWaddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam29. His Eminence Mohammad bin Mohammad al Mansour, Imamof the Zaidi Sect of Shi’a Muslims30. His Eminence Sheikh Abdullah Bin Bayyah, Deputy-Head of theInternational Union of Muslim Scholars31. His Eminence Justice Sheikh Muhammad Taqi Usmani, LeadingScholar of Islamic Jurisprudence32. His Excellency President Abdullah Gül, President of the Republicof Turkey33. Her Majesty Queen Rania al Abdullah, Queen of the HashemiteKingdom of Jordan34. Sheikh Mohammad Ali al Sabouni, Scholar of Tafsir

35. Dr Aaidh Al Qarni, Saudi Scholar36. His Eminence Sheikh Ahmad Tijani Ali Cisse, Leader of theTijaniyya Sufi Order37. Sheikh al Habib Umar bin Hafiz, Director of Dar Al Mustafa,Tarim, Yemen38. Khaled Mashaal, Leader of Hamas39. Professor Dr M Din Syamsuddin, Chairman of theMuhammadiyah, Indonesia40. Maulana Mahmood Madani, Leader and Executive Member ofJamiat Ulema-e-Hind, India41. Sheikh Habib ‘Ali Zain al Abideen al Jifri, Director General ofthe Tabah Foundation, UAE42. Sheikh Hamza Yusuf Hanson, Founder of Zaytuna Institute,United States of America43. His Eminence Sheikh Professor Dr Mustafa Ceric, Grand Muftiof Bosnia and Herzegovina44. His Excellency Professor Dr Ekmelledin Ihsanoglu, SecretaryGeneral of the Organization of the Islamic Conference45. Adnan Oktar, Authority on Islamic Creationism46. His Excellency Mir-Hossein Mousavi , Iranian OppositionLeader47. His Holiness Dr Syedna Mohammad Burhannuddin Saheb, The52nd Da‘i l-Mutlaq of the Dawoodi Bohras48. Professor Dr Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Scholar of Islamic Philosophy49. Sheikh Mehmet Nazim Adil al Qubrusi al Haqqani, Leader ofNaqshbandi-Haqqani Sufi Order50. His Excellency Dr Abd al Aziz bin ‘Uthman Altwaijiri, SecretaryGeneral of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and CulturalOrganization

1HIS MAJESTY KING ABDULLAHBIN ABDUL AZIZ AL SAUDKing of Saudi Arabia, Custodian of the Two Holy MosquesKing Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al Saud of theKingdom of Saudi Arabia, Custodian of the Two HolyMosques is the most influential Muslim in the world.Saudi Arabia is geopolitically important as the mostpowerful Arab nation in the region. King Abdullah alsogarners influence globally for Saudi Arabia’s internationalrole as an exporter of crude oil and refined petroleumproducts.Custodian of the Two Holy MosquesKing Abdullah has significant influence in the globalMuslim community through his custodianship of thetwo holy sites of Mecca and Medina. Mecca is the mainpilgrimage site for 1.5 billion Muslims—of which 2.4million fulfill their religious obligation annually.Country: Saudi ArabiaDate of Birth: 1 August 1924Source of Influence: Political,Administrative, LineageInfluence: King with authorityover 29 million Saudis, aprox.2 million Hajj pilgrims andover 15 million Umrah pilgrimsannuallySchool of Thought: ModerateSalafiRank: 2010:1 · 2009:1Controls World’s Largest Oil ReservesKing Abdullah reigns over a land of massive crude oil reserves—Saudi Arabia has approximately25 percent of the world’s proven oil reserves—making him a key player in the globalpetroleum industry.Controls Largest Da’wa NetworkKing Abdullah is also head of the most extensive da’wa network of missionary Muslims in theworld, promoting the Salafi brand of Islam. Salafism is historically rooted in Saudi Arabia,and owes its global spread to financial backing from the Saudi Royal Family.ReformerKing Abdullah has proven his domestic influence in Saudi Arabia through his ability to enactmultiple landmark reforms to fight corruption, balance the Saudi budget, tailor the educationsystem, address women’s and minority rights, engage in interreligious diplomacy as wellas tackle problems in the justice system. He has:Appended the Baya Council; a 38-man family council to legitimize the process of choosingsuccessors to the Saudi throne.Cleaned up corruption in the Saudi Royal Family.Increased the representation of minorities in Saudi governance, including increasedShi’a representation in the Shura Council.Given women a voice and increased their social participation.Taken educational administration out of the hands of religious leaders and gave authorityinstead to the educational establishment.Presented a $10 billion endowment for the King Abdullah University of Science andTechnology.Systematically replaced hard-line Salafi judges with moderate leaders in the Saudi courtsystem. Employed personal interventions within the justice system—in particular regardto marriages.28

Cut the funding power of the morality police.Convened a global interfaith summit in 2008 and subsequently issued the Madrid Declaration,which calls for tolerance between religions and a culture of peace.The first Saudi monarch in 51 years to address the UN General Assembly and the firstreigning Saudi monarch to have met with a pope, Pope Benedict XVI in November 2007.Donates to all poor in the world. He donated $50 million in cash and $10 million-worthof relief materials for the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake in China and pledged a $1 billiondonation towards the reconstruction of the Palestinian coastal territory during the Israeliwar on Gaza.29

2HIS EXCELLENCY RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGANPrime Minister of the Republic of TurkeySince 2003, Erdogan has been the Prime Minister ofone of the most populous and economically developedMuslim-majority countries in the world. AlthoughTurkey has been run according to the ideals of secularismsince the end of the Ottoman Empire, the populaceis predominantly religious, and primarily Muslim.Erdogan is also the chairman of the ruling AK Party(Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi, the Justice and DevelopmentParty) though he has announced this year theconcession of his parliamentary seat in 2015. The AKCountry: TurkeyDate of Birth: 26 February 1954Source of Influence: PoliticalInfluence: Leads governmentof 77.4 million Turkish citizensSchool of Thought: TraditionalSunniRank: 2010:2 · 2009:5 Party’s official ideology is ‘conservative democracy’; an attempt to create a Muslim democracyin an aggressively secular country.A Popular ReformistThe political power that Erdogan now has is in part due to the AK Party’s ability to institutepolitical reforms; both to produce major economic growth and also to enfranchise religiousMuslim voters. Erdogan has recently called for more transparency in military operations byabolishing The Protocol on Cooperation for Security and Public Order (EMASYA), whichwas enacted in 1997.Despite his party’s Islamic orientation, Erdogan has put increased emphasis on Turkey’s accessionto the EU—both in Ankara and Brussels. In fact, the stress on EU accession is partiallydue to his party’s Islamic orientation, as accession to the EU requires further religiousfreedom reforms that are sought by Turkey’s Muslim population. Erdogan is also leadinggroundbreaking initiatives to ensure the rights of Turkey’s Kurdish population, and its religiousminorities—most recently calling for the establishment of an independent anti-discriminationcommission, and the launch of a state-run Kurdish language television channel.A MediatorErdogan insists on a role for Turkey as a mediator and bridge between cultures and civilizations.The Alliance of Civilizations initiative of the United Nations—that Erdogan establishedwith the Spanish president, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero—has become a key forumfor international, intercultural, and interreligious dialogue and cooperation.Outspoken on GazaErdogan is hailed for his strong opposition toward the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip. Heis noted for his high-profile snub of Israeli President Shimon Peres at the World EconomicForum in Davos in 2009, and his criticism of Israel's May 31 raid on a humanitarian flotilla,which mark his growing influence in the Muslim world.Good Neighbor PolicyErdogan has led a new approach in Turkish foreign relations through his adoption of a ‘goodneighbor policy’—in August 2009, Turkey and Armenia signed protocols to improve relations.During Erdogan’s leadership Turkey has focused on building stronger relations withall of its seven land-contiguous neighbors (especially Greece) and also all of those countriesbordering the Black Sea (an important trading hub and a geopolitically significant area).30

3HIS EMINENCE GRANDAYATOLLAH HAJJ SAYYID ALI KHAMENEISupreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of IranGrand Ayatollah Khamenei is the Supreme Leader ofthe Islamic Republic of Iran. He was born in Mashhadin the far north east of Iran, and studied in the leadingIranian religious seminary in Qom, before becominginvolved in the struggle with the Pahlavi Regime in thesixties and seventies.Champion of Iranian SolidarityAlthough Khamenei was initially criticized for endorsingthe June 2009 re-election of President MahmoudAhmadinejad, he has been acclaimed for his responseto the post-election turmoil. He ordered the closing ofCountry: IranDate of Birth: 17 July 1939Source of Influence: Political,AdministrativeInfluence: Supreme Leader of66.8 million IraniansSchool of Thought: TraditionalTwelver Shi’a, RevolutionaryShi’ismRank: 2010:3 · 2009:2 the Kahrizak detention centre in response to reports of prisoner abuse and deaths. He hascalled for solidarity within Iran, in light of the 31st anniversary of the Islamic republic onFebruary 11, 2010.Defender of the Islamic RepublicAs a response to the June sanctions on Iran passed by the U.N. Security council Khameneipublicly denounced the efforts of the U.S. and Western powers as weak attempts at 'bullying'Iran, in an effort to garner influnce as a defender of the Islamic Republic. This comes at atime when his support of President Ahmadinejad is seen as a blot on his influence. July protestsagainst Ahmadinejad's tax increase on Iran's merchants were marked by public outcryagainst the Supreme Leader.Supreme Leader, Velayat-e FaqihKhamenei’s current influence stems from his powerful position as a religious leader, whichgives him a unique role in political affairs. His job is to enact the Velayat-e Faqih—the guardianshipof the jurist. In real terms this means a system where scholars of fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence)have a controlling say in the political affairs of the state. The rule of the jurist was aconcept created by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, based on ideas that have run through Iranianpolitical history since the time of Shah Ismail—who was the first to make Shi’a Islam thenational religion of Iran. The rule of the jurist was conceived in a battle against oppressionas a way of safeguarding the Iranian nation from tyranny, giving the final say in all mattersto a group of religious scholars, the Council of Guardians. This Council is headed by a chiefarbitrator—the Supreme Leader.Leader of Shi’a RevolutionKhamenei gains much of his influence in Iran from his role as a leader of the Islamic Revolutionin Iran. The Islamic Republic of Iran was forged out of the 1979 Revolution. Combatingwhat many saw as the tyrannical rule of the Shah, Khamenei joined the Society of CombatantClergy that staged demonstrations mobilizing many of the protests leading to the Shah’soverthrow. After the revolution in 1979, Khamenei was one of the founding members of theIslamic Republic Party, and a member of the assembly of experts that was responsible fordrafting Iran’s new constitution.32

4HIS MAJESTY KING ABDULLAH II BIN AL HUSSEINKing of the Hashemite Kingdom of JordanKing Abdullah II of Jordan has influence in Jordan andaround the world due to his lineage in the Hashemitefamily, his custodianship of Jerusalem and activismon various fronts—from freedom of the press andreformed domestic policy to international diplomacy.In his reign as King, he is noted for having developedJordan’s free market economy, arts and culture scene, aswell as addressing issues of homelessness and poverty.Prophetic LineageKing Abdullah II is a member of the Hashemite familyand a 41st generation direct descendant of the ProphetMuhammad through the lineage of the Prophet’sCountry: JordanDate of Birth: 30 January 1962Source of Influence: Political,LineageInfluence: King with authorityover approximately 6.4 millionJordanians and outreach toTraditional IslamSchool of Thought: TraditionalSunniRank: 2010:4 · 2009:4grandson al Hasan. The Hashemites, or Bani Hashem, link back to the tribe of Quraish.Hashem was the name of the Prophet’s great-grandfather. King Abdullah II is thus a memberof the Ahl al Bayt (the family of the Prophet Muhammad).Ruling DynastyThe Hashemite family ruled Mecca from 1201 CE to 1925 CE and other branches of the familyruled Mecca from 500 CE, when Qusayy, the grandfather of Hashem, became Mecca’sfirst king. The Hashemite dynasty is the oldest ruling dynasty in the Islamic world, and thesecond-oldest in the world, after that of Japan.Custodian of Holy Sites in JerusalemAs custodian of the Muslim holy sites in the city of Jerusalem, King Abdullah II maintains aunique prestige in the region. He has gone on record in March 2010 to condemn Israel’s inclusionof West Bank religious sites in its national heritage list.Islamic OutreachKing Abdullah II has proven influence at the forefront of a global intra-faith movement,through the creation of the Amman Message; a call for greater intra-religious tolerance andunity in Islam that was endorsed by representatives from all major Muslim groups in 2004.King Abdullah II is also credited with the Royal Aal al Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought’smost authoritative website on the Qur’an and tafsir or Qur’anic exegesis (AlTafsir.com). Anextensive resource for Islamic scholarship, AlTafsir.com includes Arabic texts from over 90commentaries of the Qur’an, Hadith texts, among other tools for research in the Qur’anicsciences, with daily hits in the thousands. King Abdullah II is also noted for founding the newWorld Islamic Sciences and Education University in Jordan (www.wise.edu.jo).King Abdullah II is also lauded as an interfaith leader for the 2007 initiative, A CommonWord—a groundbreaking initiative in Christian-Muslim engagement (www.acommonword.com).Peace ActivistKing Abdullah II is the leading player in the dialogue for peace between the Palestinians andIsraelis. He has openly called for discussion in the negotiations toward a two-state solution.34

5HIS MAJESTY KING MOHAMMED VIKing of MoroccoKnown as Amir al Mu’minin, or Commander of theFaithful, King Mohammad VI of Morocco is lauded forhis domestic reform policies and pioneering efforts inmodernizing Morocco and countering terrorism. Hetackles issues of poverty, vulnerability and social exclusionat home, and has improved foreign relations.King Mohammad VI is an influential leader, mainlydue to his position as the only legitimate contender forthe Islamic Caliphate, for his control of the network ofMuslims following the Maliki school of Islamic jurisprudence,and as a leading monarch in Africa.Country: MoroccoDate of Birth: 21 August 1963Source of Influence: Political,Administrative, DevelopmentInfluence: King with authorityover 35 million MoroccansSchool of Thought: TraditionalSunni, MalikiRank: 2010:5 · 2009:3 Contender for the CaliphateAs successor to a 350 year-old dynasty, King Mohammad VI’s lineage makes him the only legitimatecontender for the Islamic Caliphate. The Alaouite Dynasty links back to the ProphetMuhammad. King Mohammad VI possesses the only authentic claim to an Islamic Caliphate,if one were to be established. Indeed, the Moroccans never recognized the Ottoman Caliphateon the grounds that the Ottomans were not descendents of the Prophet Muhammad.Control of Maliki NetworkKing Mohammad VI also leads the oldest Islamic establishment of Maliki Muslims. The Malikimadhab is the third largest school of jurisprudence in Islam. This school bases its rulingson the Qur’an and Hadith but also predominantly derives its practices from the work ofMalik ibn Anas (711-795 CE) and his texts, the Al Muwatta and Al Mudawana. Since early inhis reign, King Mohammed VI has implemented the Mudawana family law code that givesrights to women in divorce and property ownership, as well as citizenship to children bornto non-Moroccan fathers. He has also commissioned the Islamic Affairs Ministry to trainwomen preachers, or Morchidat, who are now active chaplains to Moroccans across the globe.Huge Influence over Muslims in AfricaKing Mohammed VI leads the largest African monarchy, with a population of 35 million.Besides political links, Morocco maintains strong spiritual ties with Muslims all over Africa.Morocco is the site of the tomb of a highly revered Sufi sheikh, Mawlana Ahmed Ibn MohammedTijani al Hassani al Maghribi (1735-1815 CE), the founder of the Tijaniyya Sufi order. Theshrine attracts millions of people from across the continent. Morocco is also recognized as asource for the spread of Islam through West Africa. Thus, King Mohammed VI exercises vastamounts of power and influence over Muslims in Morocco, throughout Africa, and the restof the world. He leads one of the most stable constitutional monarchies in the region, whichis also the center of a moderate, flourishing Muslim culture.Patron of the Al Qarawiyyin UniversityKing Mohammad VI is the patron of the oldest university in the world, the University of AlQarawiyyin, in Fez, which was established in 859 CE.36

6HIS MAJESTY SULTAN QABOOS BIN SA’ID AL SA’IDSultan of OmanSultan Qaboos bin Sa’id al Sa’id, the 14th descendantof the Al Bu Sa’idi dynasty, is a socially and politicallyactive monarch, celebrating his 40th year as Sultan in2010. Sultan Qaboos has revolutionized and modernizedOman, transforming it from a poor, isolationistnation into a land closely linked with the African continentand devoted to economic development, regionalstability, and religious tolerance.Leader of Omani SultanateSultan Qaboos al Sa’id reigns over a country strategicallysituated in the Gulf region. Oman has a stake inCountry: OmanDate of Birth: 18 November1940Source of Influence: Lineage,Political, DevelopmentInfluence: Leader of 3.5 millioncitizens and residents of OmanSchool of Thought: TraditionalIbadiRank: 2010:6 · 2009:6the crude oil market due to the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Gulf of Oman to thePersian Gulf and the Arabian Sea, producing over 757,000 barrels of crude oil per day in 2008,according to the US Energy Information Administration.Historically, Oman is significant as one of the only countries with a large population of IbadiMuslims and as the most authoritative state in the Ibadi movement—one that is recognizedas one of the oldest schools of Islamic thought.Beacon of IslamSultan Qaboos has helped build or restore thousands of mosques at his personal expense,the grandest being the Sultan Qaboos Mosque, which can accommodate up to 20,000 worshippers.The Sultan is a discreet but strong supporter of moderate Islam and has created aunique Islamic culture in Oman that has carefully combined the best of traditional Islamwith the benefits of the modern world. Sultan Qaboos has promoted culturally-specific Islamicdress, art, architecture and education, and is a keen advocate of environmentalism. Thisquiet, measured rise has made Oman a hidden pearl of the Islamic world.Personal LeadershipThe Sultan has raised the Omani standard of living by building up Oman’s school and healthcare systems, infrastructure, and economy. He cites political participation as one of his majorlong-term goals. Within the last two decades, he has introduced political reforms includinga bicameral representative body, a basic law, universal suffrage, and a Supreme Court. Moreover,despite Oman’s relative lack of oil and gas compared to other Gulf States, the Sultan hasinvested his country’s wealth so wisely that all citizens are guaranteed free education up to thedoctoral level (should they qualify); free health care; free land; soft loans for building homes;jobs and social security for the disabled, orphans and widows. Furthermore, unlike neighboringcountries, Oman has resolved all its border demarcation issues with all its neighbors, hasno foreign debt and has a sovereign wealth reserve fund of over 30 billion Riyals (about $100billion). Oman is thus arguably the best administrated country in the Islamic world, if not inthe whole world.International LeaderSultan Qaboos has been recognized by organizations such as the United Nations and theNational Council of US-Arab Relations for his leadership in the Persian Gulf region. In 2008,38

he presided over the GCC Summit, where he was commended for his ongoing efforts towardpolitical and economic cooperation amongst the GCC states. Sultan Qaboos has made aneffort to strengthen ties between Oman and Iran, as well as the strategic partnership betweenOman and India—showing the Sultan’s foresight in carving foreign policy independent ofthat of his Arab neighbors.39

7HIS EMINENCE PROFESSOR DR SHEIKH AHMADMUHAMMAD AL TAYEBGrand Sheikh of the Al Azhar University,Grand Imam of the Al Azhar MosqueSheikh Ahmad Muhammad al Tayeb was appointed asGrand Sheikh of Al Azhar in March 2010, after the passingof his predecessor, Dr Muhammad Sayyid Tantawi.He was formerly the president of the Al Azhar for sevenyears and prior to that, served for two years as the secondmost powerful cleric in Egypt as its Grand Mufti.Al Tayeb’s scholarly influence as a leading intellectualof Sunni Islam spans the globe. He has served as thedean of the Faculty of Islamic Studies in Aswan, and thetheology faculty of the International Islamic Universityin Pakistan. He has also taught in universities in SaudiArabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Sheikhal Tayeb holds a PhD in Islamic philosophy from SorbonneUniversity.Country: EgyptDate of Birth: 1946Source of Influence: AdministrativeInfluence: Highest scholarlyauthority for a majority ofSunni Muslims, runs the foremostSunni Islamic universitywith close to 400,000 studentsSchool of Thought: TraditionalSunniRank: 2010:7 · 2009:25 Advocate of Traditional IslamAl Tayeb has emphasised his mission to promote traditional Islam since becoming GrandSheikh. He has since issued decisions to teach all four schools of traditional Islamic thoughtat Al Azhar University, while stressing the importance of teaching students about Islamicheritage—considering Al Azhar graduates as ambassadors of Islam to the world.Spiritual Leader of the Al Azhar UniversitySheikh al Tayeb leads the second-oldest university in the world, where teaching has continuedwithout interruption since 975 CE. Al Azhar represents the center of Sunni Islamicjurisprudence. It is a key institution that issues authoritative religious rulings and has providedextensive Islamic education to Egyptian and international students since its inceptionover a millennium ago. This history makes Al Azhar a bastion of Sunni traditionalism. Theuniversity is considered one of the most prominent Islamic educational institutions, and theforemost center of Sunni Muslim scholarship in the world.Administers the Al Azhar Education NetworkAl Azhar is the second oldest, and currently the largest, university in the world, having risenfrom a group of three schools in the 1950s to its current state with 72 feeder schools, and closeto 400,000 students studying there at any one time. Including schools that are part of AlAzhar waqf initiatives there are close to 2 million students. This immense size and groundedrespect make the head of Al Azhar an extraordinarily powerful and academically influentialperson. In spite of his huge workload as president, and now as Grand Sheikh, al Tayeb publishesregularly in numerous academic journals, dealing particularly with the reception ofIslamic culture and philosophy in the Western world.Al Tayeb is also a member of the Egyptian Society of Philosophy, the Supreme Court of IslamicAffairs and is the head of the Religious Committee at the Egyptian Radio and TelevisionUnion.40

8HIS EMINENCE GRANDAYATOLLAH SAYYID ALI HUSSEIN SISTANIMarja of the Hawza, Najaf, IraqGrand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Husseini Sistani is theprime marja, or spiritual reference for Ithna’Asharia(Twelver) for Shi’a Muslims. He is the leading sheikhof the Hawza Seminary in Najaf, Iraq and thepreeminent Shi’a cleric globally. Sistani is one of themost respected of the marjaiyya—the highest positionof authority in the Usuli school of Twelver Shi’a fiqh.Country: IraqDate of Birth: 4 August 1930Source of Influence: Scholarly,LineageInfluence: Highest authorityfor 17-20 million Iraqi Shi’a,and also internationally as amoral and religious authorityto Usuli Twelver Shi’a worldwideSchool of Thought: TraditionalTwelver Shi’a, UsuliRank: 2010:8 · 2009:7 Preeminent Shi’a Cleric and Marja TaqlidSistani’s influence in the Twelver Shi’a sect stems fromhis scholarly lineage and education, which has enabledhim to reach the status of marja taqlid—the higheststatus in the Usuli branch of Twelver Shi’a Islam. Marjataqlid means literally one who is worthy of being imitated—placing Sistani in a position of great authority over Twelver Shi’a Muslims. There arecurrently only 29 marjas worldwide. Sistani is descended from a family of religious scholars,and was educated in the leading institutions in Iran. He later went to Najaf, Iraq to studyunder the Grand Ayatollah Abu al Qasim al Khoei. On Khoei’s death in 1992, Sistani tookover as grand ayatollah, inheriting al Khoei’s following. He soon rose to become the leadingcleric in Iraq. With the recent opening of Iraqi shrines to Iranian tourists Sistani is gaining afollowing outside of Iraq.Financial InfluenceSistani also has very significant financial clout due to his position as marja. As a marja his followersgive him a religious tax (khums, Arabic for one fifth). The redistribution of this tax forthe common good is one of the key roles of a marja. Much of this remittance is redistributedthrough the Al Khoei Foundation—the largest Twelver Shi’a development organization inthe world that maintains a network of educational and humanitarian establishments for bothShi’a and non-Shi’a Muslims.Quietist InfluenceSignificantly, Sistani is against the idea of Velayat-e Faqih, suggesting Shi’a clerics should notget involved in politics. Paradoxically this approach has afforded him very strong influence asa religious leader unsullied by politics. This became clear after the Iraq invasion when Sistaniissued a legal ruling (fatwa) calling on the clergy to guide Iraq’s populace, and later duringthe 2005 elections when he issued a ruling telling Shi’a women that they were religiouslyobliged to vote. Ali Sistani has used his position of quietist authority to wield influence also asa peacemaker in the turbulent post-invasion Iraq. At a time when Sistani was losing supportto Sheikh Muqtada al Sadr, he showed his sway by arranging a lasting deal between Sadr andUS forces at the Imam Ali Shrine in Najaf in 2005—a deal that secured the Shrine and pushedfor an American retreat. Sistani has been vocal about encouraging Iraqis to participate in the2010 parliamentary elections.42

9HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENTSUSILO BAMBANG YUDHOYONOPresident of IndonesiaPresident Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is the politicalleader of the most populous Muslim country inthe world. Commonly referred to as SBY, he has hadmarked influence over the country as the first directlyelected president of Indonesia and over the world asa champion of anti-terrorism efforts and a beacon ofdemocracy in the Muslim world.Beacon of DemocracyPresident Yudhoyono came to power after a successfulcareer with the Indonesian National Army as afour-star general—when he was dubbed “the thinkinggeneral” for his efforts toward military reform. Thisreputation, and a pristine political career with the administrations of former Presidents AbdurrahmanWahid and Megawati Sukarnoputri are the bases upon which the DemocraticParty was founded in 2001.This new political party was founded on the pancasila or five basic principles (belief in theOneness of God, just and civilized humanity, the unity of Indonesia, democracy, and socialjustice) with the goal of launching Yudhoyono’s candidacy for the 2004 elections. Since then,he has become increasingly influential as a beacon of democracy for a country historicallymarred by corruption and political instability. He was re-elected for a second and final fiveyearterm in October 2009.Popular ReformistBesides proposing military reform, President Yudhoyono has been recognized for his effortsto establish regional autonomy laws and resolve the separatist conflict in the Aceh and Papuaprovinces. He has also been credited for reviving the economy, and for his market-friendlyapproach to reform. He works closely with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)to clean up graft and corruption in Indonesia. The resulting economic and political stabilityhas been attributed to his unique influence and the power of his personal leadership.Force for Anti-Terrorism InitiativesCountry: IndonesiaDate of Birth: 9 September1949Source of Influence: Political,DevelopmentInfluence: Leader of 241 millioncitizens and residents ofIndonesiaSchool of Thought: TraditionalSunniRank: 2010:9Yudhoyono’s increasing popularity is also due in part to the sincerity with which he actualizeshis promises to the Indonesian people such as the promises for anti-terrorism enforcementmade during his 2004 election campaign. Indonesia has worked closely with Australian intelligenceand security forces to quell extremist threats. In response to the July 2009 hotel bombingsin Jakarta, President Yudhoyono has been vigilant about openly condemning the perpetratorsas agents of terrorism and simultaneously voices his dedication to establishing peaceand security in Indonesia through programs that target education and poverty-alleviation inkey areas where militants may prey on youth.44

10HIS EMINENCE SHEIKH DR ALI GOMA’AGrand Mufti of The Arab Republic of EgyptSheikh Ali Goma’a is the Grand Mufti of the Arab Republicof Egypt. He is the second highest Sunni authorityin Egypt after Sheikh Ahmad al Tayeb and one ofthe foremost Islamic scholars in the world. Goma’a isresponsible for the Dar al Ifta al Masriyyah, a leadinginstitute for Islamic legal research, and the legal arm ofthe Egyptian Ministry of Justice, which is responsiblefor passing official religious rulings.Country: EgyptDate of Birth: 3 March 1953Source of Influence: Scholarly,PoliticalInfluence: Legal authority for83.9 million EgyptiansSchool of Thought: TraditionalSunni, Shafi’iRank: 2010:10 · 2009:9 Egypt’s Weight in Islamic ScholarshipGoma’a’s scholarly influence is derived from his position at the center of many of the mostsignificant institutions of Islamic law in the world. Before becoming Grand Mufti, Goma’awas a professor of jurisprudence at Al Azhar University—the second oldest university in theworld, founded in 975 CE—Goma’a also served as a member of the Fatwa Council. He is currentlya member of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy, the highest institute of Islamiclaw in the Organization of the Islamic Conference—an inter-governmental organization forMuslim-majority countries.Personal PopularityGoma’a has become incredibly popular as a mufti since he began to appear on popularbroadcast and satellite television. Part of his appeal is due to the revival of the old Islamicpractice of informal ‘knowledge circles’ at the Al Azhar Mosque, and very well attended Q&Asessions after his Friday sermons at the Sultan Hasan Mosque, where Goma’a makes a pointof taking on anyone who tries to simplify or distort Islamic teachings without knowledge ofits traditions. This has made him extremely popular with those who are uncomfortable withextremism.Popularized and Simplified FatwasGoma’a has immense legal influence through his advocacy of Islamic legal rulings (fatwas).Since he was appointed Grand Mufti of Egypt in 2003, Goma’a has modernized the processof issuing fatwas in the country. He has done this by overhauling the Dar al Ifta organizationinto a dynamic institution with worldwide reach, based on a fatwa council and a system ofchecks and balances. Goma’a has been outspoken on environmental sustainability—speakingin November 2009 about plans to make Medina the first “green” Islamic city.Technological InfluenceGoma’a has authored over 50 books, as well as hundreds of articles. He now uses the Dar alIfta to disseminate his scholarly opinion. His office issues some 5,000 fatwas a week, with officialones on important issues written by him and the routine ones dealt with via phone andthe Internet by a team of subordinate muftis. Goma’a believes that respect for traditionalismis growing in the Muslim world, partly because of the immense demand for fatwas issued byhis office.46

11HIS EMINENCE SHEIKHABDUL AZIZ IBN ABDULLAH AAL AL SHEIKHGrand Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaAs the Grand Mufti, Sheikh Abdul Aziz ibn AbdullahAal al Sheikh has the highest position of religious authorityin the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He is an Islamicscholar based in Mecca—the seat of Sunni Islam—and has influence as a leading cleric of the expansiveglobal movement of Salafi Muslims.Country: Saudi ArabiaDate of Birth: 1941Source of Influence: Scholarly,AdministrativeInfluence: Grand Mufti to 29million Saudis and the globalnetwork of Salafi MuslimsSchool of Thought: SalafiRank: 2010:11 · 2009:11Head of Sunni Jurisprudential CommitteesSheikh Abdul Aziz Aal al Sheikh is chairman of theCouncil of Senior Scholars, a scientific consultativecommission composed of leading Sunni specialistscholars of sharia (Islamic law). He has been behind fatwas that call for more rights forwomen and children.Al Sheikh is also chairman of the Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and fatwas (religiousrulings), a special committee designated for the researching and issuing of religiousrulings on jurisprudence, Hadith, and Aqida (creed) for the Sunni world.As head of the Presidency for Scientific Research and Religious Edicts (Dar al Ifta), al Sheikhis often the spokesperson for controversial rulings issued from the Kingdom. He is recognizedfor his influence in enforcing a distinct view of Islamic tradition. In 2008, he publiclycriticized Muslim televangelists who encouraged Muslims to celebrate birthdays andanniversaries—stressing, instead, that only the two occasions of ‘Eid and the weekly Fridayobservations are valid occasions to celebrate. In this, and also in his condemnation of Turkishsoap operas sweeping the Arab World, al Sheikh has stressed the importance of eliminatingdistracting practices. He is also ardently opposed to the practice of marrying off very younggirls to older men, emphasizing its incongruence with human decency and Islamic tradition.Central Figure of Global Salafi MovementAs Grand Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, al Sheikh is the leading religious figure ofthe Saudi-based network of Salafi Muslims. He stresses the importance of adhering to a literalinterpretation of the scripture and following Islam as it was practiced by the early generationsof Muslims. The rulings derived by al Sheikh are based heavily on a literal reading of theQur’an and emphasize the need to strip away innovative cultural practices that have becomea part of Muslims’ lives across cultures. The movement he leads is characterized by an authoritativestance on Islamic religious practice.Eminent ScholarshipGrand Mufti al Sheikh is recognized as a leading contemporary scholar of Islam. He has leveragedthis influence by openly speaking out against Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda as forcesthat push a dangerous ideological terrorism. He spoke for the need for a war—to be fought byacademics, the media, religious leaders and even parents—against deviant thought that leadsoverzealous Muslims toward extremism and violence.48

12DR MOHAMMED BADIESupreme Guide of the Muslim BrotherhoodDr Mohammed Badie succeeded Mohammad MahdiAkef—who became the first Supreme Guide of theMuslim Brotherhood to step down from his post—asthe 8th Supreme Guide in January 2010. Badie is a professorof veterinary pathology at Beni-Suef Universityin southern Egypt, but has been elected due to his workwith the Administrative offices, Education Association,and subsequently, the International Guidance Bureauof the Muslim Brotherhood, which is the largest Islamicpolitical party in Egypt.Leader of an Expansive Muslim NetworkDr Badie heads the oldest and largest Muslim social,religious, and political organization in existence. TheCountry: EgyptDate of Birth: 7 August 1943Source of Influence: Administrative,Political, InternationalIslamic NetworksInfluence: Leader of a transnationalmovement in Egypt andacross the Middle East, Africa,the UK, and USSchool of Thought: Sunni,Muslim BrotherhoodRank: 2010:12Muslim Brotherhood forms the leading opposition party in many Muslim countries and hasbranches in most of the Muslim world, besides its base in Egypt. Members of the organizationcan be found in Bahrain, Syria, Palestine, Israel, Jordan, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Algeria,Sudan, Somalia, Tunisia, and Libya, as well as the United States. In light of its expanse,Dr Badie is a strong advocate of internal unity within the Brotherhood as well as globally,between all Muslims.Reformist LeaderDr Badie represents a conservative shift in the leadership of the Muslim Brotherhood. Due tohis background in education and religious conservatism, analysts predict that he will emphasizethe Brotherhood’s social work, moving away from an overly political and activist program.Though he has been imprisoned in the past on multiple occasions due to political activities,Dr Badie stressed in his inaugural address the need for gradual reform based on dialogue andnon-violence. This is seen as a response to recent arrests of Muslim Brotherhood members, andincreasing pressure from the Egyptian government.Head of a Leading Islamic Reform MovementThe Brotherhood has historically advocated political activism and charity work with a distinctivetake on Islamic law, stating that apostasy should not be punishable, rather permittedas a freedom to all Muslims. With a firm belief that constitutional reform is possible in Egypt,the Brotherhood encourages Muslims to be more proactive in staking their claims to a morerepresentative and more Islamic government. The Muslim Brotherhood’s mission of politicalactivism and economic development in Muslim countries is meant to be an internal process,without the interference of foreign entities.What makes the organization’s work distinct and far more influential than other Islamicpolitical parties is the emphasis on making faith a guidepost in all political endeavors and,importantly, neither a hindrance to political progress nor a deficiency. This has been both asource of massive support, and also criticism—critics saw that the use of ‘Islam is the Solution’as a campaign slogan took away from the Brotherhood’s legitimacy as a political organization.50

13HODJAEFENDI FETHULLAH GÜLENTurkish Muslim PreacherFethullah Gülen is a preacher, thinker and educator,who having assumed the leadership of the Nurcu religiousmovement—started by Said Nursî (1878-1960 CE)—has gone on to become a global phenomenonin his own right. His popularity and authority inTurkey has been the driving force of the movement thatis widely thought to have brought about the social and,eventually, political changes of which politician RecepTayyip Erdogan has been the ultimate heir—that is theenfranchisement of Muslim politics in Turkey. Despitehis peaceful means of preaching and community organization,Gülen is hated by the secularist establishmentin Turkey and has been living in the US since 1999.Country: TurkeyDate of Birth: 27 April 1941Source of Influence: ScholarlyInfluence: Figure of spiritualand social leadership for millionsof Turkish Muslims andothers around the worldSchool of Thought: TraditionalSunniRank: 2010:13 · 2009:13Humanitarian ReformerGülen and his followers have devoted considerable energy in recent years on interreligiousdialogue with tens of interfaith centers in Europe and the US being opened to foster betterrelations between faiths. Gülen is also the head of a series of socially oriented philanthropicefforts. His teaching emphasizes that there are no material shortages in the world, and thatthere is no justification for starvation. Gülen has established many charities to distributewealth to the needy.Catalyst for Educational ChangeWhen Gülen began preaching in Izmir—in his youth—a network of pupils began to unitearound his teachings—as a ‘social movement’ inspired by Gülen’s example. This movementhas culminated in the development of around 300 schools in Turkey and hundreds moreworldwide. Graduates from these private schools around the world are coached in ethicsand philosophy that are inspired by Gülen’s teachings, and continue to take top honors inuniversity placement tests.Influence in the MediaThe Gülen movement has opened hospitals and charities, a TV and radio station, as well asa bank—Asya Finans—that operates on Islamic principles. Gülen also has two major masscirculationdaily Turkish newspapers that are affiliated with his movement: Zaman and theEnglish-language Today’s Zaman. The Gülen network has also initiated a Journalists andWriters Foundation and a Teachers Foundation—providing an umbrella organization for ahost of dialogue groups and charitable organizations.IntellectualGülen is one of the most important thinkers and writers from Turkey, and among the mosteffective activists in twentieth-century Turkey. The Gülen movement is one of the best connectedand therefore one of the most powerful networks competing to influence Muslimsaround the globe, making it likely to have an enduring impact on the modernization of Islamand its engagement with Western ideas.52

14SHEIKH DR YUSUF AL QARADAWIHead of the International Union of Muslim ScholarsYusuf al Qaradawi is an Egyptian scholar. Articulateand widely read, he is one of the most widely commentedon scholars of Islam. Al Qaradawi is a founderof the website IslamOnline, one of the intellectualleaders of the Muslim Brotherhood movement, andthe most influential leader associated with the movementsince Mahdi Akef stepped down from his positionas Supreme Leader in January 2010.Country: QatarDate of Birth: 9 September 1926Source of Influence: ScholarlyInfluence: Leading scholar forglobal Muslim Brotherhoodmovement, host of ‘Ash-Shariahwal-Hayat’ on Al Jazeera, theArabic-language channel with40 to 50 million viewers worldwideSchool of Thought: MuslimBrotherhood/SalafiRank: 2010:14 · 2009:9 Leading Figure of the Muslim BrotherhoodQaradawi is incredibly influential as an intellectualleader of the Muslim Brotherhood—one of the mostimportant modern movements in Islam. He has twiceturned down offers to be their leader—in 1976 and2004—preferring to be free of institutional restrictions.Qaradawi grew up and matured with the MuslimBrotherhood but has distanced himself from the movement in recent years. As early as1997 he went out of his way to explain his independence from any organization, stating categoricallythat he was not a member of the Brotherhood. Earlier in his life Qaradawi was jailedthree times for his relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood and subsequently stripped ofhis Egyptian citizenship in the 1970s—driving him to seek exile in Qatar. The Muslim Brotherhoodremains the main opposition force in Egypt. Although he has no formal relationshipwith the Muslim Brotherhood, his writings make him an important intellectual figure in theMuslim Brotherhood movement.Popular InfluenceQaradawi is incredibly influential as a vociferous voice of criticism of the West and of Israel.Much of Qaradawi’s influence over the past decade has been a product of his forthright viewson combating social injustice, especially concerning Israeli-Palestinian relations. His viewthat suicide bombing is a legitimate form of self-defense has landed him in trouble, especiallyin Western Europe, but is reflective of an underlying sentiment among many in the MiddleEast that oppression deserves such a response—however Qaradawi goes against the grain ofmost leading Islamic thinkers by supporting suicide bombing as a tactic of war.Scholar for Modern TimesQaradawi’s ability to combine the traditional knowledge of Islamic law with a contemporaryunderstanding of the issues that Muslims face today, has led him to become one of the bestknown and most influential contemporary Muslim clerics of our time. He uses a variety ofmeans to connect with people. He is well known for his popular Al Jazeera program ‘Ash-Shariah wal-Hayat’ (Islamic Law and Life) that is watched by an estimated 40-50 millionpeople worldwide. Despite his popularity, Qaradawi is often criticized by fellow scholars regardinghis methodology and his occasionally unusual opinions. He does, however, continueto be respected as a knowledgeable scholar and has been praised for his condemnation of theSeptember 11th attacks.54

15AMR KHALEDPreacher and Social ActivistAmr Khaled has been a televangelist to the Islamicworld since 1998. Khaled was described as the ‘world’smost influential Muslim television preacher’ by TheNew York Times Magazine, and ranked as the 13th mostinfluential person in the world by TIME Magazine in2007. He communicates through his TV shows and webcampaigns using Islamic ethics as a way to inspire, andfoster community development, tolerance and interculturalrelations.Country: EgyptDate of Birth: 5 September1967Source of Influence: Media,YouthInfluence: Most popularpersonal website in the worldwith 20 million regular users;232,219 fans on 79 Facebookgroups; Approx. 2 million hitson 200 YouTube videosSchool of Thought: TraditionalSunni in a modern styleRank: 2010:15 · 2009:14 Popular Media FigurePart of Khaled’s influence derives from the fact that heappeals to the common person. He holds a degree inaccounting, and has no formal religious education; hewears suits and ties, not flowing robes; and has a cleanshavenface except for a trimmed moustache—everythingyou do not expect from a Muslim preacher. His everyman appeal has led to immensepopularity. Khaled’s television shows are broadcast by four Arab satellite stations but airprimarily on Saudi-based religious channel Iqraa. Khaled’s speeches are published online,on bestselling cassettes and CDs. His website is translated from Arabic into nearly twentylanguages and it rivals Oprah Winfery’s in terms of traffic.Voice for YouthAmr Khaled is a pioneering Muslim preacher and effective social activist who is revered bymany as the leader of a revival in the Muslim world, but his influence stems largely from thefact that he engages young people. Youth in the Middle East and North Africa face disproportionatechallenges, such as unemployment and social exclusion—obstacles, which make itdifficult to compete with development in other areas of the world. Faith is important to youngpeople in the Middle East, but they do not connect with the majority of preachers whoseteachings do not speak to the problems in their lives. Khaled is credited with the launch ofthe first “Muslim reality TV show” Mujaddidun on Dubai Television, where 16 young participantsfrom all over the Arab world compete over who can make the most morally-consciouscontributions to their societies.Community DevelopmentKhaled’s goal is to encourage community development in the Muslim world by its own peoplewith religious faith as the guiding inspiration—something he believes should be linkedto interfaith dialogue, tolerance and moderation. The break up of communities is somethingKhaled sees as responsible for the malaise in the Muslim world, and something he believesputs the future of young people in jeopardy. One program he has launched to realize thisobjective of community development is Life Makers, which has a stated goal of producing arenaissance for the Arab and Muslim world.56

16HAJJI MOHAMMED ABD AL WAHHABAmir of Tablighi Jamaat, PakistanLeader of the Pakistan chapter of the Tablighi Jamaat—a transnational Islamic organization dedicated tospreading the message of religious conservatism andrenewed spirituality—Hajji Abd al Wahhab is a prominentPakistani scholar with a significant following inSouth Asia and the United Kingdom. Although theorganization does not have a central authority, Abd alWahhab has been increasingly influential in his leadershipof the throngs of Muslims that follow the internationalmovement in Pakistan and abroad.MissionaryAs Amir, or leader of Pakistan’s Tablighi Jamaat, HajjiAbd al Wahhab’s influence spans globally due to theorganization’s emphasis on missionary work. Considereda foremost da’ee, or inviter to the faith of Islam,Abd al Wahhab has spoken about the need to return tothe correct beliefs and practices of Islam in numerouscountries and congregations.Country: PakistanDate of Birth: 1923Source of Influence: InternationalIslamic Networks, Scholarly,AdministrativeInfluence: Leader of a Pakistan-basedorganization withchapters in 120 countries, anannual conference in Pakistan,the Raiwind Tablighi Ijtima,which drew over 1.5 million attendeesin 2009, and the BiswaIjtima conference in Bangladeshthat attracts approximatelythree million memberseach yearSchool of Thought: TraditionalSunni, HanafiRank: 2010:16 · 2009:15 Champion of ConservatismAbd al Wahhab urges Muslims to repent for their sins and to emulate the life of the ProphetMuhammad by adhering to the sunna—the Prophet’s teachings and deeds. Among these isan exhortation to partake in the act of da’wa or spreading the message of the faith. The TablighiJamaat has gradually acquired a massive membership base owing to this core tenet. Abdal Wahhab’s work is derived from close ties to the founder of the Tablighi Jamaat, MaulanaMuhammad Ilyas Kandhelvi, and stems from the prominent Islamic institution Darul UloomDeoband, in India, where the latter studied before establishing a following in Pakistan.Mass AppealAmong the throngs of Pakistanis, diaspora South Asians, and others who carry the flag of theTablighi Jamaat are notable Muslim leaders. In Pakistan alone, Abd al Wahhab’s influence haswon the allegiance of prominent politicians, actors, and athletes. Despite his influence overkey Muslim leaders from various fields of social power, Abd al Wahhab is consistent in his assertionthat the organization is wholly apolitical—identifying the work of the Tablighi Jamaatas a spiritual revivalist movement.Advocate of Non-ViolenceIn light of heightened incidences of violence by fringe Islamic militant groups, Abd al Wahhabhas publicly stated the importance of non-violence in bringing people closer to the faithof Islam. This comes after the tragic Mumbai attacks which investigations found were linkedto the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba; a militant organization Abd al Wahhab has made apoint of distancing the Tablighi Jamaat from.58

Photographs of Hajji Mohammed Abd al Wahhabare not available due to the Tablighi Jamaat's strictprohibition of the use of images of people. Thisphoto shows some of the millions of attendees at aTablighi Ijtima.59

17SHEIKH DR MUHAMMADSA’ID RAMADAN AL BOUTILeading Islamic Scholar in SyriaSheikh al Bouti is the leading Islamic scholar in Syria.He is the head of the Theology Department in the facultyof Islamic Law at Damascus University. Al Boutipreaches very often and is highly respected by many ofthe leading scholars in the Muslim world. In the pastyear, his influence has grown significantly in the Muslimworld and particularly with young Muslims.Country: SyriaDate of Birth: 1929Source of Influence: ScholarlyInfluence: Leading scholar for18.4 million Syrian MuslimsSchool of Thought: TraditionalSunniRank: 2010:17 · 2009:23 Traditionalist ScholarAl Bouti is the scholar’s scholar, and the bulk of his influencecomes from his position of respect and authority among the leading thinkers in Islamtoday. Bouti has written close to 50 books that have garnered considerable critical acclaim.Passionate Advocate of MadhabsAl Bouti is a keen supporter of madhabs (traditional Islamic schools of law), and is one ofthe leading critics of the significant movement to abandon these schools. He is particularlyinfluential because this movement has led to groups in which extremist behavior is condonedas Islamic. Al Bouti has referred to the abandonment of madhabs as the ‘most dangerous bid’a[innovation] threatening the Islamic sharia.’ His view is critical because he says it gives individualswithout knowledge the ability to decide what is and is not Islamic.A Critic of SalafismAl Bouti has considerable sway over the theological and legal merits of Salafism versus traditionalIslam. He has held important debates with leading Salafi scholars and has performedwell, highlighting to his audience the importance of knowledge in Islam. In one of his mostnoteworthy books on this issue—Jihad in Islam: How to Understand and Practice it—Al Boutishows how a poor understanding of the term jihad has led to its abuse by both Muslims andnon-Muslims. His view is that those who are unaware of the basis of fiqh have manipulatedthe idea of jihad for their own benefit, underlining that jihad must be conducted, accordingto the basis of Islamic fiqh.Prolific WriterShiekh al Bouti has made an impact on the Muslim world, in particular through his scholarlyoutreach. He writes for news publications and journals. He has also developed a reputationfor his ability to address and respond to queries regarding Islamic jurisprudence, and personalissues from visitors to his comprehensive website, bouti.net.60

18SEYYED HASAN NASRALLAHSecretary General of HezbollahSeyyed Hasan Nasrallah is serving his sixth term asthe third Secretary General of Hezbollah (the Partyof God). Hezbollah is a Twelver Shi’a Islamic politicalparty and paramilitary organization based in Lebanon.Hezbollah’s ideology is based on seeking social justicethrough Islamic ideals. Political and military successeshave made Nasrallah a vastly influential figure in Lebanon,and in the Middle East more broadly. Nasrallahand Hezbollah are also controversial; the US and Canadalist Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.Country: LebanonDate of Birth: 31 August 1960Source of Influence: Political,DevelopmentInfluence: Main politicalleader of 1-2 million LebaneseShi’a (45-55 percent ofLebanon’s population), widersupport with the Syrian andIranian Shi’a populations andthose who support his resistanceto IsraelSchool of Thought: TraditionalTwelver Shi’a, RevolutionaryShi’ismRank: 2010:18 · 2009:17 Military PowerNasrallah has immense importance in Lebanon as afigure of military power. He gained this influence byleading Hezbollah during the time that Israeli forceswithdrew from southern Lebanon. The withdrawalresulted in huge popularity for Nasrallah, giving himincreased recognition at home and abroad as a powerfulfigure. Hezbollah remains a de facto security force in southern Lebanon, and its militarypresence is felt throughout the country, with a force of around 300,000 fighters.Lebanon’s leading Twelver Shi’a FigureUnder Nasrallah, Hezbollah has gained in popularity and in political stature. As Syria andIsrael have withdrawn from Lebanon, Hezbollah has begun to position itself as a Lebanesenationalist organization, with revolutionary Shi’ism as the guiding line. Nasrallah was educatedat the Hawza Shi’a seminary in Najaf in Iraq, where he met Abbas Musawi, his predecessoras leader of Hezbollah. Nasrallah took over leadership in 1992 and has popularized theparty among the Muslim population of Lebanon, and also among non-Muslims. Hezbollahhas gained wide popular appeal by providing social services, health care and also running AlManar—an influential television station.Social ServicesHezbollah has also won significant grassroots support by cultivating a social welfare systemthat provides schools, clinics, and housing in the predominantly Shi’a parts of Lebanon, andalso in others. These welfare activities are run with efficiency and rival those carried out bythe state, giving the organization even broader appeal.International Symbol of Resistance Against IsraelNasrallah has broader influence in the Muslim world as a figure of defiance against Israel.Israel remains a key issue for the Muslim world and Hezbollah’s aim to achieve social justicein Palestine is central to its activities. The military successes Nasrallah had in the late ninetiesare seen as the main factor for Israel’s withdrawal from South Lebanon in 2000. Moreover, thestaunch defense put up by Hezbollah forces against Israel in July 2006 earned Nasrallah manymore supporters. In February 2010 he openly criticized Arab states’ lack of involvement in theopposition against Israel, while at the same time praising Syria and Iran for their support.62

19DR KH SAID AQIL SIRADJChairman of Indonesia’s Nahdlatul UlamaDr KH Said Aqil Siradj is the newly-elected leader ofIndonesia’s largest independent Muslim organizationand one of the world’s most influential Islamic organizations,Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), or ‘Awakening ofScholars’. Succeeding former chairman Dr KH HasyimMuzadi, Siradj guides millions through his work withthe NU.Country: IndonesiaDate of Birth: 3 July 1953Source of Influence: Administrative,Political, EducationInfluence: Leader of approximately30 million members ofthe Nahdlatul UlamaSchool of Thought: TraditionalSunniRank: 2010:19Head of Expansive NetworkThe Nahdlatul Ulama boasts an expansive networkthat covers 30 regions with 339 branches, 12 specialbranches, 2,630 representative councils and 37,125 subbranchrepresentative councils across Indonesia. This network practices the doctrine of Ahlas Sunnah w’al Jama’ah, which is Arabic for ‘people of the Sunna (practices of the ProphetMuhammad) and the community’. They base their practices on the traditional sources ofIslamic jurisprudence—mainly the Qur’an, Hadith, and major schools of law.Among its aims are the propagation of Nahdlatul Ulama’s message and also an expansionof its already extensive network of members in Indonesia. This is the basis of many of theorganization’s social reform efforts. With a solid structure of central and regional boards,branch and special branch boards, and various advisory councils, Siradj sits at the top of thisincreasingly influential Sunni movement.Model of TraditionalismWith a mainly rural membership base, the Nahdlatul Ulama distinguishes itself from otherIslamic organizations in Indonesia by positioning itself as a premier organization of traditionalIslam—with an emphasis on education and political engagement based on Islamicprinciples.Social ServiceThe Nahdlatul Ulama has made substantial charitable contributions to Indonesian societyin the fields of educational development, health care, and poverty alleviation. Siradj, likehis predecessors, propagates the Nahdatul Ulama as an organization that is geared towardestablishing a secular nation-state based on a body of modern and moderate Muslims—withagenda items such as anti-corruption laws and social reform measures that are deeply rootedin Islamic principles.Human Rights ActivismPrior to his role as Nahdatul Ulama chairman, Siradj served on Indonesia’s National Commissionfor Human Rights. Only a few weeks into his position as chairman of the country’slargest Muslim political party, and after violent clashes erupted in different churches acrossthe country, Siradj made strong statements condemning the discrimination against Christianminority groups in Indonesia.Educational ReformSiradj has an extensive academic background in the Islamic sciences, and regards education64

as a tool for development. He founded the Said Aqil Centre in Egypt, a study centre thatfocuses on developing Islamic discourse, particularly in the Arab world.65

20HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS SHAH KARIM AL HUSSAYNIThe Aga Khan IV, 49th Imam of the Ismaili MuslimsShah Karim al Hussayni, also known simply as the AgaKhan (Imamate: 1957-present), is the leader of the Shi’asect of Muslims known as the Nizari Ismailis. For 5 millionNizari Ismaili Muslims the Aga Khan is the 49thhereditary Imam, with lineage descending back to Ali,the cousin of the Prophet Muhammad. He is only thefourth Aga Khan, a hereditary title bestowed upon theImam by the Shah of Persia in the mid-nineteenth century.Country: FranceDate of Birth: 13 December1936Source of Influence: Lineage,AdministrativeInfluence: Approximately 5million Nizari IsmailisSchool of Thought: ModernistShi’a, Ismaili, NizariRank: 2010:20 · 2009:20Hereditary Leader of IsmailisThe Aga Khan derives his position of authority fromhis lineage. He has a direct line of ancestry going back to Imam Ali. For Nizari Ismaili Muslimsthis ancestry is directly attached to the idea of an Imamate starting with Imam Ali. HoweverNizari lineage differs from the larger sect of Ithna’Asharia (Twelver) Shi’a. Twelver Shi’aheritage derives from the younger son of the sixth Imam Jafar al Sadiq, whereas Ismaili heritagederives from the elder son. The Aga Khan’s influence stems from his obligation to leadthe community and to find solutions to the ever-changing issues facing his followers. At theage of 21 the Aga Khan bypassed his father and uncle to become the 49th Imam, a choice thathis grandfather made because he felt the community needed a leader ‘who has been broughtup and developed during recent years and in the midst of the new age, and who brings a newoutlook on life to his office.’Unparalleled PhilanthropistThe Aga Khan is also an influential philanthropist on the world stage. His influence on developmentis very significant and disproportionate to the size of the Nizari Ismaili community,which is one of the smaller Muslim sects. To fulfill the Imam’s responsibilities in the contemporaryworld, the Aga Khan set up the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). TheAKDN is a collection of development and humanitarian agencies working in areas of poverty.The network is widely known for its architectural and cultural work, including projects thatrevitalize historic cities. These initiatives aim to show the greatness of Islamic civilizationthrough projects such as the renovation of the Old City of Aleppo and the Al Azhar Park inCairo. The Aga Khan’s foundation maintains a strong and enduring presence in developingcountries—building health care capacity, promoting economic development in rural areasand helping improve educational opportunities. The AKDN is particularly influential inCentral Asia, where it works in areas that are often neglected by other organizations.66

21HIS HIGHNESS EMIRSHEIKH HAMAD BIN KHALIFA AL THANIEmir of QatarAcceding to power in 1995, His Highness Emir SheikhHamad bin Khalifa Al Thani is the 9th emir (also amir,leader) of the state of Qatar. The monarchy of Qatar isincreasingly powerful as an economic force in the midstof a downturn in surrounding countries, a mediator ofpeace, and a thriving emirate on the northeastern coastof the Arabian Peninsula. Sheikh Hamad’s leadership ismarked by successful reform. He has made significantefforts to modernize the military as Commander inChief of the Qatari Armed Forced. Sheikh Hamad hasalso developed strong international relations—Qatarhosted, and is now chair of the Arab Summit.Country: QatarDate of Birth: 1952Source of Influence: Political,Administrative, Lineage,PhilanthropyInfluence: Political leader ofover 830,000 residents of QatarSchool of Thought: ModerateSalafiRank: 2010:21Royal LineageThe Al Thani family has ruled Qatar since the mid 1800s. The house of Al Thani is traced backto the tribe of Bani Tamim dating from pre-Islamic Arabia. The mother of Prophet Muhammadis a descendent of this tribe.Economic CatalystQatar is the top exporter of liquefied natural gas, and the site of the third largest natural gasreserves in the world. Expansion of the country’s natural gas reserves was announced in 2010.During Sheikh Hamad’s rein, the country has developed one of the fastest growing economiesin the Middle East. Sheikh Hamad has also invested billions toward infrastructure, realestate and educational initiatives for Qatar.This year, Qatar submitted a bid to host the 2022 World Cup as part of a $4bn plan to buildand renovate twelve stadiums which includes the installation of solar-powered cooling systems.If granted this opportunity, Sheikh Hamad will oversee substantial infrastructural investmentin the country.HumanitarianSheikh Hamad has been recognized in Forbes Magazine’s list of the wealthiest royals in theworld with a net worth of $2 billion. In February 2010 Qatar successfully sponsored a peacedeal between the rebel Justice and Equality Movement and the Sudanese government—pledging $1 billion to reconstruction efforts in Darfur which involved establishing a developmentbank in Sudan.Patron of the ArtsSheikh Hamad is noted for his love of the arts. In 2008, he inaugurated the Museum of IslamicArt in Doha, boasting exclusive collections of Islamic artifacts from across the globecollected over a period of 20 years. Acclaimed architect I.M. Pei was commissioned to designthe award-winning landmark structure on an island off Doha Bay.68

22HIS HIGHNESS GENERAL SHEIKH MOHAMMED BINZAYED AL NAHYANCrown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of theUAE Armed ForcesSheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan is the CrownPrince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commanderof the UAE Armed Forces, as well as next in line tobe President of the United Arab Emirates. The UAE isincreasingly becoming an important center for globalweapons trading, with Abu Dhabi as host to one of theworld’s the largest defense expos in 2009.Political and Military LeadershipSheikh Mohammed is chairman of the Abu DhabiExecutive Council—an executive leadership body inAbu Dhabi, which is constantly engaged in the assessmentof public policy. Since becoming Crown Prince in2004, Sheikh Mohammed has been recognized for hisgroundbreaking initiatives as an influential leader ofAbu Dhabi as well as Deputy Supreme Commander ofCountry: United Arab EmiratesDate of Birth: 1961Source of Influence: Administrative,Development, PhilanthropyInfluence: Military and politicalleadership, with prospectivepresidency over an estimated4.9 million residents of theUAESchool of Thought: TraditionalSunniRank: 2010:22 · 2009:22the armed forces. He is a special advisor to UAE President H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed alNahyan.Economic DevelopmentWith Abu Dhabi sitting on a 10th of the world’s proven oil reserves, Sheikh Mohammed binZayed al Nahyan maintains immense political influence in the Muslim world as a leadingmember of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company—which directs development efforts forthe UAE’s role in the oil and gas industries. In spite of the debt crisis affecting Gulf states,Abu Dhabi has emerged mostly unscathed. Sheikh Mohammed is chairman of the Abu DhabiCouncil for Economic Development (ADCED), which has been developing initiatives toboost entrepreneurship among youth in the UAE.HumanitarianSheikh Mohammed is noted for his philanthropic and humanitarian efforts in charitablegiving. He has donated billions of dollars to various causes. December 2010 will mark thelaunch of a three-year project to establish a global center for health care research in AbuDhabi through the World Health Care Congress (WHCC), under the patronage of SheikhMohammed.Sustainable DevelopmentSheikh Mohammed has been a champion of sustainable development in Abu Dhabi as anadvocate for the implementation of green technologies. He pledged $15 billion for the developmentof clean energy through solar, wind, and hydrogen power.70

23HIS ROYAL EMINENCE AMIRUL MU’MININ SHEIKHAS SULTAN MUHAMMADU SA’ADU ABUBAKAR IIISultan of SokotoAmirul Mu’minin Sheikh as Sultan MuhammaduSa’adu Abubakar III is the 20th Sultan of Sokoto. AsSultan of Sokoto, he is considered the spiritual leader ofNigeria’s 74.6 million Muslims, who account for roughly50 percent of the nation’s population. Although theposition of Sultan of Sokoto has become largely ceremonial,the holder is still a central figure for NigerianMuslims.Lineage Back to Sheikh Usman Dan FodioThe Sultan of Sokoto is the spiritual leader of Nigeria’senormous Muslim community. He gains this positionby lineage. Abubakar is the 20th heir to the two-century-oldthrone founded by his ancestor, Sheikh UsmanCountry: NigeriaDate of Birth: 24 August 1956Source of Influence: Lineage,Development, AdministrativeInfluence: Central figure forapproximately 75.5 millionNigerian MuslimsSchool of Thought: TraditionalSunni, Maliki; linked tothe Qadiriyyah Sufi order bylineageRank: 2010:23 · 2009:16 Dan Fodio. Dan Fodio (1754-1817 CE) was a scholar, leader of the Maliki school of Islam andthe Qadiri branch of Sufism, and an Islamic reformer of the nineteenth century. Dan Fodiobelieved that Islam should have a more central role in the life of the people of West Africaand led an uprising to institute the changes he sought. His figure and his writings are a veryimportant chapter in the history of Islam in West Africa, and Abubakar, by lineage, holds akey place in West African Islam, and particularly for the Fulani and Hausa people who followDan Fodio.An Illustrious FamilyThe position currently does carry with it some weight—though largely ceremonial since Britishcolonial rule diminished its political significance. Much of this clout is derived from therespect that was earned by Siddiq Abu Bakar Dan Usman—17th Sultan and father of Abubakar—whoheld the Sultanate for over fifty years. The rule of Abubakar’s father from 1938 to1988 earned the position significant social capital and popularity with ordinary Muslims.Administrative PowerAbubakar holds important administrative influence in Nigerian religious life. He is the titularruler of Sokoto in northern Nigeria and is also the head of the Nigerian National SupremeCouncil for Islamic Affairs. Leadership of this council means that the Sultan of Sokoto remainsthe only figure that can legitimately claim to speak on behalf of all Nigerian Muslims.This role has become increasingly influential over the years with a rise in inter-religious tensionsbetween Nigeria’s Muslim-majority north and Christian-majority south. The late SultanSiddiq Abu Bakar dan Usman was widely respected for trying to ease tensions betweenNigeria’s Muslim and Christian communities, which tend to occasionally spill over into sectarianviolence. Abubakar also possesses military experience in conflict areas.72

24HER EMINENCE SHEIKHA MUNIRA QUBEYSILeader of the Qubeysi MovementMunira Qubeysi is the head of the largest women-onlyIslamic movement in the world. It offers Islamic educationexclusively to girls and women. Qubeysi commandsaround 80 schools in Damascus alone, teachingmore than 75 thousand students. She is one of the mostsignificant Islamic scholars in the world; her movementfocuses on learning the Qur’an and comprehensive Hadithcollections by heart. Qubeysi is arguably the mostinfluential Muslim woman in the world, albeit in greatdiscretion.Country: SyriaDate of Birth: 1933Source of Influence: ScholarlyInfluence: More than 75 thousandstudents in DamascusaloneSchool of Thought: TraditionalSunniRank: 2010:24 · 2009:31 Female Muslim OrderAt a time when clandestine meetings of Islamic organizations are proscribed in Syria, SheikhaQubeysi’s network, the Qubaisiat, has legally been permitted to host classes and meetings inmosques since 2006—although they had been operating as a secret society for long beforethat time. Members of the Qubaisiat identify themselves, and ranks within the group, basedon specific colors and articles of clothing—headscarves knotted at the neck, and overcoatsdenoting membership status. Women within the network are provided a unique role withinArab society as scholars and teachers exclusively catering to the needs of Muslim women; theyprovide an open forum to address religious questions and discuss religious issues.Milestones in Islamic EducationQubeysi is influential as the leader of an incredibly successful educational movement. Thereligious education of women in Syria had previously been neglected so the emergence ofa female-specific educational initiative has become very popular, making the al Qubaisiat,in numbers, the leading Islamic movement in Syria. Qubeysi’s students are also at the forefrontof a significant achievement in Islamic history in regards to education—no less than70 Qubaisiat have memorized the ‘Nine Texts of the Sunna’ which include major canonicalbooks of Hadith with extensive chains of narration in addition to the entire Qur’an. Bytraining this sizeable group of female scholars, Shiekha Qubeysi has made Islamic knowledgewidely accessible, and is credited for the resurgence of Islamic education in Syria.Leading an Islamic Revival in SyriaQubeysi’s influence in Syria is due to the fact that she has been able to develop a very largenetwork of madrassas (religious schools) without attracting the criticism of the government,which has traditionally been dubious of large networks of Muslim organizations. The organizationfollows traditional Sunni practice, and follows the Shafi’i school of thought. Althoughmember groups are found in Jordan, Kuwait and Lebanon, Damascus is the center of therevivalist movement.74

Photographs of Sheikha Munira Qubeysi are notavailable due to the traditional prohibition ofthe use of images of people and her clandestineleadership of the Sufi group. This photo showsa murid of Sheikha Qubeysi teaching Qur'an toyoung girls inside Zahra Mosque in Damascus,Syria.75

25SHEIKH SALMAN AL OUDASaudi Scholar and EducatorA leading Saudi sheikh, Salman al Ouda is a formerhard-line cleric turned advocate of peaceful coexistence.He is increasingly influential due to his innovativereach in the Muslim world propagated via Islam-Today.net and his persistent efforts ministering tothe needs of the global Muslim community.Key Scholar of Salafi NetworkSheikh Salman al Ouda is a leading scholar of the Salafimovement. Although he is not noted for propagatinginnovative ideas within the network, he has notableinfluence in the movement due to his use of multiplemodes of education (internet, audiovisual media, andprint) to educate the large body of Salafi Muslims inthe Islamic sciences. Sheikh al Ouda’s website bringsCountry: Saudi ArabiaDate of Birth: May, 1955Source of Influence: Scholarly,MediaInfluence: Supervises IslamToday.netwith 2,000 daily hits,50 published books, numeroustelevision appearances thatreach millions of people acrossthe globeSchool of Thought: ModerateSalafiRank: 2010:25 · 2009:19 together a diverse range of Islamic scholars and educators to provide guidance in Islamicthought.Influence Through Virtual Islamic ResourcesSheikh al Ouda supervises all content published on IslamToday.net—a website that offers virtualresources for Islamic education in multiple languages. His work has far-reaching impactin an age when religion is spread through media and technology, with IslamToday.net at theforefront of this trend.In response to a February 2010 ruling from the Al Azhar Fatwa Committee condemning theuse of Facebook, Sheikh al Ouda defended the social networking website, stating that he usesit to communicate with Muslims across the globe and to provide Islamic guidance online.Sheikh al Ouda has over 4,000 Facebook friends and over 11,000 fans through the site.Innovative EducatorAl Ouda developed a following from weekly talks at his local mosque in Buraydah and has becomean authority for Muslims and non-Muslims worldwide who access IslamToday.net—aSaudi-funded website dedicated to providing Islamic educational resources in English, Arabic,French and Chinese. He also addresses Islamic issues on the Saudi satellite channel MBC.Advocate of Non-ViolenceIn an effort to distance himself from alleged connections to perpetrators of terrorism, alOuda is outspoken about the importance of inculcating love and mercy as opposed to violence(except in valid cases of self-defense) in the daily lives of Muslims. As a prominentmember of the International Union for Muslim Scholars, he led the delegation in talks withArab heads of state regarding the need for them to unite in opposition to Israel’s siege of Gazain early 2009.76

26Mufti Muhammad Akhtar RazaKhan Qaadiri Al AzhariBarelwi Leader and Spiritual GuideCountry: IndiaDate of Birth: 23 November 1943Source of Influence: Administrative,ScholarlyInfluence: Approximately 2 millionBarkatiya Barelwis worldwideSchool of Thought: Traditional Sunni,Hanafi, SufiRank: 2010:26Mufti Muhammad Akhtar Raza Khan is theleader of the Indian Barelwis and consideredby his followers as the Grand Mufti ofIndia. He is the great-grandson of AhmedRaza Khan (d. 1921), who founded theBarelwi movement in South Asia.Scholarly LineageMufti Akhtar Raza was ordained at the ageof 20 by his predecessor Mufti Mustafa RazaKhan. He was subsequently granted permissionto lead the Qaadriya, Barakaatiyah,and Nooriyah Sufi orders in India. He wasalso appointed to the position of MuslimChief Justice of India in 2006.Dynamic MuftiMufti Akhtar Raza is esteemed for his extensivecollection of English-language rulings,the Azharul Fatawa. He became involved inissuing Islamic rulings from the age of 17and is noted for having issued over 5,000rulings since attaining leadership as mufti.Spiritual TraditionThe Barelwis are an apolitical Sufi communitybased in a volatile region wherereligion has been used as a platform for violence—despitethis, it thrives as a sociallyengaged mystical movement. A missionarymovement, the Barelwis have spread theirmessage within South Asia and also amongdiaspora communities. This group is distinctfrom Deobandi Muslims—who practicea more conservative brand of Islam.27His ExcellencyColonel MuammarGaddafiBrother Leader of theRevolution of the Great SocialistPeople’s Libyan Arab JamahiriyaCountry: Libyan Arab JamahiriyaDate of Birth: 1942Source of Influence: PoliticalInfluence: Longest serving leader of6.4 million people in oil-rich country,founded large international da’wa council,Chairman of the African Union in acontinent that is 45 percent MuslimSchool of Thought: Traditional SunniRank: 2010:27Colonel Muammar Gaddafi is the 3rd longestserving of all current national leadersand the longest-serving leader over hiscountry in its history. He has been a centralfigure in the life of Libya since he seizedpower there in a bloodless coup in 1969.He is noted for his stature and longevity inglobal politics, global-scale da’wa initiativesand advocacy of pan-Africanism.MissionaryGaddafi founded the World Islamic CallSociety (Jamiat al Da’wa al Islamiya) witha significant endowment, making himone of the most influential people in theworld for proselytizing for Islam. With anemphasis on activities outside Libya, theWISCS also operates a state-run universityfor moderate Muslim clerics from outsidethe Arab world.Political OutspokennessGaddafi’s open relations with the Westand outspoken political rhetoric makehim a versatile world figure. While Gaddafiabandoned Libya’s nuclear program in2006 and has made vocal stances againstterrorism, he has also made sharp statementsabout NATO, Israel and Americanforeign policy.78

28His Majesty SultanHaji HassanalBolkiah Mu’izzaddinWaddaulahSultan and Yang Di-Pertuan ofBrunei DarussalamCountry: Brunei DarussalamDate of Birth: 15 July 1946Source of Influence: Political, AdministrativeInfluence: Leader of approximately392,000 citizens of BruneiSchool of Thought: Traditional Sunni,Shafi’iRank: 2010:28 · 2009:24 His Majesty Haji Hassanal BolkiahMu’izzaddin Waddaulah is one of the richestmen in the world. He is the 29th Sultanof one of the oldest dynasties in existencetoday. Brunei is a country with a populationof approximately 398,000 on the northcoast of the island of Borneo in SoutheastAsia.House of BolkiahHis Majesty Sultan Bolkiah descends fromthe House of Bolkiah, which traces back toSultan Bolkiah, the fifth Sultan of Brunei(who ruled from 1485-1524 CE). The Houseof Bolkiah is the longest reigning SunniMuslim Royal House in Brunei.Administrative InfluenceSultan Bolkiah has been lauded for attemptsat slowly democratizing the country’sgovernance, while at the same timeconsolidating royal authority. In the earlynineties Sultan Bolkiah began trying tostrengthen the role of Islam through thenotion of Melayu Islam Beraja (or MalayIslamic Monarchy). The Sultan is also animportant donor to the Organization ofthe Islamic Conference.29His EminenceMohammad binMohammad alMansourImam of the Zaidi Sect of Shi’aMuslimsCountry: YemenDate of Birth: 1917Source of Influence: Lineage, ScholarlyInfluence: Imam of approximately 10million Zaidi Shi’a in Yemen and SaudiArabiaSchool of Thought: Traditional Zaidi(Fiver) Shi’aRank: 2010:29 · 2009:26 His Eminence Mohammad bin Mohammadal Mansour is the Imam of the Zaidibranch of the Shi’a sect of Muslims, oneof the three main branches of Shi’a Islam.With approximately ten million followers,Zaidis constitute almost half the entirepopulation of Yemen, and around 3 percentin Saudi Arabia.Lineage in the ImamateZaidi Muslims are a Shi’a sect named afterthe followers of Zaid bin Ali, grandson ofal Hussein (grandson of the Prophet Muhammad).The sect was formed by the followersof Zaid bin Ali who led an unsuccessfulrevolt against the Umayyad CaliphHisham ibn Abd al Malik in 740 CE.Current Social InfluenceIn the past decade a Zaidi movementknown as the Shabab al Mumineen ledby Hussein al Houthi has been gainingprominence in the northwest of Yemen.This has stoked some sectarian rivalry inYemen, between the Zaidi and radical anti-Shi’a groups who are fearful of the resurgenceof Zaidi rule in Yemen. Al Mansourhas maintained his quietist approach andenjoys much respect in Yemeni society. AlMansour was influential in stemming theescalation of conflict in 2005.79

30His Eminence SheikhAbdullah Bin BayyahDeputy-Head of theInternational Union of MuslimScholarsCountry: MauritaniaDate of Birth: 1935Source of Influence: ScholarlyInfluence: Significant influence as aleading contemporary scholar of IslamicJurisprudenceSchool of Thought: Traditional Sunni,MalikiRank: 2010:30 · 2009:30Sheikh Abdullah Bin Bayyah’s influence isderived from his scholarship and preaching.Whilst he is not a Salafi, the Saudigovernment promulgates his fatwas asauthoritative. He is an instructor at KingAbdul Aziz University in Jeddah and isthe deputy head of the Union of MuslimScholars, under Yusuf al Qaradawi.DiplomatAs a member of the International IslamicFiqh Academy or Al Majma’ al Fiqhi of theOrganization of the Islamic Conference,Sheikh Bin Bayyah is at the forefront of thelegal arm of a dynamic organization witha permanent delegation to the United Nations.In March 2010, he led efforts to convenea high-profile conference of scholars inTurkey which issued the 'Mardin Fatwa'against the misuse of a 14th century fatwato condone violence and terrorism. Laterthat month, he joined scholars in a call forpeace and reconciliation in Somalia.AuthorSheikh Bin Bayyah’s scholarly explorationshave gone global through speakingengagements that draw crowds of tens ofthousands. He has spoken at length aboutthe endurance of the Islamic legal traditionand also written extensively on rulings forMuslims living as minorities in foreignlands, or fiqh al aqaliyaat.31His Eminence JusticeSheikh MuhammadTaqi UsmaniLeading Scholar of IslamicJurisprudenceCountry: PakistanDate of Birth: 1943Source of Influence: Scholarly, LineageInfluence: One of the most seniorfigures in Islamic finance, and a leadingscholar of the Deobandi movementSchool of Thought: Traditional Sunni/DeobandiRank: 2010:31 · 2009:27 Justice Sheikh Muhammad Taqi Usmaniis a leading scholar of Islamic jurisprudence.He is considered the intellectualleader of the Deobandi movement.Leading Islamic Finance ScholarUsmani’s chief influence comes from hisposition as a global authority on the issueof Islamic finance. He has served on theboards, and as chairman, of over a dozenIslamic banks and financial institutions,and currently leads the International ShariahCouncil for the Accounting and AuditingOrganization for Islamic FinancialInstitutions (AAOIFI) in Bahrain. He isalso deputy chairman of the InternationalIslamic Fiqh Academy of the Organizationof the Islamic Conference, one of the highestlegal bodies in the Muslim world.Deobandi FigureheadUsmani is very important as a figureheadin the Deobandi movement—one of themost successful of the Islamic revivalistinitiatives of the past century. Usmaniwas born in Deoband, India, to Mufti MuhammadShafi (the former Grand Mufti ofPakistan) who founded the Darul UloomKarachi, a leading center of Islamic educationin Pakistan.80

32Her Majesty QueenRania al AbdullahQueen of the HashemiteKingdom of JordanCountry: JordanDate of Birth: 31 August 1970Source of Influence: Philanthropy,Women’s Issues, Media, PoliticalInfluence: Over 1.3 million followerson Twitter, about 200,000 fans onFacebook and 27,000 subscribers onYouTube channel; Queen of JordanSchool of Thought: Sunni in a ModernStyleRank: 2010:32Her Majesty Queen Rania al Abdullah isthe wife by marriage of HM King AbdullahII, but is also in her own right an educationalactivist with global appeal. Throughsheer hard work, she has developed thebiggest virtual following of any Muslim inthe world, and she defends and humanizesIslam and Arab causes in-and to-the Westas effectively as any Muslim scholar in theworld.Educational AmbassadorHM Queen Rania is the initiator and keyleader behind the launch of educationalinitiatives such as the Jordanian Madrasati,‘My School’, a five-year project for the developmentof Jordan’s public school system.She is also the co-founder and global chairof the ‘1 Goal: Education For All’ campaignwhich is based around the 2010 FIFA WorldCup and calls for the complete primaryschooling of all boys and girls in the worldby 2015.Intercultural DialogueQueen Rania has an amazingly popularYouTube channel (www.youtube.com/user/QueenRania) and website (www.queenrania.jo). In April 2010, Queen Ranialaunched her children’s book ‘The SandwichSwap’ (which made the New York Timesbest-sellers list) through the United NationsBookshop in an initiative to promote crossculturalunderstanding among youth.33His ExcellencyPresident AbdullahGülPresident of the Republic ofTurkeyCountry: TurkeyDate of Birth: 29 October 1950Source of Influence: PoliticalInfluence: Leads government of 77.4million Turkish citizensSchool of Thought: Traditional SunniRank: 2010:33 · 2009:28 Abdullah Gül is the 11th president of theRepublic of Turkey and the first modernTurkish head-of-state from an Islamistbackground. Facing intense secularist oppositionto his political career, Gül hasmaintained a focus on democratic reform.As prime minister, and subsequently asforeign minister, Gül pursued a pro-activeforeign policy and largely succeeded instriking a balance between Turkey’s traditionalWestern-anchored foreign policypriorities and its new interests in the MiddleEast and the Muslim world.Influence through Pragmatic LeadershipGül’s political influence in Turkey andabroad derives from his ability to reconcilethe demands of a predominantly religiouselectorate with those of the entrenched secularismof the Turkish Republic. Togetherwith Erdogan, Gül has worked to expandthe sphere of democratic rights in Turkey,which in turn have benefited the predominantlytraditional and religious segmentsof Turkish society. Gül continues to playa significant role in the current efforts tofind a lasting solution to Turkey’s Kurdishissue. Gül was also the first Turkish politicianto visit Armenia.81

34Sheikh MohammadAli al SabouniScholar of TafsirCountry: SyriaDate of Birth: 1 January 1930Source of Influence: ScholarlyInfluence: Significant scholarly influenceas the leading contemporaryauthority on Qur’anic exegesis (tafsir)School of Thought: TraditionalSunni, HanafiRank: 2010:34 · 2009:29 An internationally respected Islamic scholarof tafsir, or Qur’anic exegesis, SheikhMohammad Ali al Sabouni is widely acclaimedfor his short commentaries of theQur’an.Popular CommentariesAl Sabouni is influential because of hiseasy-to-read, simplified commentaries ofthe Holy Qur’an. They are now thought ofas some of the most popular short commentariesin history after those of Jalalayn,Baydawi, Ibn Kathir and Ibn Juzayy.One of al Sabouni’s most influential commentariesis the Tafsir Ayat Al Ahkam, anexploration of the Qur’anic verses that pertainto legal rulings.Traditional AuthorityThe Institute of Scientific Research andRevival of Islamic Heritage at the Umm AlQura University in Mecca, Saudi Arabiacommissioned al Sabouni to investigatethe ancient tafsir manuscript of Abu Jaafaral Nahas (d. 949 CE/338AH). Al Sabouni’slandmark achievement of verifying theonly surviving manuscript of the text hascome to fruition as a six volume work publishedby the university.35Dr Aaidh Al QarniSaudi ScholarCountry: Saudi ArabiaDate of Birth: 1960Source of Influence: ScholaryInfluence: Prolific writer of over 2 millioncopies of the popular self-help bookDon’t Be Sad (La Tahzan)School of Thought: Moderate SalafiRank: 2010:35Dr Aaidh al Qarni is a prominent Saudischolar, author, and activist preacher, bestknown for his popular self-help book Don’tBe Sad (La Tahzan), which sold millions ofcopies around the world. Dr al Qarni hasover 800 Islamic audio lectures and is aprolific writer and preacher for tolerance.Self-Help IconAmong the millions of books Dr al Qarnihas sold, there are publications that centeraround self-help themes—a new trend inthe world of Islamic books. The best-sellingDon’t Be Sad has become a foundationaltext in the application of Islamic principlesas a remedy for the obstacles of dailyliving. Other titles include, You Can be theHappiest Woman in the World and The Keyto Success.Popular PreacherFormerly the imam and khateeb at Abi Bakrmosque in the city of Abha, Saudi Arabia,Dr al Qarni has garnered a substantial followingthrough a preaching career whichspans various modes of broadcast mediafrom audio lectures to a comprehensivewebsite, alislamnet.com. He lectures atmosques, colleges, and Islamic institutionsand hosts a weekly television show, ‘OurHistory’, on Iqraa satellite channel. Dr alQarni is a respected academic and Hafiz alQur’an.82

36His Eminence SheikhAhmad Tijani AliCisseLeader of the Tijaniyya SufiOrder37Sheikh al HabibUmar bin HafizDirector of Dar Al Mustafa,Tarim, YemenCountry: SenegalDate of Birth: 1955Source of Influence: Lineage, ScholarlyInfluence: Spiritual leader of around100 million Tijani MuslimsSchool of Thought: Traditional Sunni,Sufi, TijaniRank: 2010:36 · 2009:32 Sheikh Ahmad Tijani Ali Cisse is the spiritualleader of the Tijaniyya Sufi order. TheTijaniyya is the largest Sufi order in WesternAfrica, and its leader commands a followingof close to 100 million people, whosee him as their guide to true Islam.Leader of Tijani MuslimsCisse is based in Senegal, however, TijaniMuslims are located throughout WesternAfrica and further afield. As an order, Tijanisgive allegiance to their sheikh givinghim significant influence as a leader. Cisseis installed as Imam of the Grand Mosquein Medina Baye, which is one of WesternAfrica’s key positions of Islamic leadership.Descendent of the Honorable SheikhIbrahim ibn Abdullah Niass, Leader of theFayda Tijaniyya (Spiritual Flood)The Tijaniyya is a Sufi order founded byAhmad al Tijani Hasani, an Algerian, inthe late 18th century. As the spiritual leaderof the Tijaniyya, Cisse is considered to bethe bearer of a spiritual inspiration calledthe Fayda Tijaniyya, giving him authorityto carry on the teachings of Ahmad al TijaniHasani. Because of this position, someTijani Muslims refer to Cisse as the reviverof the sunna.Country: YemenDate of Birth: Not AvailableSource of Influence: Scholarly, LineageInfluence: Runs one of the foremostcenters for Islamic education in theworldSchool of Thought: Traditional Sunni,Shafi’iRank: 2010:37 · 2009:36 Sheikh al Habib Umar bin Hafiz is wellknown for his Prophetic lineage and statusas one of the most influential Sufi scholarsalive today. His influence through scholarshipand preaching is vast in Indonesia andEast Africa. He is also incredibly influentialthrough his leadership of the Ba’Alawimovement.Cultivation of ScholarshipSheikh al Habib Umar founded and runsDar al Mustafa, a center for traditional Islamicscholarship that currently hosts anarray of international students, in Tarim,Yemen. He has joined the ranks of theworld’s leading Muslim academics andscholars as a signatory of ‘A CommonWord Between Us and You’, a documentthat builds bridges between Muslims andChristians. He has also spoken at CambridgeUniversity on the need for such adialogue.Da'wa EffortsSheikh al Habib is noted for his da'wa effortsover the past year, with sigificant visitsto South East Asia and Australia.HumanitarianIn July 2008, Sheikh al Habib Umar partneredwith Muslim Aid Australia as founderof Yemen-based NGO Al Rafah CharitableSociety to address issues of povertyand hunger and lack of sufficient healthcare that affect areas of Tarim.83

38Khaled MashaalLeader of Hamas39Professor Dr M DinSyamsuddinChairman of theMuhammadiyah, IndonesiaCountry: PalestineDate of Birth: 1956Source of Influence: PoliticalInfluence: Leader of approximately1000 members in military wing ofHamasSchool of Thought: Sunni, MuslimBrotherhoodRank: 2010:38 · 2009:37 Khaled Mashaal became the leader ofHamas after the assassination of SheikhAhmad Yaseen in 2004. Mashaal is thehead of Hamas’s Syrian political bureauand is the international representative forthe Palestinian resistance to the Israeli occupation.Fighter for Social JusticeSince becoming head of Hamas, Mashaalhas seen the organization through multipleattempts at a roadmap to peace and amajor Israeli siege of the Gaza Strip.PioneerMashaal has been recognized for his persistencewith Hamas’s efforts—at presentleading in exile from Syria. His determinationis combined with a unique effort at diplomacy.Mashaal has shown a willingnessto negotiate with Israel to return to the1967 borders and grant Palestinians a rightof return, while importantly implying thenecessary existence of the State of Israel,despite Hamas’s historic denial of that possibility.Mashaal has been one of the mostdirect, and candid leaders in dialogue andconfrontation with Israel and this has garneredinternational recognition.Country: IndonesiaDate of Birth: 31 August 1958Source of Influence: Scholarly, Administrative,DevelopmentInfluence: Over 28 million members inthe Muhammadiyah organization, 5,754affiliate schools, and 5 Islamic universitiesSchool of Thought: Modernist SunniRank: 2010:39 · 2009:35 As chairman of the second largest socioreligiousorganization in Indonesia, as wellas a leader of the Indonesian Ulema Council,Din Syamsuddin influences the Muslimworld on various fronts.Social WelfareThe Muhammadiyah is often described asa social welfare entity. Syamsuddin is involvedwith the health and social welfareefforts of the organization. The Muhammadiyahruns numerous medical clinicsand hospitals across the Indonesia.Leader of a Conservative ShiftSyamsuddin is vice general chair of theIndonesian Ulema Council. His oppositionto religious pluralism has guided hiswork, taking the Muhammadiyah on amore conservative track, with an emphasison ijtihad (individual interpretation of theQur’an) and Hadith.Advocate of EducationSyamsuddin has recently extended scholarshipsfor students to study at the Muhammadiyahuniversities in Indonesia.84

40Maulana MahmoodMadaniLeader and Executive Memberof Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, IndiaCountry: IndiaDate of Birth: 3 March 1964Source of Influence: Scholarly, Political,AdministrativeInfluence: 10 million Muslims aremembers of Madani’s Jamiat Ulema-e-HindSchool of Thought: Traditional Sunni,DeobandiRank: 2010:40 · 2009:36 Maulana Mahmood Madani, a leading Islamicscholar and politician in India, hasgained influence for his forthright condemnationsof terrorism and unfalteringsupport of the Indian Muslim community.Religio-Political HeavyweightMadani has served as Secretary General ofthe Jamiat Ulema- e-Hind, or Organizationof Indian Scholars—one of the mostprominent Islamic organizations in India.He has been outspoken in his oppositionto the misuse of the term jihad as a tool ofterrorism in India. Following fatal bombblasts in 2008, he and others of the DarulUloom Deoband institution hosted eventscondemning terrorism as inherently un-Islamic.Defender of the FaithAs a respected political leader and Islamicscholar of India, Madani represented theJamiat Ulema-e-Hind and the esteemedcommunity of scholars from Deobandwhen he addressed the Pakistani government,and Pakistani High CommissionerShahid Malik in particular, in an openletter regarding the commissioner’s remarksin December 2008 at the UN SecurityCouncil about terrorism stemmingfrom ‘mullas in Deoband’. Madani is alsoa strong opponent of government interferencein the madrassa system.41Sheikh Habib ‘AliZain al Abideen alJifriDirector General of the TabahFoundation, UAECountry: United Arab EmiratesDate of Birth: 16 April 1971Source of Influence: Scholarly, Lineage,PhilanthropyInfluence: Globally influential throughhis teaching endeavors in Yemen andacross the worldSchool of Thought: Traditional Sunni,Shafi’i, Ash’ari, Ba’Alawi SufiRank: 2010:41 · 2009:37 Tracing back his lineage to the family of‘Ali, the fourth Caliph of Islam and cousinof the Prophet Muhammad, Sheikh Habib‘Ali Zain al Abideen al Jifri is a leading Islamicscholar and prominent speaker inthe Muslim world. Al Jifri is Director Generalof the Tabah Foundation in the UAE,member of the board of Dar al Mustafa inYemen, member of the Royal Aal al BaytInstitute for Islamic Thought in Jordan,and affiliated with various other internationalIslamic organizations.Sufi GuideAs a Ba’Alawi Sufi, al Jifri is part of a traditionthat has been based in Yemen forapproximately 800 years and traces backto the Prophet Muhammad. He is influentialas a Sufi spiritual guide in the Muslimworld; and Dar al Mustafa is an influentialIslamic educational institution in Yemen.EducatorAl Jifri founded the privately-funded philanthropicTabah Foundation for IslamicStudies and Research in Abu Dhabi, ayoung non-profit institution that aspiresto become a formidable source of reputablework in Islamic research and thought.85

42Sheikh Hamza YusufHansonFounder of Zaytuna Institute,United States of AmericaCountry: United States of AmericaDate of Birth: 1960Source of Influence: ScholarlyInfluence: Leading Islamic authority ina country with 4.6 million MuslimsSchool of Thought: Traditional Sunni,Maliki, Asha’riRank: 2010:42 · 2009:38 Sheikh Hamza Yusuf Hanson is theWestern world’s most influential Islamicscholar. He is seen as one of the foremostauthorities on Islam outside of the Muslimworld, having spent a decade learningat some of the premier institutions in theIslamic world. He runs the very successfulZaytuna Institute in California.American ScholarSheikh Hamza Yusuf Hanson converted toIslam in 1977 when he was only 17 and spentmany years studying Arabic, Islamic jurisprudenceand philosophy with some of theMuslim world’s most prominent and wellrespectedteachers. His popularity, and accordinglyhis influence, stem from the factthat his application of Islamic knowledge isrooted in the lived experience of a normalAmerican. In his speeches Sheikh Hamzais able to relate traditional Islamic teachingsin a way that American Muslims findeasy to relate to.EducatorHanson is the founder of the Zaytuna Institute,one of the most well-respected centersof Islamic education in North America. Ithas been groundbreaking in combiningcutting edge educational technologies withtraditional Islamic education—setting thestandard for Islamic education in the West.43His Eminence SheikhProfessor DrMustafa CericGrand Mufti of Bosnia andHerzegovinaCountry: Bosnia and HerzegovinaDate of Birth: 1952Source of Influence: Administrative,ScholarlyInfluence: Grand Mufti of approximately2.8 million Bosnian MuslimsSchool of Thought: Traditional SunniRank: 2010:43 · 2009:39 Mustafa Ceric is a guiding light for Islamin Europe and the leading Islamic authoritythere; he became Grand Mufti of Bosniaand Herzegovina in 1993. Ceric is outspokenon interfaith initiatives in the Muslimworld and is considered one of the mostinfluential contemporary Muslim leaders.Advocate of Cross-Cultural EngagementIn 2006, Ceric issued the ‘Declarationof European Muslims’ to the EuropeanUnion stating that European Muslims arededicated to the common values of law,tolerance, democracy and human rights,the value of life, faith, freedom, property,and dignity. In May 2009 Ceric disregardedwarnings of possible violent protest byvisiting Serbia and spoke at a sermon in thetown of Tutin about the need for Bosnianand Serbian Muslims to unite as one entity.Peace ActivistCeric joined the International ReligiousAdvisory Council of the Tony Blair FaithFoundation in 2008, committing himselfto its mission of promoting respect andreligious pluralism through discussions onsocial injustice.86

44His ExcellencyProfessor DrEkmelledin IhsanogluSecretary General of theOrganization of the IslamicConferenceCountry: TurkeyDate of Birth: 1943Source of Influence: Administrative,PoliticalInfluence: Leader of an organizationcomprised of 57 Muslim-majority statesSchool of Thought: Traditional SunniRank: 2010:44 · 2009:40 Ihsanoglu is Secretary General of theOrganization of the Islamic Conference(OIC)—the largest inter-governmentalMuslim organization in the world, and thesecond largest public organization afterthe United Nations.Voice for the Muslim WorldIhsanoglu is also influential in that he leadsthe only pan-Islamic inter-governmentalorganization in the world. The OIC oftenhas more influence over certain issues thanother organizations do, and can have a keyrole to play in world events, being more inclusivethan the Arab League and also ableto tackle specific injustices that the UnitedNations Security Council cannot.Reviving the OICThe OIC has recently had a radical overhaulof its practices, and aims. Under Ihsanoglu’sleadership the organization’s remit haswidened from its previously staple issuesof Islamic solidarity towards more immediatehumanitarian concerns of economicand social deprivation around the Muslimworld, making the organization more akinto the United Nations in its work. In January2010, Ihsanoglu called for the creationof a Peace & Security Council as well as anIslamic Court of Justice to adjudicate betweenmember states of the OIC.45Adnan OktarAuthority on IslamicCreationismCountry: TurkeyDate of Birth: February 1956Source of Influence: Scholarly, ScientificInfluence: The world’s foremost authorityon Creationism and Islam, has ahuge fan base of more than 1.6 millionpeopleSchool of Thought: Traditional SunniRank: 2010:45Writing under the pen name Harun Yahya,Adnan Oktar has gained internationalprominence as a spokesperson for creationismbut also garners influence fromhis numerous and extensively distributedpublications about Islam, and Islamic children’sbooks. He is vocal about his stanceagainst concepts such as Darwinism andmaterialism and is outspoken on the necessityto implement these ideas in theWest.Prominent Pro-CreationistOktar is a pioneer spokesperson for creationismin Islam. His most notable publicationis The Atlas of Creation which wasdistributed in Europe by the thousands. Init Oktar elucidates the Muslim view of theend of times and Qur’anic proofs againstDarwinism. His extensive publications andviews have won him 1.6 million votes on anonline Reuters Faith World poll conductedby journalist Tom Heneghan in 2009 for‘the world’s most influential Muslim.’Leader of Scientific MovementIn 1990 Oktar founded the Scientific ResearchFoundation (Bilim Aratırma Vakf ),whose members are commonly identifiedas Adnan Hocacılar, or ‘Adherents ofAdnan Oktar.’ Oktar is also known to havecountless ghostwriters produce widely distributedworks on Zionism, Nazism, communismand Buddhism in his name.87

46His Excellency Mir-Hossein MousaviIranian Opposition LeaderCountry: IranDate of Birth: 2 March 1942Source of Influence: Political, AdministrativeInfluence: Foremost opposition figurein Iran and leader of the Green MovementSchool of Thought: Twelver Shi’aRank: 2010:46Mir-Hossein Moussavi is an Iranian politicalfigure who held positions such as PrimeMinister and Minister of Foreign Affairs inthe 1980s before he ran as a primary oppositionleader in the 2009 Iranian presidentialelections.Political ReformistThe heart of Moussavi’s influence in Iranlies in the political reform platform he advocatedin his bid for the presidential electionin June 2009. He gained popularityfor promising less restrictions on the flowof information in Iran, as well as revisinglaws that he saw as restrictive for women.In his foreign policy platform, Moussaviadvocated boosting Iranian national interestsby reducing tension with Westernnations.Leader of the Green Movement‘Where is my Vote?’ became the sloganof the Green Movement that gained momentumin the aftermath of Mousavvi’sloss in the presidential campaign. Millionsof protesters went out to the streetsto call for a recount and ignited a violentconfrontation with the basij forces—underthe Revolutionary Guard. Mousavvi hassince headed Green Path, an NGO whichdemands the implementation of the constitutionand political reform in Iran.47His Holiness DrSyedna MohammadBurhannuddin SahebThe 52nd Da‘i l-Mutlaq of theDawoodi BohrasCountry: IndiaDate of Birth: 6 March 1915Source of Influence: AdministrativeInfluence: 1 million Dawoodi Bohras inthe worldSchool of Thought: Traditional IsmailiShi’a, Dawoodi BohraRank: 2010:47 · 2009:45 Mohammad Burhanuddin Saheb is theleader of the Dawoodi Bohra community,which stems from the Ismaili Shi’a sectof Islam. As leader of the Bohras, he hasbeen influential in the fields of educationand the development of community institutionsin Mumbai, India and across theglobe.Absolute M issionaryMohammad Burhanuddin Saheb was appointedDa’i of the Dawoodi Bohras by hisfather who was the previous Da’i l-Mutlaq,or absolute missionary. BurhanuddinSaheb succeeded his father at the age of53. The Dawoodis are the main branch ofthe Bohras, a Musta’li subsect of Isma’iliShi’a Islam. The subsect is based in India;although the Dawoodi Bohra school ofthought originates from Yemen.Community DevelopmentMohammad Burhanuddin Saheb has beenwidely recognized by governmental andnon-governmental organizations for promotingpeace in the world. He is noted forthe construction of numerous mosques,mausoleums, and community structuresfor the Dawoodi Bohras in various parts ofthe world and particularly in Yemen.88

48Professor Dr SeyyedHossein NasrScholar of Islamic PhilosophyCountry: United StatesDate of Birth: 7 April 1933Source of Influence: ScholarlyInfluence: Written major books andgiven countless lectures internationallySchool of Thought: Traditional Shi’aRank: 2010:48 · 2009:47 Seyyed Hossein Nasr is an Islamic Studiesprofessor at George Washington University.He remains one of the most influentialMuslim scholars in the world for his workon Islamic tradition and philosophy.Reviver of TraditionNasr’s work has covered the most importantareas of contemporary Muslimthought from classical Islamic philosophy,Islamic science, Sufism, and critique ofmodernity to interfaith relations, Islam–West relations, and the environmental crisis.Nasr was the first Muslim scholar everto be invited to give the prestigious GiffordLectures, which were later published asKnowledge and the Sacred.Islamic EnvironmentalismNasr’s work has been ahead of its time inpredicting the disastrous consequences ofthe environmental crisis. Books such asThe Encounter of Man and Nature: the SpiritualCrisis of Modern Man (1968), and Religionand the Order of Nature (1996), narratethe rise of a secular, modern conception ofnature as inert matter to be conquered bymodern technology, and attempt to revivea sacred notion of nature.49Sheikh MehmetNazim Adil alQubrusi al HaqqaniLeader of Naqshbandi-HaqqaniSufi OrderCountry: CyprusDate of Birth: 25 April 1922Source of Influence: Lineage, ScholarlyInfluence: Leader of sizeable worldwideSufi orderSchool of Thought: Traditional Sunni,Naqshbandi SufiRank: 2010:49 · 2009:49As Sufi master and leader of the Naqshbandi-Haqqaniorder, Sheikh Mehmet NazimAdil al Qubrusi is influential as one of thehighest-ranking Sufi spiritual guides andtraces his lineage back to the prominentSufis ‘Abd al Qadir al Jilani (1077-1166 CE)and Jalal al Din Rumi (d. 1273 CE).Stalwart MissionaryAl Haqqani’s travels have taken him tomeet with students and followers of theNaqshbandi Sufi order across the globe.This order, which traces its spiritual lineageback to Prophet Muhammad’s companionAbu Bakr, is one that practicessilent remembrance of God. Al Haqqanihas a great deal of influence with Muslimsaround the globe, having spent time withthe Muslim communities in the formerYugoslavia, the United Kingdom, the UnitedStates, Syria, and Uzbekistan—wherethe tomb of the founder of the NaqshbandiSufi order is located.Spiritual Guide to RoyaltyAl Haqqani has ministered to the Sultan ofBrunei, Sir Sultan Hamengkubuwono X ofIndonesia, and members of the Malaysianroyal family. He is credited for the growingpopularity of the Naqshbandi order, whichreaches millions through his followers.89

50His ExcellencyDr Abd al Aziz bin‘Uthman AltwaijiriSecretary General of the IslamicEducational, Scientific andCultural OrganizationCountry: MoroccoDate of Birth: 3 April 1950Source of Influence: Development,AdministrativeInfluence: Head of largest Islamic educationalorganizationSchool of Thought: Traditional SunniRank: 2010:50 · 2009:50His Excellency Dr Abd al Aziz bin ‘UthmanAltwaijiri has exercised his influenceby promoting educational development forOIC member states.Educational InfluenceThrough his leadership with ISESCO, Altwaijirihas engaged in work with Musliminstitutions in Europe, Asia and LatinAmerica. He has established the SupremeCouncil of Education, Science and Culture,an alliance dedicated to initiativesoutside of the Islamic world.Voice of DiplomacyAltwaijiri, as a spokesman for ISESCO, hascategorically condemned acts of terrorismfrom the bomb blasts on a mosque in SouthEast Iran to suicide attacks in Pakistan’sNorth West Frontier Province in 2009. OnUS President Obama’s inaugural visit tothe Middle East, Altwaijiri expressed hiswillingness to develop positive relationsbetween the US and the Muslim world towardtolerance and the cause of justice.90

RUNNERS-UP=The following leaders are selected as runners-up fromthe 450 list for accomplishments in their respectivefields that place them amongst the most significantMuslims in the world. They command influence almostcomparable to those in the Top 50. They deservemention here.

ELBARADEI, DR MOHAMED,EGYPTPolitical p. 107Dr ElBaradei has been recognized globally as a contributor to world peace throughhis work on non-proliferation and nuclear power regulation with the UN. In the runupto the 2011 Egyptian presidential election, ElBaradei leads a reform movementto allow independents to run in the forthcoming election. He currently leads thenewly-formed National Association for Change, a non-party movement that calls forgeneral reforms to Egypt's constitution.FAYADH, HIS EMINENCE GRAND AYATOLLAH MOHAMMAD ISHAQ, IRAQScholarly p. 98Grand Ayatollah Fayadh, originally from Afghanistan, is one of the four marjas ofthe Hawza Seminary in Najaf, Iraq—one of the two most important seats of learningin Twelver Shi’ism. Fayadh is known for his quietist approach to politics and iswell-respected especially amongst the Shi’a population of South Asia. It has beenspeculated that Fayadh is the front runner to succeed Grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistaniat the highest position of political and patriarchal leadership in Iraq.IBRAHIM, HIS EXCELLENCY DR ANWAR,MALAYSIAPolitical p. 111Ibrahim is a Malaysian politician of global stature. He is the former deputy primeminister of Malaysia, former finance minister and is currently the leader of theMalaysian opposition coalition. He is well-known for his liberal Islamic stance onpolitics, and is very influential as a leader and role model for young people. Ibrahim’scoalition now controls four of 13 state governments. If led by Anwar, it would have afair chance of winning the next national election in 2013.KHAN, DR ABDUL QADEERPAKISTANScience, Technology, Medicine, Law p. 152Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, deemed the father of the ‘Islamic Bomb’, is the scientistwho brought nuclear technology and nuclear weapons technology in the 1970s toPakistan which was the first—and remains the only—Muslim country to havenuclear weapons. This has has made him a figure of great international interest.He has continued to use his financial success and stature to improve the quality ofeducation in Pakistan through building educational institutions for metallurgicalengineering. Khan also may have had more far-reaching political influence throughhis alleged attempts to sell nuclear technology to Libya, Iran, and North Korea.AL MAKTOUM, HIS HIGHNESS SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN RASHID, UAEPolitical p. 109Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum is the Ruler of Dubai and the PrimeMinister of the United Arab Emirates. He has launched multiple charity initiativesfrom Dubai, such as ‘Dubai Cares’ which has donated over $910 million to youtheducation initiatives in impoverished countries since its inception in 2007.MATTSON, INGRID DRCANADAScholarly p. 106Dr Ingrid Mattson is the director of the Islamic Chaplaincy Program and professorat the Hartford Seminary in Hartford, Connecticut. In 2001 she was elected vicepresident of ISNA and in 2006 she was elected president, becoming the first womanand the first convert to hold such high positions within the organization. ISNA92

is the largest Muslim organization in North America, and is an umbrellaorganization for numerous local and regional Muslim societies and groups inthe United States and Canada.AL QADRI, DR MUHAMMAD TAHIR,PAKISTANScholarly p. 103Al Qadri is a politician, professor, and the founder of Minhaj ul Qur’anInternational Worldwide, an organization whose aim is to establish unityand understanding between communities. He is also the founder of theMinhaj Welfare Foundation that provides welfare for the needy. Al Qadrihas authored some 450 published works and given more than 6,000 lectureson economics and political studies, religious and social philosophy, law andmedical sciences.RAMADAN, DR TARIQ,SWITZERLANDScholarly p. 104Ramadan is Europe’s preeminent Muslim intellectual writing about Islamin public life. He is a professor of Islamic Studies at Oxford University andformerly a visiting professor at the Erasmus University in Rotterdam. He is thepresident of the European Muslim Network think tank based in Brussels andis an advisor to the European Union on religion.SHAIKH, MOHAMMAD,PAKISTANPreachers p. 128Founder of the International Islamic Propagation Center (IIPC), a da’waorganization based in Karachi, Pakistan, Mohammad Shaikh is well-knownas an influential public speaker. He has given numerous lectures on the Qur’anand also founded the English-language IIPC TV channel which broadcasts toviewers across the globe. He was ranked 4th most influential Muslim in theworld in a public poll by Reuters in 2009.AL SUDAIS, SHEIKH ABDUL RAHMAN,SAUDI ARABIAQur’an Reciters p. 161Al Sudais has international influence through his recitation of the Qur’an,which he memorized at age 12. Currently an imam at the Grand Mosquein Mecca, he has studied sharia at Riyadh University, Imam Muhammadbin Saud Islamic University, and Umm al Qura University. Al Sudais is alsopopular for his sermons and stance on peaceful conflict-resolution.WINTER, TIMOTHY (SHEIKH ABDAL-HAKIM MURAD),UKScholarly p. 104Winter is Britain’s leading Muslim scholar, and also one of the most wellrespectedWestern theologians in the Muslim world. He has written on varioustopics ranging from British Muslim history, theological discourse and socialissues. Winter teaches theology at Cambridge University and is the director ofStudies in Theology at Wolfson College in Cambridge. His advice is frequentlysought on the issue of Muslims in Britain.93

the listscontents6. Women p.1247. The Youth following 450 leaders are categorized by their diverse p.133fields of work and appear unranked. The Top 50 are only in the8. International Philanthropy Islamic Networks and Issues of the Day lists. p.135Scholarly 9. Development p.13797These scholars, thinkers, and educators are well-respected leaders who have madesignificant contributions to the study and cultivation of Islamic knowledge andMuslim culture.Political 107These leaders possess high positions of power over substantial groups of peopleand maintain authority from their elevated status, reputation, or political clout.Administrative 115These agents of change are responsible for founding and directing some of themost influential and innovative global institutions—most often these are based inthe Muslim world.Lineage 125These individuals exercise influence in the Muslim world and global society byvirtue of their lineage. They are from some of the oldest existing dynasties andthriving scholarly traditions that link directly to the Prophet Muhammad.Preachers 127These dynamic preachers have become increasingly influential in an age oftechnology where uplifting sermons and lessons on Islam are presented to packedstadium audiences and millions of televisions are tuned in to satellite networks,and innumerable web videos are viewed multiple times a day across the world.Women’s Issues 131These women have been trailblazers in their respective fields, often being the firstin breaking social boundaries.Youth 137These activists have garnered influence in the fields of youth work and education,as young and pioneering leaders in various fields.

Philanthropy 139These philanthropists have used their wealth and goodwill towards affecting theworld through charitable giving across the globe, thereby alleviating the key crisesof the day.Development 141These organizers have dedicated their lives to civic engagement, community work,activism and conflict resolution to influence communities through policy change,governance, and advocacy for sustainable development.Science, Technology, Medicine, Law 151Scientific and technological innovation is key to the impact of these leaders whoinfluence the world. The Muslim world also boasts historic and contemporaryadvancements in the field of medicine and the implementation, and often reform,of systems of law. These leaders are catalysts behind many of these developments.Arts and Culture 155introduction p.1These are artists and cultural ambassadors whose work has become part of people’sdaily lives throughout the globe.the Qur’an diversity Reciters of islam p.4 161The recitation of Qur’an is a special art that is valued by Muslim communitiesacross the world. The word Qur’an literally means ‘the recitation’ referringtop 50 p.19to its origins as an oral text. These are the 10 most popular Qur’an recitersamong different communities around the world.honorable mention p.85Media 163the lists p.87In an age of impulsive news and innovative media, these personalities havegarnered influence from their use of media organizations or from their popularityas commentators on life.lists contents p.88Radicals 167These infamous individuals are often cited for heinous acts and controversialstatements made from their platforms of authority.International 1. Scholarly Islamic Networks p.90 169These leading movements in the Muslim world command a huge following and the2. Political p.103individuals leading them are globally significant for their ability to affect changeon an institutional level.3. Administrative p.112Issues of the Day 171Within 4. the Lineage past year the world has witnessed natural disasters, international p.123political developments, environmental crises, destructions and revolutions. Theseare the 5. key Preachers figures that have been exceedingly influential on these issues. p.124

SCHOLARLYMiddle East and North AfricaALGERIAcherif, h.e. ambassador prof. dr mustafaMustafa Cherif, a former ambassador of Algeria to Egypt, is a philosopher and researcherspecializing in international relations and dialogue between cultures. Co-founder and co-chair ofthe Muslim Christian Friendship in France and the Mediterranean, Cherif has written numerousworks on religion, civilization and dialogue between cultures.BAHRAINyaquby, nizamNizam Yaquby is one of the most respected scholars of Islamic finance and sits on many advisoryboards including HSBC Amanah. A highly sought-after expert with an immense breadth ofexperience with the Muslim community, Yaquby received the Annual Islamic Finance Summit’sOutstanding Contribution to Islamic Finance Award.EGYPTal ‘awa, sheikh dr mohammed salimMohammed Salim is the secretary general of the International Union of Muslim Scholars andthe head of the Egyptian Association for Culture and Dialogue. He is also a founder of Egypt’smoderate Islamic political party Al Wasat and regularly appears on Egyptian television and on theAl Jazeera channel.IRANamoli, his eminence grand ayatollah abdullah jawadiGrand Ayatollah Amoli is a leading theologian and interpreter of the Qur’an. He is a prolificscholar having published over 300 articles and books. He is most well-known for his commentaryof the Qur’an the Tafsir al Tasnim, which has been lauded by his peers. Amoli has remained a verypublic figure throughout his career, having led a diplomatic mission to the USSR, and continuesto speak publicly on current affairs.damad, his eminence ayatollah prof. dr seyyed mostafa mohagheghDamad is one of the very few high-level clerics in Iran to have been educated in international lawin the West. Damad is a forceful advocate for a more progressive interpretation of sharia. He is avery well-respected scholar, dean of the Department of Islamic Studies at The Academy of Sciencesof Iran, and a professor of Law and Islamic Philosophy at Tehran University.shirazi, his eminence grand ayatollah nasir makarimGrand Ayatollah Shirazi is a leading theologian teaching at the seminary in Qom, one of thetwo most important centers of learning for Twelver Shi’a. He is most influential for his Tafsir alAmthal, which is a very popular simplified commentary of the Qur’an. He has also spearheadedthe creation of schools and magazines devoted to young people.soroush, abdolkarimSoroush is a well-known figure in the religious intellectual movement in Iran. His writings wereessential reading during the time of the Iranian Revolution in 1979, though they have since becomemore important outside Iran than inside it. Soroush remains a public intellectual who criticizesthe Iranian government from a modernist religious perspective.97

ScholarlyIRAQfayadh, his eminence grand ayatollah mohammad ishaqGrand Ayatollah Fayadh, originally from Afghanistan, is one of the four marjas of the HawzaSeminary in Najaf, Iraq—one of the two most important seats of learning in Twelver Shi’ism.Fayadh is known for his quietist approach to politics and is well-respected especially amongst theShi’a population of South Asia. It has been speculated that Fayadh is the frontrunner to succeedGrand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani at the highest position of political and patriarchal leadership in Iraq.hakim, his eminence grand ayatollah mohammed saidGrand Ayatollah Hakim is one of the four marjas of the Hawza Seminary in Najaf, Iraq, andaccordingly is one of Iraq’s most important Shi’a clerics. His family is very prominent in Iraq,holding key positions in Shi’a social and religious organizations and also in government. Hakimleads around 5 percent of the Iraqi Shi’a population. His influence stems partly from his relationshipto Grand Ayatollah Mohsen al Hakim, a former religious leader of the Twelver Shi’a in Iraq.al najafi, dr al sheikh ali bashir [new]Sheikh al Najafi is the son of Grand Ayatollah Bashir al Najafi and a leading Shi’a scholar in Iraq.He often represents the Hawza Seminary at international conferences and serves as the spokesmanof the Grand Ayatollahs, who traditionally refrain from addressing the media individually.al najafi, his eminence grand ayatollah bashirGrand Ayatollah Bashir al Najafi is one of the four marjas of the Hawza Seminary in Najaf, Iraq,and one of Iraq’s most powerful Shi’a clerics. As a marja of the Hawza in Najaf, Iraq’s premier Shi’ainstitution, Najafi holds a position of immense authority. Najafi, originally from Pakistan, holdsless sway amongst Iraq’s population than the other marjas but has significant clout in South Asia.al sadr, his eminence ayatollah al faqih seyyed hussein ismailAyatollah al Faqih Seyyed Hussein Ismail al Sadr is the most senior Shi’a cleric in Baghdad, Iraq.He heads the Ayatollah Seyyed Hussain Ismail al Sadr Foundation Trust, which runs humanitarian,development, and peace and reconciliation projects in Iraq. His role as a social leader andhumanitarian has increased significantly during the recent hostilities in Iraq.JORDANkhasawneh, his eminence sheikh abdul karim [new]Sheikh Khasawneh was appointed by royal decree to the post of grand mufti of the HashemiteKingdom of Jordan in February 2010, upon the resignation of the former grand mufti, Sheikh DrNuh Ali Salman al Qudah. Sheikh Khasawneh is the former mufti of the Jordanian Armed Forces.al qudah, his eminence sheikh dr nuh ali salmanSheikh al Qudah is the former grand mufti of Jordan and maintains influence in legal and religiouscircles. He has held other notable positions in the past including Chief Islamic Justice of Jordan. Heis also formerly a religious leader in the Jordanian army with the rank of Major General in 1992.LEBANONQabbani, His Eminence Dr Mohammad RashidMohammad Rashid Qabbani is the grand mufti of Lebanon and hence the country’s leading Sunnischolar. Qabbani speaks out regularly against sectarianism and violence.MOROCCOabdul-rahman, prof. dr tahaAbdul-Rahman is a Moroccan philosopher famous for his work in trying to create an ethicalhumanistic modernism on the basis of the ethics and values of Islam. He has taught logic inMuhammad V University for over 30 years. Abdul-Rahman has won the Moroccan Book Prizetwice, and was awarded the ISESCO Prize for Islamic Philosophy in 2006. He is the president ofthe Wisdom Circle of Thinkers, Morocco, and a member of the International Union of MuslimScholars.98

ScholarlyPALESTINEal tamimi, his eminence justice sheikh dr tayseer rajabAl Tamimi is a leading scholar and chief Islamic justice of Palestine. Popular as an outspokenthinker and leader on Palestinian-Israeli relations, al Tamimi is the head of the Palestinian Centerfor Religion and Civilization Dialogue.SAUDI ARABIAal saffar, hasan musaHasan Musa al Saffar is a Saudi Shi’a reformist leader who has made significant progress incommunicating with Salafi leaders and other senior officials in Saudi Arabia. This is importantas sectarian tensions throughout the Muslim world have risen with the increased Sunni-Shi’ahostilities in Iraq.SYRIAhassoun, his eminence sheikh dr ahmad badr al dinHassoun has been the grand mufti of the Republic of Syria since 2004 when he succeeded the lateSheikh Ahmed Kuftaro. He is an advocate of interfaith dialogue, and is very vocal in his opinionthat states should be ruled on a civil rather than religious basis, believing that secularism is notsynonymous with atheism, a sentiment that holds great sway in Syria’s religiously diverse society.itr, sheikh dr nur al din [new]Sheikh Dr Nur al Din Itr is an Al Azhar-trained sheikh based in Syria. A leading scholar of theQur’anic sciences and Hadith, he maintains a key position in the world of Muslim scholarship. Heis credited for participating in an incredibly successful educational movement out of Damascus:The Qubaisiat, a female-only Sufi network which is the leading Islamic movement in Syria—withSheikh Itr as the principal instructor. He is credited for driving a significant achievement in Islamichistory in regards to education—no less than 70 Qubaisiat have memorized the ‘Nine Texts ofthe Sunna’ which include major canonical books of Hadith with extensive chains of narration inaddition to the entire Qur’an.al-zuhayli, dr prof. sheikh wahba mustafa [new]Dr al-Zuhayli is a leading scholar of Islamic law and legal theory and is noted for his extensivescholarship. He is also considered an expert on Islamic international law and is chairman ofIslamic jurisprudence at the College of Sharia at Damascus University. Al-Zuhayli is a popularpreacher and a proponent of traditional orthodox Sunni Islam.TUNISIAennaifer, h’midaEnnaifer is a key player in worldwide efforts towards better Muslim-Christian relations. He isa lecturer in Muslim theology at the Higher Institute of Theology at the Zeituna University inTunisia. He is also the president of the Islamic-Christian Research Group. Ennaifer’s interfaithwork centers on theological similarities between Islam and Christianity.Southern AfricaSOUTH AFRICAdesai, mufti ebrahim [new]A prominent Deobandi sheikh, Mufti Desai runs askimam.org, issuing numerous fatwas onlinethrough the Camperdown-based Islamic institution Darul Iftaa, Madrassah Inaamiyyah where heis the principle mufti and a senior lecturer.hendricks, sheikh serajHendricks is the mufti of Cape Town and imam and teacher at the Zawiya Mosque. He is a leadingscholar on Sufism in South Africa, and a patron of Dome Publications. Hendricks is seen as one99

Scholarlyof the highest authorities on Islamic scholarship for South Africa’s large and affluent Muslimpopulation.East AfricaETHIOPIAidris, his eminence hajji omarOmar Idris is a mufti and leader in Ethiopian Muslim politics. A proponent of Muslim unity, heis the current chair of the Addis Ababa Majlis and also the chair of the Addis Ababa Ulema UnityForum.KENYAmazrui, dr ali al’amin [new]Dr Mazrui is a prominent scholar of African and Islamic studies and an outspoken commentatoron Islam. Noted for his stance on the applicability of sharia law within a democratic system andhis denunciations of violence in the name of religion, he is a widely-respected academic. A prolificwriter, Dr Mazrui is an Albert Schweitzer Professor in the Humanities and the Director of theInstitute of Global Cultural Studies at the State University of New York at Binghamton.UGANDAmamdani, mahmoodMamdani is the Herbert Lehman Professor of Government in the Departments of Anthropologyand Political Science at Columbia University in the United States. Mamdani is also the director ofColumbia’s Institute of African Studies. He is a former president of the Council for Developmentof Social Research in Africa in Dakar, Senegal. Mamdani is well-known for his book Good Muslim,Bad Muslim: America, the Cold War, and the Roots of Terror, which became significant in liberalpolicy circles in the US.West AfricaBURKINA FASOdokori, dr abu bakrAbu Bakr Dokori is the president of the Islamic University of Ouagadougu. He is a major scholarand advisor to the president. Dokori is also Burkina Faso’s representative to ISESCO. He is one ofthe leading Muslim scholars in a country with around 8 million Muslims.GAMBIAjah, his excellency ambassador prof. dr omarJah is an important figure in the Muslim community of Gambia and in Gambian scholarship onIslam. Jah was the former Gambian ambassador to Saudi Arabia. He is now the secretary of theMuslim Scholars Council, Gambia, and a professor of Islamic Civilization and Thought at theUniversity of Gambia where he is the dean of the humanities faculty.NIGERIAahmed, dr ibrahim datti [new]Dr Ibrahim Datti Ahmed is the president-general of the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria(SCSN). The SCSN is the focal Islamic religious institution that deals with sharia in Nigeria, and isalso a representative body of Nigeria’s Muslim scholars. Recently, the SCSN has petitioned for fairtreatment of Muslim military officers and has spoken out against prejudice and violence againstMuslims, especially in light of the violent clashes between Christians and Muslims near the city ofJos in January 2010.100

ScholarlyAsiaAZERBAIJANibrahimoglu, ilgarIbrahimoglu is a charismatic young Islamic scholar and human rights activist who is the headof a pro-Iranian Shi’a congregation in Baku and Azerbaijan’s Center for Freedom of Conscienceand Worship. Ibrahimoglu received his religious education in Qom, Iran, but also studied humanrights in Poland. This combination of Islamic and secular education is attractive for a populationthat was only recently part of the Soviet Union.pashazade, sheikh ul islam haji allahshukur hummatPashazade is not only the grand mufti of Azerbaijan, but also the mufti by election of the wholeCaucasus region. Pashazade is also the world’s only Sunni-Shi’a grand mufti, giving each groupfatwas according to their relevant madhab, reflecting Azerbaijan’s Sunni-Shi’a mix.BRUNEIbin juned, his eminence dr ustaz haji awang abd azizBin Juned is the state mufti of Brunei and a well-respected scholar that advises the government andthe royal family on matters of faith.INDIAengineer, asghar aliEngineer is a Dawoodi Bohra Ismaili. He is the leader of the progressive Dawoodi Bohra movementand a prominent Islamic scholar who is famous for his take on Islam and contemporary issues.Engineer has written many books and published articles in many international journals. He is thefounding chairman of the Asian Muslim Action Network, and of the Institute of Islamic Studies,and the Center for the Study of Society and Secularism.qaudri, professor sayid ameen mian [2009:44]Professor Sayid Ameen Mian Qaudri is leader of the Indian Barelwis and a sajjada nashin, or Sufidisciple of the Barkatiya Sufi tradition which stems from the Qadiriyyah tradition of eminent Sufimaster, ‘Abd al Qadir al Jilani (1077-1166 CE). Qaudri is also a professor of Urdu language at India’sesteemed Aligarh Muslim University.sadiq, maulana kalbe [new]Sadiq is a well-known scholar of Shi’a Islam. His aim is to break down the existing barriers betweenHindus and Muslims in India. Currently, Sadiq is also the vice president of the All India MuslimPersonal Law Board, focused on sharia law in India.INDONESIAbaswedan, anies [new]Baswedan was named one of the World’s 100 Public Intellectuals in 2008 by Foreign PolicyMagazine, as well as Young Global Leader 2009 by the World Economic Forum. Baswedan is theyoungest university rector in Indonesia. In 2007, he was selected as rector of Paramadina Universitywhich was founded by the prominent Muslim scholar, Nurcholis Madjid. Besides his role as apolitical analyst in Indonesian media, Baswedan has frequently joined international seminars andwritten papers for scientific journals, especially in the United States. He is also the research directorat The Indonesian Institute Center for Public Policy Analysis in Jakarta.gymnastiar, abdullah ‘aa gym’ [2009:48]Abdullah Gymnastiar, more commonly known as Aa Gym (Elder Brother), is Indonesia’s mostpopular preacher. With his style of modern, youthful, enjoyable preaching he has built a substantialfollowing and a media empire. He maintains a regular audience of over 80 million Indonesianswith an approval rating of close to 90 percent. Gymnastiar is both preacher and performer; heis an attractive and charismatic young man, he makes jokes, tells stories and then sings nasheed(religious songs) accompanied by lights, dry ice, and a band.101

Scholarlymaarif, syafiiMaarif is one of Indonesia’s most famous scholars whose political comments regularly attractsignificant attention. This former president of the influential Muhammadiyah organization isactively involved in the interfaith and peace movements both domestically and internationally,largely through his Maarif Institute for Culture and Humanity. Maarif is also a professor of historyat the National University of Yogyakarta, and a productive author and columnist, currently writingtwo regular columns in ‘Republika’ newspaper and also in GATRA Magazine.MALAYSIAal akiti, dr muhammad afifi [new]Dr Muhammad Afifi al Akiti is a briliant young scholar, a trained theologian and philologist. Heis a lecturer of Islamic studies with the Faculty of Theology at Oxford University, a KFAS Fellowin Islamic Studies, and a fellow at Worcester College. He is internationally acclaimed for his 2005fatwa, ‘Defending the transgressed by censuring the reckless against the killing of civilians’ writtenin response to the 7 July London bombings, which was praised by scholars of Islam and gained amassive readership on the internet.al attas, dr syed muhammad naquib [new]Dr al Attas is considered by many to be a scholar giant in the Muslim world. An influentialphilosopher and thinker, he is well-written on the traditional Islamic sciences as well as sufism,metaphysics, and philosophy. He has served at various global academic institutions as an educatorand lead administrator and is also a noted calligrapher.kamali, prof. dr mohammad hashimKamali is the world’s leading expert and author on comparative studies between Islamic andmodern law. He is one of the most prolific producers of quality scholarship on Islam in the worldtoday. Originally from Afghanistan, Kamali is a dean and professor at the International Instituteof Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC) and the International Islamic University in Malaysia.Kamali is also the current Chairman and CEO of the International Institute of Advanced IslamicStudies in Malaysia.PAKISTANakhtar, hazrat maulana shah hakeem muhammad [new]Maulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar is a Sufi scholar of the Ashrafia order based in Karachi.He has authored numerous books on Islamic spirituality including a popular commentary on theMathnawi of Jalaluddin Rumi. Akhtar attracts a vast audience at his spiritual center or khanqah forislah-e-nafs (self-correction) and online, where his talks are broadcast live daily.hashmi, dr farhat [new]Hashmi is an influential lecturer and scholar. She has been instrumental in the burgeoning fieldof the role of women in Islam and has contributed greatly to its literature. Hashmi is the founderof Al-Huda International, an NGO actively promoting Islamic education and welfare since 1994.najafi, his eminence grand ayatollah muhammad hussain [new]Grand Ayatollah Hussain Najafi is the only marja in South Asia. Based in the Sargodha district ofthe Punjab province in Pakistan, he was the first scholar from that country to be given the status ofmarjiyyat and is one of only two Ayatollahs from Pakistan.qadiri, sheikh muhammad ilyas attar qadiri [new]Sheikh Muhammad Ilyas Attar Qadiri is a leader of the Qadiriyyah, Radaviyyah, Attariya branchof the Qadri Sufi order. He is also the founder of Dawat-e-Islami, a Sunni Barelwi revivalistmovement centering on the propagation of Islamic knowledge. Qadiri is a widely-respected sheikhwith a significant global following.102

Scholarlyal qadri, dr muhammad tahirAl Qadri is a politician, professor, and the founder of Minhaj ul Qur’an International Worldwide,an organization whose aim is to establish unity and understanding between communities. He isalso the founder of the Minhaj Welfare Foundation that provides welfare for the needy. Al Qadrihas authored some 450 published works and given more than 6,000 lectures on economics andpolitical studies, religious and social philosophy, law and medical sciences which are aired oninternational satellite channels such as QTV, PTV Prime and the Islam Channel. He also served asa jurist consult (legal advisor) on Islamic law for the Supreme Court and the Federal Shariah Courtof Pakistan and has worked as a specialist adviser on Islamic curricula for the Federal Ministry ofEducation of Pakistan.SINGAPOREkassim, ustaz ibrahimIbrahim Kassim is one of Singapore’s most respected Islamic scholars. A judge of the sharia courtin Singapore and the sheikh of the Chistiyyah Sufi tariqah in Singapore, Kassim is deeply involvedin the rehabilitation of Jemaah Islamiyah members that are under detention for plotting terroristattacks in Singapore. This rehabilitation work has garnered international attention as a model forthe reintegration of suspected terrorists that could be replicated in other countries.EuropeBOSNIAkaric, dr enes [new]Dr Enes Karic is a professor of Qur’anic studies and history of the interpretation of Qur’an at theFaculty of Islamic Studies with the University of Sarajevo. He previously served as the Minister ofEducation, Science, Culture and Sports with the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina from 1994-1996.Dr Karic has written extensively on the Qur’an and Islamic studies in English and Bosnian.ESTONIAharsinov, his emminence, ahmedAhmed Harisnov is the mufti of Estonia; he has campaigned for the right of Estonia’s Muslimsto have their own mosque. He also carries out important work as a public figure assuring thecountry’s Christian population that Muslims are a peaceful people. Islam has been present inEstonia for over 100 years, but apprehension about Islam has grown since September 11, 2001,putting the spotlight on figures such as Harsinov.FRANCEbencheikh, sheikh sohaibBencheikh is a theologian, a modernist former grand mufti of Marseilles, and one of the mostinfluential social leaders and scholars of Islam in France. Bencheikh is also head of the HigherInstitute for Islamic Studies. Marseilles is a cosmopolitan city with a huge population of Muslimsof North African ancestry. Bencheikh is a passionate advocate for integration of the Muslimpopulation, hijab rights and women’s involvement as imams in the Muslim community.GERMANYdenffer, dr ahmed von [new]Dr Ahmed von Denffer is an influential figure in Germany. He has been pivotal in German Islamand is a prominent author and translator of Islamic publications in the German language. He haspublished works on the Qur’an, the Islamic Sciences, and Christian-Muslim relations.hoffman, his excellency ambassador, dr muradHoffman is an author and Muslim intellectual, respected by both Muslims and non-Muslims. Heis a prominent former German diplomat and author of several books on Islam, including Journey103

Scholarlyto Makkah and The Future of Islam in the West and the East, published in 2008. Many of his booksand essays focus on Islam’s place in the West and in the United States—specifically in light of thepost-9/11 climte.SWITZERLANDramadan, dr tariqRamadan is Europe’s preeminent Muslim intellectual writing about Islam in public life. He is aprofessor of Islamic Studies at Oxford University and formerly a visiting professor at the ErasmusUniversity in Rotterdam. He is the president of the European Muslim Network think tank based inBrussels and is an advisor to the European Union on religion. Ramadan has written 15 books andproduced over 100 recordings. Since a six-year bar on entrance to the US, Ramadan made his firstpublic appearance in New York in April 2010.TURKEYkaraman, prof. dr hayrettinKaraman is one of the most prominent scholars of Islam in Turkey, and the preeminent scholar ofIslamic law (sharia) there. He publishes popular and academic texts extensively and writes a weeklycolumn in the newspaper ‘Yeni Safak’ (New Dawn). His long career in academia has garnered himmuch respect. At the pinnacle of his career Karaman was a dean at Turkey’s premier university,Marmara University. He left this position at the height of the headscarf controversy in 2001.UNITED KINGDOMmotala, hadhrat sheikhul hadith maulana yusuf [new]Shiekh Motala is the founder of the Dar ul Ulum Al Arabia Al Ilamia in Holcombe, Bury,Lancashire. He is a scholars’ scholar—many of the United Kingdom’s young Deobandi scholarshave studied under his patronage. Sheikh Motala has an expansive network of students andeducational institutions which he has founded.winter, timothy (sheikh abdal-hakim murad)Winter is Britain’s leading Muslim scholar, and also one of the most well-respected Westerntheologians in the Muslim world. He has written on various topics ranging from British Muslimhistory, theological discourse and social issues. Winter teaches theology at Cambridge Universityand is the director of Studies in Theology at Wolfson College in Cambridge. His advice is frequentlysought on the issue of Muslims in Britain.OceaniaAUSTRALIAaly, waleedAly is an Australian academic, lawyer, and Muslim community leader. He is a frequent andauthoritative commentator on Australian Muslim affairs in the media. He currently works as alecturer at the Global Terrorism Research Centre at Monash University, Melbourne.el imam, sheikh fehmiEl Imam is one of Australia’s most senior Islamic scholars and leaders. As a founding memberof Victoria’s Islamic community, he has had a major influence on the development of Islam inAustralia. He is secretary general of the Victorian Board of Imams and also senior imam at thePreston Mosque in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.104

ScholarlyCentral AmericaEL SAVADORqattan, dr ahmadQattan is a Muslim convert of Palestinian origin. He is the co-founder of the Arab Islamic Centerin Salvador. Qattan has been an educator and da’wa activist for the past 17 years, and has publishedmore than 100,000 copies of an introductory text on Islam, which has been read by an estimated250,000 people.MEXICOrojas, isaRojas is a da’wa activist and author of numerous articles about Islam in Spanish and French. He isalso a student of religion at Al Madina University, Saudi Arabia. Around 4 million people or morehave read his articles and translations which have been published on various Islamic websites. Heis one of the writers and editors at Islamweb.net.South AmericaARGENTINAgarcia, prof. muhammad isaGarcia was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He studied Arabic, Islamic studies and theology atUmm Al Qura University in Mecca. He is a specialist in the origins of prophetic tradition. Garciahas translated numerous books, with many only available to a Spanish-speaking readership in histranslation. He is also the author of a series named ‘Know Islam’.CHILEtorres, sheikh ismailIsmail Torres is a distinguished sheikh and da’wa activist in Chile. The Muslim community inChile remains a small but growing pocket in South America, with communities in Santiago,Temuco and Iquique.COLOMBIAal colombi, dawood abdl ghafurAl Colombi is one of the most well-respected Muslim scholars in Colombia. He is the mostactive and influential da’wa activist in Colombia, participating in the conversions of over 1000people. He is the founder of a mosque in the city of Pereira and of the Centro Cultural IslamicoColombian da’wa project. Al Colombi hosts conferences and awareness lectures for Muslims andnon-Muslims, and is acknowledged for his talent for conveying the principles of Islam to non-Muslims. He is also the author of several articles in Spanish and has created the only library ofIslamic books in Colombia.ECUADORdassum, dr laylaDassum is the vice president and co-founder of the Islamic Centre of Ecuador and the director ofthe Muslim Ladies Committee. A well-known da’wa activist in Ecuador, Dassum hosts conferencesand awareness lectures locally and internationally and teaches women about Islam and the Qur’an.Dassum has represented her country in many conferences in the Islamic world.105

ScholarlyNorth AmericaCANADAmattson, ingridIngrid Mattson is the director of the Islamic Chaplaincy Program and professor at the HartfordSeminary in Hartford, Connecticut. In 2001 she was elected vice president of ISNA and in 2006 shewas elected president, becoming the first woman and the first convert to hold such high positionswithin the organization. ISNA is the largest Muslim organization in North America, and is anumbrella organization for numerous local and regional Muslim societies and groups in the UnitedStates and Canada.UNITED STATESal alwani, dr taha jaberAl Alwani is an active academic and organizer in the international community of Sunni Muslimscholars. He is the president of Cordoba University, a former chairman of The Fiqh Councilof North America, a member of the OIC’s International Islamic Fiqh Academy, and a formerpresident of the US office of the International Institute of Islamic Thought. Al Alwani is also theauthor of acclaimed works such as: Source Methodology in Islamic Jurisprudence; Towards a Fiqhfor Minorities; The Ethics of Disagreement in Islam; Ijtihad; and The Quran and the Sunnah: TheTime-Space Factor. He is also a senior fellow of the Aal al Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought inJordan.estes, sheikh yusufSheikh Yusuf Estes is a well-known Muslim preacher of a moderate Salafi background who lecturesall over the world. He is the former national Muslim chaplain for the US Bureau of Prisons anduses technology, such as uploading lectures on the Internet and appearing on television to spreadIslam in an accessible manner. His website has over 8 million unique hits.keller, sheikh nuhKeller is a scholar and specialist in Islamic law. He holds the distinction of writing the firstIslamic legal work in a European language to receive certification from Al Azhar—the secondoldest university in the world, founded in 975 CE. Keller possesses a number of ijazas in Islamicjurisprudence, and teaches students from all over the world. He is a Sheikh of the Shadilyyah Sufiorder.nyang, sulayman sNyang is a professor of African Studies at Howard University and writes extensively on Islam inAfrica. He is a former deputy ambassador and head of chancery at the Gambian Embassy in SaudiArabia, and a former consultant to several national and international agencies.shakir, imam zaidShakir is an influential Islamic scholar currently affiliated with the Zaytuna Institute. He foundedMasjid al Islam in Connecticut, founded the Tri-State Muslim Education Initiative and theConnecticut Muslim Coordinating Committee. He has worked with Shiekh Hamza Yusuf todevelop the first American Islamic seminary, which graduated its inaugural class in 2008. Theyhave since co-founded Zaytuna College, which aspires to become a fully accredited institution.siddiqui, prof. dr muzammil hProfessor Siddiqui is chairman of the Fiqh Council of North America. He is a prolific lecturer,adjunct professor of Islamic Studies, director of the Islamic Society of the Orange County Mosque,with around 7,000 members, and is the former president of the Islamic Society of North America.He is very active in interfaith efforts and is the author of a weekly column on Islamic law.106

POLITICALMiddle East and North AfricaALGERIAbouteflika, his excellency president abdelazizBouteflika is the incumbent president of Algeria. During his ten years of presidency, Bouteflikahas succeeded in ending a civil war that ran throughout the nineties and was one of the bloodiestcivil unrests of the 20th century in the Muslim world. Peace was reached through a process ofreconciliation and amnesty that was strongly supported by the Islamist and Nationalist belligerents.haddam, anwar nHaddam is the president and co-founder of the Movement for Liberty and Social Justice (MLJS).He was elected to the Algerian parliament under the Islamic Front for Salvation in 1991. A leadingactivist, he is an initiator and signatory of the National Contract for a Peaceful and PoliticalSolution to the Algerian Crisis.EGYPTelbaradei, dr mohamedFormer director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Dr ElBaradei has beenrecognized globally as a contributor to world peace through his work on non-proliferation andnuclear power regulation with the UN. In the run-up to the 2011 Egyptian presidential election,ElBaradei leads a reform movement to allow independents to run in the forthcoming election.He is widely-endorsed as a potential candidate himself, but has made no public acceptance of thenomination. He currently leads the newly-formed National Association for Change, a non-partymovement that calls for general reforms to Egypt’s constitution.mubarak, his excellency president muhammad hosniMuhammad Hosni Mubarak is the fourth and current President of the Arab Republic of Egypt.Trained as a fighter pilot in the 1960s and 1970s, he was appointed by then-president Sadat as vicepresident in 1975, becoming the vice chairman of the National Democratic Party (NDP) in 1978.Mubarak has effective control over all aspects of Egyptian government. Egypt, a notable soft powerplayer in the region, is one of the cultural hubs of the Islamic world, and is host to a number ofhistorically significant institutions, not least of which is Al Azhar University—the second oldestuniversity in the world, founded in 975 CE. The choice of Cairo for Obama’s speech to the Muslimworld was not accidental.IRANahmadinejad, his excellency president mahmoudAhmadinejad is president of Iran and a former University of Science and Industry lecturer. Hesupported the Iranian Islamic Revolution and was a founder of the students’ union that occupiedthe US Embassy in 1979. Ahmadinejad served as governor of Arbadil province and mayor ofTehran. As president, he has enfranchised the politics of the nation’s large conservative, workingclass population, which makes him incredibly influential. In doing so, he also marginalized Iran’srising middle class, a fact that curtails some of his influence on Iranian society.ebtekar, her excellency dr masoumehEbtekar was the first female vice president of Iran in 1997 and has remained at the center of therevolutionary movement in Iran, since 1979, and has occupied the highest political office to bereached by a woman in the country. She is a considerable force in the reformist movement in Iran,and one of the founding members of the reformist Islamic Iran Participation Front.107

Politicaljalili, saaedJalili is secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and the chief Iranian nuclearnegotiator. The nuclear issue is central to both Iranian domestic politics—nuclear technologyhas become somewhat of a goal for Iran—and international geopolitics, as many countries,particularly Israel and the US, are wary of further nuclear proliferation. Jalili was brought in afterformer negotiator Ali Larajani resigned. His role is pivotal in the future security of the IslamicRepublic of Iran and the success of its nuclear power program.khatami, his excellency mohammadMohammad Khatami is a reformist politician who served as president of Iran from 1997 to 2005.Although he was ineffective at bringing around many of the changes from his mandate that weresought by Iranian society, he remains a figurehead of the reformist movement. Khatami was electedto the first Majles al Shura and is known internationally for his proposal in 2000 promoting theUN ‘Dialogue Among Civilizations’ initiative, a movement he hoped would counter the prevailingsentiment that there was a ‘Clash of Civilizations’.rafsanjani, his excellency ayatollah ali akbar hashemiAyatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani is a reformer who served as president of Iran from 1989to 1997. He currently holds the position of head of the Expediency Council, a position designedto settle disputes between the Iranian parliament and the Council of Guardians. It is one of themost senior positions in Iranian politics as the Expediency Council has the power to dismiss theSupreme Leader.IRAQdari, harithDari is the current leader of the Sunni Ulema Union, the largest association of Sunni Muslimscholars in Iraq. He is a key figure in the movement to expel foreign troops from Iraq, and hasgiven religious sanction to many of the controversial tactics of insurgents, such as kidnapping,arguing that there is historical precedent for such practices.ISRAELsalah, sheikh raedRaed Salah is the head of the northern branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel. He is widelyrespected in the Islamic world as a spiritual leader. From 1989 to 2001 Salah also served as themayor of Umm al Fahm, an Israeli-Arab city.LEBANONhariri, his excellency saad raficSaad Rafic Hariri is the prime minister designate of Lebanon. He is a Lebanese businessman andthe son of the late Prime Minister Rafic Hariri. Since his father’s assassination in 2005 he hasassumed presidency of the Future Movement. He entered parliament in 2005, and remains one ofthe most prominent leaders of the March 14th group.PALESTINEabbas, his excellency president mahmoudAbbas, also known as Abu Mazen, is the president of the Palestinian National Authority a cofounderof Fatah, and chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization. Considered a moderate,he advocated negotiations with Israel and initiated dialogue with Jewish and pacifist movements inthe 1970s. Much was expected of his presidency of the Palestinian National Authority and his lackof ability to offer any significant progress has diluted his influence both as a political leader andas a peacemaker. However his position ensures that he remains a central figure in global politics.haniyah, ismailHaniyah is a senior political leader of Hamas and one of two disputed prime ministers of the108

PoliticalPalestinian National Authority, a matter under political and legal dispute. After being dismissed byPresident Mahmoud Abbas, Haniyah continued to exercise prime ministerial authority in the GazaStrip. Haniyah is a popular figure able to broaden the appeal of Hamas in Gazan politics.SUDANal bashir, his excellency president omarAl Bashir is the current president of Sudan and head of the National Congress Party. He came topower in a coup in 1989 and has since instituted elements of sharia law throughout the country,including in Christian and animist areas. The ICC issued an arrest warrant for al Bashir in 2009,indicting him on five counts of crimes against humanity (murder, extermination, forcible transfer,torture and rape) and two counts of war crimes (pillaging and intentionally directing attacksagainst civilians).SYRIAal assad, his excellency president basharAl Assad is an Alawite Shi’a and president of the Syrian Arab Republic. He has broad appeal as aleader of a predominantly Muslim country through a number of reforms that he instituted. Hechanged the law soon after taking office to allow the wearing of hijab in public schools. He alsobegan permitting soldiers to pray in mosques. Assad has made an increasing amount of referencesto Syria’s Islamic heritage in official speeches, signaling that Islam is not as feared as it once was bythe Syrian government.TUNISIAghannushi, rashidGhannoushi has influenced Tunisian politics since the 1980s when he founded the RenaissanceParty. The Renaissance Party is an Islamic political party whose principles and ideals have beenwidely accepted by Tunisians. Ghannoushi continues to lead the party in exile in London, andwrites prolifically. Although seen as a radical in Tunisia, he is respected throughout the world as aproponent of Islamic democracy.UNITED ARAB EMIRATESal maktoum, his highness amir sheikh mohammed bin rashid [2009:21]Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum is the Ruler of Dubai and the Prime Minister of theUnited Arab Emirates. Although his influence has ebbed, especially in light of the financial crisisand national debt facing Dubai and its major investment company, Dubai World, al Maktoum isa well-respected politician in the Middle East. He has launched multiple charity initiatives fromDubai, such as ‘Dubai Cares’ which has donated over $910 million to youth education initiatives inimpoverished countries since its inception in 2007.al nahyan, his highness sheikh khalifa bin zayedAl Nahyan is the president of one of the fastest-growing nations in the world, the United ArabEmirates. He has significant power over the direction in which the Emirates go and has very clearopinions about Islam’s role in the economic development of the UAE, saying that women areaccorded the right to work where they please as long as a respectful environment is maintained.Under his leadership, the UAE has seen significant economic growth and the renaming of the BurjDubai to Burj Khalifa is considered a symbol of Al Nahyan’s financial power.Middle AfricaCHADdeby itno, his excellency president idrissDeby is the president of Chad and the head of the Patriotic Salvation Movement. He took powerin 1990, leading a predominantly Muslim army. Muslims make up around 55 percent of Chad’s 11109

Politicalmillion people. Deby holds great domestic authority through his ability to consolidate power inChad. Chad was previously affected by a high frequency of coup d’états. He participated in thenegotiated peace agreement in February 2010 between the rebel groups of the Justice and EqualityMovement and the Sudanese government.East AfricaSOMALIAahmed, his excellency president sheikh sharif sheikhAhmed is the ninth president of Somalia and former commander in chief of the Islamic CourtsUnion—a previously militaristic organization that had significant control over the country, whichhas now reformed into a Somalian political party. Ahmed was educated in sharia in Sudan andLibya and is a Hafiz of the Qur’an (one who has memorized the entire Qur’an) and the spiritualleader of the Idriseeyah order of Sufi Islam in Somalia.aweys, sheikh hassan dahirAweys is an influential Somali leader. He is a Salafi and the former head of the Shura Council of theIslamic Courts Union of Somalia. In April 2009 Aweys returned to Somalia and declared war onthe African Peace Keeping Forces (AMISOM). Although marginalized from mainstream Somalipolitics, he continues to enjoy significant support from the Al Shabbab resistance movement inSomalia.West AfricaMALItouré, his excellency president amadou toumaniTouré is the president of Mali which has a 95 percent majority of Muslims. He overthrew themilitary ruler, Moussa Traoré in 1991, then handed power to civilian authorities the next year.Touré won the presidential elections in 2002, with a broad coalition of support and was easily reelectedin 2007.AsiaAFGHANISTANkarzai, his excellency president hamidHamid Karzai was elected as president of Afghanistan for a full five-year term in September 2004,becoming the first directly-elected president in the country’s history. He was then reelected to asubsequent five-year term in a controversial election in 2009. Karzai has been able to build upconsiderable support from the Afghans. Under his presidency Afghanistan’s economy has beengrowing rapidly for the first time in many years. His administration does, however, suffer fromwidespread allegations of corruption.AZERBAIJANaliyev, his excellency president ilhamAliyev is the current president of Azerbaijan and the chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party.Although not outwardly religious, he is a Muslim and his advocacy of a moderate cultural Islamis representative of the demands of the population of the country. Azerbaijan, with a populationof approximately 7.5 million Muslims is an active member of the Organization of the IslamicConference.BANGLADESHwazed, her excellency sheikha hasinaSheikha Hasina Wazed is the current prime minister of Bangladesh and the president of one of110

PoliticalBangladesh’s major political parties, the Awami League. Poverty alleviation has become a priorityfor one of the poorest but most populous Muslim countries in the world, under Wazed’s leadership.Wazed is the daughter of Muijibur Rahman, the first president of Bangladesh.INDONESIAdjalal, dr dino patti [new]Djalal is the presidential spokesperson for President Yudhoyono, and is also a diplomat, speechwriter, youth activist, academic, and author of a national best seller.MALAYSIAabidin, his majesty spb yang dipertuan agong tuanku mizan zainal [new]The Yang DiPertuan Agong is the constitutional monarch of Malaysia, with a population of 25.9million. He is also the Sultan of Terengganu and currently one of the youngest and longest-reigningMalay rulers. As King, he is also considered the Head of Islam.ibrahim, his excellency dr anwarIbrahim is a Malaysian politician of global stature. He is the former deputy prime minister ofMalaysia, former finance minister and is currently the leader of the Malaysian opposition coalition.He is well-known for his liberal Islamic stance on politics, and is incredibly influential as a leaderand role model for young people. Ibrahim’s coalition now controls four of 13 state governments. Ifled by Anwar, it would have a fair chance of winning the next national election in 2013.ismail, dr wan azizah wan [new]Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail is the president of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (People’s Justice Party). Shewas Leader of the Opposition Party until she stepped down for Anwar Ibrahim.razak, najib tunRazak became the 6th prime minister of Malaysia in 2009. He is focused on domestic economicissues and political reform, promotes economic liberalization, and has stated that Malaysia is ledby Islamic principles and is not a secular state. Razak is also the president of the United MalaysNational Organization (UMNO).PAKISTANahmed, qazi hussain [new]Qazi Hussain Ahmed is a former Amir of the Jamaat-e-Islami Islamist political party in Lahore,which is an influential network of millions of Muslims involved in missionary work, Islamiceducation, and some relief efforts. The Jamaat-e-Islami has been labeled extremist for its tiesto jihadist movements in Pakistan, however Qazi Ahmed and the organization continue to bepopular and influential with their missionary campaigns.kayani, general ashfaqKayani is the Pakistani army’s chief of staff. He has immense influence as the Islamic Republicof Pakistan’s leading military figure. Kayani has particular influence currently as the countryundergoes continued unrest with significant amounts of power in the hands of non-governmentcontrolledmilitia, and the federal government finds ways to regain control.lodi, her excellency ambassador dr maleehaMaleeha Lodi is a journalist and diplomat. She previously served on the UN Secretary General’sAdvisory Board on Disarmament Affairs and as Pakistani ambassador to the US and Britain. Lodireceived the President’s Award of Hilal-e-Imtiaz for public service in Pakistan. She was recentlygiven the prestigious honor of being named a counsel on the Council of the Institute of StrategicStudies; Europe’s premier think tank.rahman, maulana fazlur [new]Maulana Fazlur Rahman is the Secretary General of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal coalition of111

Politicalreligious parties in Pakistan’s parliament. He is also the president of the Deobandi religio-politicalorganization, Jamiat Ulema-Islam, or Assembly of Islamic Scholars. Rahman leads one of twomain branches of the expansive organization which is a member of the National Assembly ofPakistan. He is widely-respected as a dedicated scholar of Islam and is a seasoned politician.PHILIPPINESmisuari, nurNur Misuari is a revolutionary leader of the Bangsamoro and began his campaign for bettertreatment of the people of Mindanao by the Manila government through the MindanaoIndependence Movement (MIM) in the 1970s, which later became the Moro National LiberationFront (MNLF). Under Misuari’s leadership the MNLF challenged the government until the TripoliAgreement was negotiated in 1976.SINGAPORErasheed, his excellency zainul abidinRasheed is the senior minister of state for foreign affairs for Singapore and the mayor of the NorthEastern district of Singapore. Rasheed’s activities have a focus on Singapore’s diplomatic relationswith the Muslim world, and also on sharing knowledge about Singapore’s experience of interculturaland inter-religious relations with nations with substantial Muslim populations. Rasheedis widely known domestically, having held numerous positions of leadership throughout his careerin journalism, organized labor and representing Singapore’s large percentage of Muslims.TAJIKISTANrahmon, his excellency emomalii [new]Rasheed has been the President of Tajikistan since 1994. He has done much to establish a distinctTajik identity, and has called for closer ties with other Muslim nations in the region.THAILANDpitsuwan, his excellency dr surinPitsuwan is the secretary general of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and aformer foreign minister of Thailand. He is an advocate for better relations with Muslims in SouthEast Asia, speaking out against the marginalization of Muslim communities. ASEAN is one of themost important international organizations in the world, coordinating the economies and politicsof some of the fastest-growing middle-income economies in the world.TURKMENISTANberdimuhamedow, his excellency president gurbanguly mälikgulyýewiçBerdimuhamedow has been the president of Turkmenistan since 21 December, 2006. In April2007, Berdimuhamedow visited Islamic holy sites in Medina furthering the relationship he seeksto build with the broader Muslim world. He is a moderate Muslim traditionalist who has soughtto normalize life in Turkmenistan after the more unorthodox religious beliefs of his predecessorNiyazov.EuropeDENMARKkhader, nasserKhader is Denmark’s leading Muslim politician. As a member of parliament, he has representedboth the Social Liberal Party and the Liberal Alliance, the latter until 5 January, 2009 as foundingleader. A leading proponent of the peaceful co-existence of democracy and Islam, he establisheda new movement, Moderate Muslims (later renamed Democratic Muslims), when the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy started.112

PoliticalFRANCEbechari, dr mohammadBechari, born in Morocco, is a leader and prolific and dynamic public figure in the landscapeof European Islam. He is the president of the French National Federation of Muslims, one ofthe leading entities organizing Islam in France. He is also the secretary general of the IslamicEuropean Conference, a Europe-wide umbrella organization that seeks to be a single organizationrepresenting European Muslims at a European level. Bechari is the founder of the AvicennaInstitute in Lille and is the vice president of the French Council of the Muslim Faith.KOSOVOthaçi, his excellency prime minister hashimThaçi was formerly a political leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). The KLA was theguerrilla group that fought against Serb forces in the late 1990s. Thaçi is the prime minister of thenewly formed Kosovan national government. Kosovo itself is significant as an important cause forinternational Muslim solidarity, and is the most recently recognized Muslim-majority country inthe world.RUSSIAkadyrov, his excellency president ramzanPresident of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov is the son of former president, rebel leader and preacherAkhmad Kadyrov. He maintains an iron grip on Chechnya’s government and institutions.minnikhanov, his excellency president dr rustam [new]Dr Minnikhanov is the newly-elected president of the Republic of Tatarstan of the RussianFederation. Tatarstan is an affluent region in the center of Russia, and its religious culture has beenlauded as a model of the combination of Islam and European culture. President Minnikhanov isthe former Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan, and was nominated for the presidency byRussian President Dmitry Medvedev.yevloyev, akhmedYevloyev is an important rebel leader based in Ingushetia, a region bordering Chechnya. He is partof the broader Caucasian Front movement, which is trying to set up an Islamic free-state on thesouthern border of Russia.SPAINbakkach el aamrani, mostafa [new]El Aamrani is a notable writer, poet and journalist of Moroccan descent. In early March 2010 hecreated the Partido Renacimeinto y Unión España or PRUNE party as its founding president. ThePRUNE party is the first national Islamic political party in Spain and is based on a platform of‘justice, equality, and solidarity’.TURKEYdavutoglu, his excellency ahmetDavutoglu is the current minister of foreign affairs of Turkey. He is considered the most importantfigure for redefining the new framework of Turkish foreign policy under the AK Party’s rule.Before becoming the foreign minister, Davutoglu served as chief foreign policy advisor to PMsGül and Erdogan. He is influential both as a politician and a well-respected, and successful scholarof international relations and the Muslim world.erbakan, his excellency prof. necmettinErbakan is a former prime minister of Turkey (1996-1997), and the founder of the National Viewmovement from which the current prime minister and president hail. Erbakan’s election to primeminister was the first time an Islamic party, the Welfare Party, had been elected to govern in modernTurkish history. He has advocated a stronger relationship between Turkey and the Muslim world,113

Politicalwhich much of the Turkish electorate supports. He remains one of the most well-known Turkishpoliticians in the Muslim world.UNITED KINGDOMahmed, lord nazirNazir Ahmed is the first Muslim member of the House of Lords, the upper chamber of the UnitedKingdom’s bicameral parliament. Membership is for life, and underlines the respect and trust heenjoys in the British establishment. Ahmed has worked on issues relating to Islam and Britain’sMuslim community. He also works internationally to promote dialogue and freedom of religion.ali, dr anas al shaikhAnas al Shaikh Ali is the chair of the small but dynamic Association of Muslim Social Scientists(AMSS) and the director of the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIT) London Office.The AMSS has been active in producing policy papers and publications on issues of concern to theUK’s Muslim population for many years, but was thrust into mainstream domestic politics afterthe events of 7 July, 2005 in London. Ali has been at the forefront of a number of internationalcampaigns for better relations between faiths, specifically in promoting the ‘A Common Word’initiative and also the fight against the demonization of Islam in media, founding the UK’s Forumagainst Islamophobia and Racism.warsi, lady sayeedaWarsi is the most senior Muslim in the Conservative Party. She is the Shadow Minister forCommunity Cohesion and Social Action, and a member of the shadow cabinet. She was part of thesuccessful mission by British Muslim politicians to Sudan to secure the release of an imprisonedBritish teacher in 2007.North AmericaUNITED STATESellison, representative keithKeith Ellison is the first Muslim to serve in the US Congress. He is serving his second term in theFifth Congressional District of Minnesota in the United States House of Representatives and alsoserves on the Financial Services and Foreign Affairs Committees. Representative Ellison has beenan outspoken advocate for American Muslims and his trips to the Muslim world, such as a visit toPalestine in the aftermath of the Israeli attacks in 2009, have garnered international support for hisoutreach to the Muslim world.hussain, rashadRashad Hussain is the first Indian-American to be appointed Deputy Associate Counsel to thepresident; he was appointed by President Obama. He is a former trial attorney at the US Departmentof Justice, a former legislative assistant to the House Judiciary Committee, and a former editor ofthe Yale Law Journal. Hussain was subsequently named the US envoy to the Organization of theIslamic Conference, in March 2010. He is lauded for his balance of secular and religious leadershipas a young Muslim lawyer and Hafiz (one who has memorized the entire Qur’an), playing a keyrole in advising the American President on US-Muslim world affairs.114

ADMINISTRATIVEMiddle East and North AfricaALGERIAghlamallah, his excellency bouabdellahGhlamallah is Algeria’s long-standing Minister of Waqf and Islamic Affairs, a position he has heldsince the election of current President Bouteflika in 1999. He previously held high level positions inthe Ministry of Education throughout the 1980s and 1990s where he went from focusing on basiceducation to the organization of Qur’anic schools and religious education. Ghlamallah maintainsa strong commitment to France’s Algerian Muslim community.EGYPTal husseini, dr abd allah [new]Dr Abd Allah al Husseini was appointed to the Presidency of the Al Azhar University upon theresignation of Sheikh Ahmad Muhammad al Tayeb in March 2010. Al Husseini is formerly the vicepresident for educational and student affairs at Al Azhar.IRANjafari, general mohammad ali [2009:41]General Mohammad Ali Jafari is the Chief Commander of the Iranian Army of the Guardians ofthe Islamic Revolution (also known as the Revolutionary Guard), an elite faction of the Iranianarmed forces—separate from the army—that reports directly to the Velayat-e Faqih. Jafari is theleader of 200,000 troops, close to 300,000 reservists, and the 20,000 strong highly trained QudsForce. The Revolutionary Guard Corps occupies cabinet positions, parliament seats, and controls500 companies in various business industries. The Revolutionary Guard also exerts influencethrough funding and directing Shi‘a movements abroad such as Hezbollah, and the Mahdi Army.Because of this, Jafari has a significant degree of control in Iraq.sobhani, his eminence ayatollah jafarSobhani is a leading member of the Council of Mujtahids in the Seminary of Qom; one of thetwo most important centers of learning in Twelver Shi’ism. He is the director of the Imam SadiqInstitute, Iran. His work in all areas of the Islamic sciences is widely known and receives criticalattention. Sobhani is a prolific writer having published over 300 scholarly works.vaez-tabasi, his eminence ayatollah abbasVaez-Tabasi is at the head of Iran’s single richest institution, the Holy Estate of Imam Reza. TheHoly Estate owns hundreds of companies and resources. Its revenue is supplemented by thedonations of the millions of pilgrims that make the journey to Mashhad, where Imam Reza (theeighth of the Twelver Imams) is buried.JORDANal abbadi, his excellency abdul salamAl Abbadi is the current secretary general of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy, based in SaudiArabia. The academy is the highest legal authority of the Organization of the Islamic Conference,and the highest non-sectarian Islamic legal authority in the Muslim world. Al Abbadi is a professorof Islamic jurisprudence, and former president of the Aal al Bayt University.farhan, ishaqFarhan is the leader of the Islamic Action Front (IAF). The IAF is the political arm of the MuslimBrotherhood in Jordan. Farhan is known as a moderate, and was an early advocate of theparticipation of women in the Brotherhood movement.115

AdministrativeLEBANONdaouk, amine mDaouk is the head of the Makassed Philanthropic Islamic Association of Beirut. Makassed is oneof the oldest modern Islamic development organizations in Lebanon. It started as an initiativeto make free education available to girls and has developed into a major Muslim developmentorganization, focusing on education, health care, and social issues.nashabeh, prof. dr hishamNashabeh is the chairman of the Board of Higher Education and the dean of education at theMakassed Association, Lebanon where he oversees the educational work of all the institutionsin the Makassed network. Nashabeh is also chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Institute ofPalestine Studies and the director of the Institute of Higher Islamic Studies, both based in Beirut.LIBYAN ARAB JAMAHIRIYAal sharif, prof. dr muhammad ahmedAl Sharif is the secretary general of the World Islamic Call Society (WICS), Tripoli. The WICSis one of the leading organizations working globally to promote the Islamic faith. It has workedlargely in Africa to spread the message of Islam and also for development work there. It is a hugenetwork of organizations with a powerful patron: Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.MOROCCOmodghari, his excellency dr abd al kabirModghari is the director of the Casablanca-based Bayt Mal al Quds agency of the Organization ofthe Islamic Conference, which is devoted to safeguarding the city of Jerusalem and its religious,architectural and cultural heritage, and also providing development assistance to the Palestinianpopulation and their institutions. Modghari was a former long-term Minister of Waqf and IslamicAffairs of the Kingdom of Morocco representing the late King Hassan II.OMANal khalili, his eminence sheikh ahmadSheikh al Khalili is the grand mufti of Oman. He is head of religious institutions there, and ischarged with ensuring that the religious teachings of Oman follow a moderate path. Al Khaliliissues fatwas on behalf of Oman’s establishment and represents Oman in Islamic events abroad.PALESTINEsabri, his eminence sheikh dr ikrima sa’idSabri is head of the Supreme Islamic Council, and a former grand mufti of Jerusalem and all ofPalestine. He remains an Imam of the Blessed Al Aqsa Mosque, preaching there regularly. Sabri isan important figure who is well-respected by many in Palestine for his forthright views on Israel.SAUDI ARABIAal faisal, his royal highness prince mohammedPrince Mohammed al Faisal has been groundbreaking in the area of Islamic finance, setting up thefirst modern bank run in compliance with the rules of sharia. The Faisal Islamic Bank of Egyptwas set up in Cairo in 1977, and aimed to be a model of Islamic banking for future initiatives.Islamic banking is founded on the premise of lending without interest. Prince al Faisal remains thechairman of the board of directors of the bank.olayan, lubnaLubna Olayan is internationally recognized as Saudi Arabia’s top businesswoman. As a leadinginvestor in the Saudi economy, chief executive officer of the Olayan Financing Company, and aboard member for organizations such as Saudi Hollandi Bank, Rolls Royce and Citigroup, amongothers, she is one of the most influential businesswomen in the world.116

Administrativeal rajhi, sulaiman abdul azizAl Rajhi owns the biggest stake in the world’s largest organization for Islamic banking and finance,Al Rajhi Bank, with roughly 60 outlets in Saudi Arabia and additional outlets in Malaysia. AsSaudi Arabia’s richest non-royals, members of the al Rajhi family are among the world’s leadingphilanthropists. They also run the SARR Foundation: a network of charities and researchorganizations.SYRIAalchaar, dr mohammed nedalAlchaar is the secretary general of the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic FinancialInstitutions (AAOIFI). The AAOIFI is an independent international corporate organizationsupported by its 200 members from 45 countries around the globe which comprise the internationalIslamic banking and finance industry. It is one of the key organizations creating standards for theIslamic banking industry.Southern AfricaSOUTH AFRICAhendricks, maulana igsaanHendricks is the president of the Muslim Judicial Council of Cape Town. The Muslim JudicialCouncil is one of the central Islamic organizations in South Africa, doing educational work aswell as social work for the Muslim community. The organization runs the International PeaceUniversity of South Africa (IPSA), and oversees administration of Cape Town’s Al Azhar Institute.Middle AfricaCHADabakar, sheikh hussain hassanSheikh Hussain Hassan Abakar is the Imam of the Muslims of Chad and the chairman of theSupreme Council of Islamic Affairs in Chad. He is also a founding member of the Muslim WorldLeague (MWL). Abakar oversees the activities of the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs inimplementing educational and cultural programs through Islamic schools, educational books andtraining courses for imams. He has been important in fundraising for the education of Muslimsin Chad.East AfricaMALAWIking’ombe, sheikh amanKing’ombe is the Spiritual Advisor of the Celebrations of the Birth of the Prophet Muhammad.He is a cleric responsible for the organization of the festivities. The festivities are attended bythousands of Muslims from around Africa. In 2009 King’ombe extended an invitation to theChristian population of Malawi to partake in the festival.ZIMBABWEmenk, mufti ismail musa [new]Mufti Ismail Musa Menk is the director of the Daarul Ilm (Islamic Educational Centre) of theMajlisul Ulama. The Majlisul Ulama Zimbabwe is an Islamic welfare organization which caters tothe needs of the Muslim population of Zimbabwe, especially in terms of Islamic education. Menkis a noted scholar in eastern Africa and also lectures internationally.117

AdministrativeWest AfricaMAURITANIAbah, prof. dr mohammed el mokhtar ouldBah is the president of the Chinguetti Modern University, Mauritania. Chinguetti is a UNESCOWorld Heritage site because of its importance as a center of Islamic learning in the North Westcoast of Africa. This gives Bah a position with considerable historical and religious capital in WestAfrica.NIGERIAajibola, his excellency prince bolaPrince Bola Ajibola is the former head of the Nigerian High Commission in London and thepresident and founder of the Islamic Movement for Africa. He also served as the vice chairmanof the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague between 1991 and 1994. In 1994 PrinceAjibola was appointed Judge ad-hoc to the Permanent Court of International Arbitration, withrespect to the court’s deliberations on the land dispute between Nigeria and Cameroon. He alsoserved as the Attorney General and Minister of Justice in Nigeria. Most recently he founded theCrescent University, in Abeokuta, Nigeria. He is also a senior fellow of the Aal al Bayt Institute forIslamic Thought in Jordan.mohamed, imam ustaz musa [new]Imam Mohamed is the chief imam of the Abuja National Mosque in Nigeria. As the leading imamof the national mosque of Nigeria, Imam Mohamed is often the spokesperson for Islamic religiousaffairs in the country.AsiaAFGHANISTANgilani, pir sayyed ahmad [new]Gilani is a Sufi cleric of the Qadiriyya tariqa as well as the leader of the National Islamic Front ofAfghanistan, a moderate Islamic resistance organization. Since taking leadership of the Sufi order,Gilani has liberalized the tariqa and made it more welcoming to all.samim, dr abdul zahir shafiq [new]Dr Abdul Zahir Shafiq Samim has recently been appointed deputy minister for Islamic educationat the Ministry of Education in Afghanistan. Prior to his current position, Dr Samim served asdeputy minister at the Ministry of Hajj and Religious Affairs. He has made important contributionsto Islamic education in Afghanistan and has assisted the national commission in the formulationand planning of Islamic education in Afghanistan through the Ministry of Education.BANGLADESHrahman, mohammad fazlurRahman is the leader of the Islamic Foundation, Bangladesh. The Islamic Foundation is a quasigovernmentalorganization working under the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Bangladesh. Itschief aims are educational, and organizational, researching, publishing, offering scholarships andalso providing funding to maintain mosques. The head office of the Islamic Foundation is inDhaka, and is supported by six regional offices and 58 district offices. The organization runs sevenimam training centers and 29 centers for da’wa.CAMBODIAadam, h.e. zakaryya [new]H.E. Zakaryya Adam is a member of the Cambodian parliament, and serves as a member of theCommission on Education, Youth, Sport, Religious Affairs, Culture and Tourism. Previously, heheld the position of secretary of state in the Ministry of Cult and Religion. In addition to his118

Administrativegovernment service, H.E. Zakaryya Adam holds several other prominent positions in supportof the advancement of the Muslim community in Cambodia. He serves as vice president of theHighest Council for Islamic Religious Affairs, as the vice president of the Cambodian MuslimDevelopment Foundation (CMDF), general secretary for the Cambodian Islamic Center (CIC),and as a director of Cambodian Islamic Voice Radio. Adam has translated the Qur’an, as well asother Islamic books, from Arabic into the Khmer language for Cambodian readers; he has alsowritten a Melayu-Khmer dictionary.CHINAguangyuan, imam chen chenGuangyuan is the Grand Imam of China as well as the president of the Islamic Association ofChina and the president of the Chinese-Islamic Institute. He has a very important position, withChina’s roughly 20 million Muslims coming almost exclusively from minority groups. Guangyuan,has also recently spoken out in opposition to violence against Uighurs.arshad, mufti mohammadMohammad Arshad is the chief imam of Hong Kong and the khateeb (orator) of the largest mosquein Hong Kong. Arshad keeps good relations with the government, police and foreign consulates.Approximately 50,000 Muslims live in Hong Kong.INDIAbukhari, syed ahmad [new]Bukhari is the imam of the largest and best-known mosque in India, Jama Masjid.INDONESIAindrawati, sri mulyani [new]Sri Mulyani Indrawati is one of the most powerful women in the world and an Indonesianpolicymaker with an international profile. She was recently re-appointed as finance minister in2009. Since her appointment, Southeast Asia’s largest economy has become one of the fastestgrowingeconomies in the region, due in part to the combination of sound economic policies anda more stable political situation.mahfudz, sahal [new]Mahfudz was re-elected for a third term as chief of the consultative body (syuriah) of theNahdlatul Ulama in March 2010. Since 2000 he has been the head the Indonesia Ulema Council,which comprises both Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia’s most influential Islamicorganizations. The Ulama Council grants halal food certification and also actively produces fatwas.Besides being a dean of Nahdlatul Ulama Institute, Jepara, Sahal also manages Maslakul Huda, aPesantren that actively supports the economic development of the surrounding neighborhoodthrough its microfinance program.umar, dr nasaruddinNasaruddin is the director general of religious guidance at the Indonesian Ministry of ReligiousAffairs. He is also a rector at the Institute for Advanced Qur’anic Studies in Indonesia and secretarygeneral of the Nahdhatul Ulama Consultative Council.MALAYSIAnik mat, dato’ haji nick abdul aziz [2009:42]Dato’ Haji Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat is a Malaysian politician, an Islamic scholar and has been thechief minister of the State of Kelantan for the past 20 years. He holds the position of MursyidulAm—the religious guide—within the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS). As the religious guideof the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, Nik Mat is the spiritual leader of Malaysian Islamic politicsand holds very important sway over the tenor of politics in the nation. Nik Mat’s fundamentalistparty has close to one million members and enjoys strong support from the northern rural andconservative states such as Kelantan and Terengganu.119

AdministrativeMALDIVESsaeed, mohamed shaheem ali [new]Saeed is the minister of state for Islamic Affairs for the Republic of Maldives. His knowledge ofIslam has provided good leadership to his ministry, especially in the drafting of regulations underthe Religious Unity Act of the Maldives which, he believes, would provide a legal framework toprotect Islam. Saeed is also collaborating with the Maldives National Broadcasting Corporation tointroduce a new television channel which would focus on relating Islam to the broader issues ofsociety. He was a member of the World Islamic People’s Leadership and the Islamic Fiqh Academyin the Maldives.PAKISTANsiddiqui, dr anwar hussain [new]Siddiqui is the president of the International Islamic University in Islamabad, a school aiming toproduce scholars and practitioners able to use their Islamic learning to meet the economic, social,political, and intellectual needs of the ummah.SRI LANKAmufthi, m.i.m. rizvi [new]M.I.M. Rizvi Mufthi is the head of All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU), an organization thatplays an active role as the Islamic religious higher authority of Sri Lanka with 3000 active membersunder its 22 districts and 15 divisional branches. ACJU has recently established a Halal CertificationAuthority in Sri Lanka and also publishes a quarterly which lists halal-certified organisations andproducts. One of the pioneering scholars in the field of Islamic banking and finance, Mufthi is amember of the sharia advisory councils for a number of Islamic financial institutions in Sri Lanka.UZBEKISTANalemov, his eminence usmanAlemov has been the chief mufti of Uzbekistan since 2006. He is respected for his moderate stanceand proven record in coping with extremists in the Samarkand region where he was formerly amufti. Alemov was instrumental in making Tashkent the ISESCO Capital of Islamic Culture for2007.EuropeALBANIAkoci, hafiz sabriHafiz Sabri Koci is chairman of the Albanian Islamic Community, which is the country’s rulingIslamic body. He spent 27 years in a prison labour camp under the communist rule during whichhe authored many books about Islam. These works were so inspiring that he was elected as leaderof Albanian Muslims after his release.AUSTRIAshakfeh, annasShakfeh is the head of the Islamic Faith Community in Austria (IGGIOe). He has been itspresident for around a decade, building a close relationship with the Austrian state on communityintegration. Shakfeh also leads the Islamic Education Authority. In 2008 he was decorated for hisservices to the Republic of Austria by President Heinz Fischer.BELARUSvoronovich, ismail mukharemovichVoronovich runs the Muslim Spiritual Directorate of Belarus which is linked to a number of smallcommunities around Belarus, with the largest congregation based at a mosque in Slonim.120

AdministrativeCZECH REPUBLICsanka, vladimirVladimir Sanka is the vice president of The Islamic Centre in Prague. The Czech Republic is one ofthe least religious countries in Europe, however Sanka’s center bucks this trend, leading the fastestgrowingreligious community in Prague, and reflecting a larger movement throughout Europe.DENMARKpederson, abdul wahidAbdul Wahid Pederson is the vice president of Muslims in Dialogue, which promotes Islam withinDenmark. Pederson is also the principal of three elementary schools, vice chairman of the IslamicChristian Study Centre, foreign relations manager of the Muslim Council of Denmark, andsecretary general of the charity Danish Muslim Aid. He is the first imam to hold Friday sermonsin Danish.FINLANDdaher, okanOkan Daher is a leader of the Tatar Muslim population of Helsinki. Tatar Muslims have lived inFinland for centuries. He is influential in community relations with the Christian-majority societyof Finland by promoting ways to adapt flexibly while maintaining cultural heritage, and he is alsoinfluential through promoting relations with the various Tatar communities in Europe. Daher isalso head of the Islamic Community of Finland and an advisor to the President of the Republicof Finland.FRANCEmoussaoui, mohammed [new]Moussaoui is the president of the French Council on Muslim Faith. The CFCM was established in2003 by then Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy to be the ‘official’ representative body of the FrenchMuslim community. Council members are directly elected by French Muslims.ITALYpallavicini, imam yahya sergio yahePallavicini is an important figure in the religious life of Italian Muslims as well as in Europeanrelations with the Muslim world. He is vice president of CO.RE.IS (Comunità Religiosa Islamica;the Islamic Religious Community), Italy, the chairman of the ISESCO Council for Education andCulture in the West, and an advisor for Islamic affairs to the Italian minister of interior. Pallaviciniis also the imam of the al Wahid Mosque of Milan in Via Meda, where he organizes the trainingof imams in Italian. His father is Abd Al Wahid Pallavicini, the noted preacher and head of theAhamadiyyah Idrissiyyah Shadhiliyyah brotherhood in Italy.KOSOVOtrnava, his eminence sheikh naimNaim Trnava is the grand mufti of Kosovo. He is the leading religious figure in Kosovo, a newcountry, which emerged after an ethno-religious war that caused widespread loss of life anddestruction. Trnava is a key figure in the attempts of the country’s Muslim population to overcomethe horrors of war. He was instrumental in the creation of the Inter-Religious Council Organizationfor Interfaith Relations.PORTUGALvakil, abdool magid abdool karim [new]Abdool Magid Abdool Karim Vakil is the founder and president of the Islamic Community(Comunidade Islâmica de Lisboa), the co-founder and president of the Abrahamic Forum ofPortugal (Forum Abraâmico de Portugal) and a member of the Committee for Religious Freedomof the Ministry of Justice of Portugal. He is one of the leading economists from the region and hasrecieved several awards for his work from the Portuguese goverment.121

AdministrativeRUSSIAnasibullahoglu, mufti cafer [new]Cafer Nasibullahoglu is the imam of the St Petersburg mosque. He is also the mufti of St Petersburg,which is home to approximately 700 thousand Muslims. His diverse congregation consists ofMuslims of Tatar, Kazakh, Uzbek, Tajik, and Arab origin, among others, and the sermon at StPetersburg mosque is often conducted in Arabic, Tatar, and Russian.SWEDENbin ouda, helenaBin Ouda is the chairwoman of the Muslim Council of Sweden, which is the main representativebody for Muslims living in Sweden. The council is an umbrella organization representing a numberof Islamic organizations in the country and currently has nine member organizations, with a sumtotal of about 100,000 members.SWITZERLANDmaizar, hisham [new]Hisham Maizar is president of the Federation of Islamic Organizations of Switzerland. TheFIOS was established as an umbrella organization for Islamic movements in Switzerland and hasmember organizations representing over 100 ethnic groups including Swiss, Albanians, Arabs,Bosnians, Turks, and Africans. Switzerland has as many as 400,000 Muslims and is considered tohave some of the most anti-Islamic sentiments in Europe.TURKEYbardakoglu, aliAli Bardakoglu is the president of the Presidency of Religious Affairs in Turkey (Diyanet). He is amoderate Islamic leader who supports interfaith initiatives and in 2005 appointed two women tothe position of vice mufti. The Presidency of Religious Affairs has significant influence over theactivities of religious associations and places of worship in the country. He is former professor ofIslamic law at the University of Marmara.çagrıcı, his eminence prof. dr mustafaMustafa Çagrıcı is the mufti of Istanbul as well as a theology professor and is a respected figureamong Turkish Muslims. He welcomed and prayed with Pope Benedict XVI in the Blue Mosquein 2006.UNITED KINGDOMahsan, dr manazirAhsan is the director general of the Islamic Foundation, Leicester. The Islamic Foundation is oneof the main centers working for integration and understanding of the British Muslim population.Although the center has occasionally been referred to as extremist, it does accurately reflect thediversity of the British Muslim community.bari, dr muhammad abdul [new]Bari is the secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, the largest Islamic umbrellaorganization in the United Kingdom. The MCB has over 500 national, regional and local affiliateorganisations and strives to promote a full and participatory role for Muslims in public life.kazmi, nadeem [new]Nadeem Kazmi is the director for International Development of the Imam Al-Khoei BenevolentFoundation based in London. The foundation is notable for its humanitarian aid and for itscommunity work in both the UK and the United States.122

AdministrativeOceaniaNEW ZEALANDghani, dr anwar [new]Ghani is president of the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ). His workleading FIANZ has been considerable; building bridges with the government as well as with thebroader New Zealand population and leaders of other faiths.kireka-whaangaKireka-Whaanga is the leader of the Aotearoa Maori Muslim Association (AMMA) the mainorganization for New Zealand’s Maori Muslims. Islam is an increasingly important religion forthe indigenous population of New Zealand, and is the fastest-growing religion amongst the Maoricommunity.CaribbeanJAMAICAmuhammad, mustafaMuhammad is a spokesperson for the Muslim population of Jamaica and has been the presidentof the Islamic Council of Jamaica for the past 14 years. His work involves education and halalcertification. He oversees the eleven mosques in Jamaica that are attended regularly by an estimated5,000 Muslims.TRINIDAD AND TOBAGOali, imam yacoobAli is the president of the largest and most influential Muslim organization in Trinidad and Tobago,the Anjuman Sunnat ul Jamaat Association (ASJA) which was founded in 1936. Ali’s organizationruns numerous schools and focuses on the importance of education for Muslim youth.Central AmericaEL SALVADORal salvadori, mustafaMustafa Al Salvadori is the president of the Shi’a community in El Salvador. His work, besidesthat with his own community, has tended to involve education about Islam to the mainly Catholicpopulation of El Salvador which has become, broadly speaking, fearful of Islam over the pastdecade.South AmericaARGENTINAhallar, muhammad yusufHallar is an active figure in Argentina involved in community development for Latino Muslims.He has conducted comprehensive research on Muslims in Latin America and holds a numberof positions including secretary general of the Islamic Organization of Latin America and thedirector of the Office of Islamic Culture and is a member of the Expert Committee on MinorityRights for the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC).BRAZILothman, abdul-baqi sayedOthman is the director of Rio de Janeiro’s Charitable Society of Muslims (Sociedad de BeneficienteMuçulmana). He has represented Brazilian Muslims in many international conferences. Othamnis also a da’wa activist, and runs the IQRA publishing center in Brazil where he helps publishtranslations of various Islamic books.123

AdministrativeECUADORsuquillo, juanSuquillo is an imam and the director and co-founder of the Islamic Centre of Ecuador. He hasreceived awards in recognition of his services to the nation, and has translated many books intoSpanish. These have become very popular since the 9/11 attacks when non-Muslims becameinterested in learning about Islam. Suquillo’s books have become bestsellers since then. He is verywell-respected, especially by South American Muslim scholars.North AmericaCANADAdelic, imam dr zijadImam Delic is the National Executive Director of the Canadian Islamic Congress. The CIC ismade up of 24 organizations plus 180 unaffiliated individuals; the CIC’s newsletter has 300,000subscribers worldwide. Imam Delic is a scholar who writes about how Muslims can integrate intoCanadian society, and he has been a consultant to the Canadian government and various NGOs.Delic is the former imam of the British Columbia Muslim Association which represents 57,000Muslims living in BC.valiante, wahida [new]A social worker and therapist by profession, Wahida Valiante is a founding member, and currently,the president of the Canadian Islamic Congress. She is a published author of books on theoriesof family therapy and community issues. She is an outspoken advocate of the rights of CanadianMuslims and also serves as the chair of the Islamic History Month in Canada.UNITED STATESali, imam mohammad shamsiImam Mohammad Shamsi Ali is the imam of three New York City mosques, including the 96thStreet Mosque; the city’s largest mosque, and is the chairman of the Muslim Day Parade. He workswith Muslims from many ethnic backgrounds and is very active in interfaith efforts throughoutNew York City. Since September 11, 2001, New York’s Muslim population has been under closescrutiny, and interfaith activities have been both high-profile, and well-supported, giving religiousleaders in the city a globally significant role in defusing tensions between religions.el erian, dr mohamedDr el Erian is the CEO and CIO of PIMCO—one of the world’s largest asset managementcompanies. Previously, he served as the investment manager of Harvard University’s endowmentfund, and deputy director of the International Monetary Fund. He is the bestselling author of anumber of books on international economics and finance. Dr Mohamed El-Erain is the world’slargest bond investor with over $1 trillion of assets under management as of 2010.ghazi, drs abidullah and tasneemaDr Abidullah Ghazi, a prominent writer, speaker and poet is co-founder of the IQRA’ InternationalEducational Foundation with his wife Dr Tasneema Ghazi. IQRA’ is a non-profit organizationthat creates Islamic studies textbooks and educational materials especially for children. Theinstitution has produced a complete system of Islamic education for part and full time schoolsand a comprehensive madrasah integrated program for the Singapore madrasah system. IQRA’sprograms and educational materials are used in the United States, and worldwide.magid, imam mohamedImam Magid is the executive director and imam at the All Dulles Area Muslim Society Centerin Virginia. He is an advocate for youth and women, is the vice president of ISNA, and serveson the FBI’s Muslim, Sikh, and Arab Advisory Committee. Imam Magid was among the ten‘Washingtonians of the year’ in 2010 who were awarded the Washingtonian Magazine’s award foroutstanding leadership, in particular for his efforts toward interfaith bridge-building.124

LINEAGEMiddle East and North AfricaIRAQal sadr, sheikh muqtadaAl Sadr is the son of the late Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Mohammad Sadiq al Sadr, and aninfluential Shi’a political leader. He has gained prominence since the death of Saddam Hussein andcreated the Mahdi Army in 2003, an armed insurgency movement that has formed its own courtsand system of law enforcement. Al Sadr promotes a Shi’a-controlled government and along withGrand Ayatollah Ali Sistani he is one of the two most important Shi’a leaders in Iraq. Although thereare more qualified Shi’a scholars, Sadr’s social and political role make him extremely important.JORDANhis royal highness prince el hassan bin talalHRH Prince El Hassan bin Talal is an eminent thinker on development and Islam, and has beenrecognized around the globe for his work, winning a number of awards for his interfaith activities.In addition to his noble lineage and to his being the brother of HM the late King Hussein of Jordan,Oxford-educated Prince El Hassan has been one of the leading intellectuals of the Arab world fordecades, and one of the pioneers of interfaith dialogue. Among his achievements are: founding theArab Thought Forum (1981); founding the Royal Institute for Interfaith Studies (1994); and beingPresident Emeritus of the World Conference of Religions for Peace (since 2006).SUDANal mahdi, his excellency imam sayyed al sadiqAl Mahdi is the president of the moderate Islamic Umma Party, and the imam of the Sufi order AlAnsar. He was prime minister of Sudan until the government was overthrown and he was forcedinto exile. Al Mahdi has now returned and is working to restore peace and democracy in the Sudan.He derives a significant portion of his authority from the fact that he descends from MuhammadAhmad, who claimed to be the Mahdi, a prophesied figure that many Muslims believe will returnto revive the Islamic faith.SYRIAal yaqoubi, sheikh muhammad [new]Sheikh al Yaqoubi traces his lineage back to the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson al-Hasan. Awidely revered scholar, al Yaqoubi’s influence has spread as far as Europe, where the Islamic Societyof Stockholm elected him as the mufti of Sweden.Southern AfricaSOUTH AFRICAas-sufi, sheikh abd al qadir [new]Sheikh as-Sufi is the founder of the Murabitun World Movement, and leader of the Darqawi-Shadhili-Qadiri Sufi order. He has taught leading contemporary Muslim scholars and is a prolificwriter, with a broad readership of Muslims and non-Muslims from across the globe. He traces hisscholarly lineage (a chain of authorized sheikhs) back to the Prophet Muhammad.125

LineageWest AfricaNIGERIAbayero, his royal highness amir al haji dr adoHRH Ado Bayero is the current Amir of Kano. The Amir is the traditional ruler of the Nigeriancity of Kano, which is the capital of Kano State. Bayero is a popular leader amongst a wide varietyof Nigerian Muslims. He is an influential Tijani sheikh, with lineage back to the prominentFulani jihadist and religious reformer Osman Dan Fodio. HRH Ado Bayero is regarded as a wisecounselor both at home and abroad because of his experience and ability to mediate betweencultures, which makes him an important asset in promoting mutual understanding and resolvingconflicts between different ethnic and religious groups.EuropeALBANIAbardhi, his eminence haxhi dede reshatHaxhi Dede Reshat Bardhi is the world leader of the Bektashi community, a seven-millionmember-strongSufi order based in Albania. He has been internationally recognized for his activerole in interfaith cooperation and for encouraging peace in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.North AmericaUNITED STATESal ninowy, sheikh muhammad bin yahya al husayni [new]Sheikh al Ninowy is the imam of Masjid al-Madina in Atlanta, Georgia and is considered bymany to be a charismatic and influential contemporary scholar. Al Ninowy traces his lineage backto al Imam Ibrahim al Mujab, whose lineage is traced to Fatima, the daughter of the ProphetMuhammad. He recently founded an interactive Islamic university, utilizing the latest technologyto continue the tradition of Islamic scholarship.126

PREACHERSMiddle East and North AfricaEGYPTabdelkafy, sheikh dr omarAbdelkafy is an Egyptian preacher and da’wa practitioner. He is very well-respected by his peers asa Hafiz of the Qur’an (one who has memorized the entire Qur’an). He is also the director of theQur’anic Studies Centre at the Dubai International Holy Qur’an Award. As well as working in hisnative Egypt, he travels abroad to help Muslim communities, working specifically with the Muslimcommunity in Canada.IRAQkubaisi, sheikh dr ahmedKubaisi is a very popular Sunni cleric and preacher in Iraq, who preaches for the end of foreignoccupation in Iraq and the institution of an Islamic state. To this end he is a spokesperson of theSunni Ulema Council, an important association of Sunni Muslim scholars in Iraq. Kubaisi leadsprayers that are televised worldwide from the state mosque of Abu Dhabi.SUDANel bashir, his excellency dr issamEl Bashir is the secretary general of the International Moderation Centre (IMC) in Kuwait. TheIMC is an organization set up by the Higher Committee for the Promotion of Moderation ofthe Kuwaiti Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs; its aim is to promote Islamic moderationdomestically and around the world. The center has worked with communities in Britain andRussia, among other places, to promote moderation among the extremist elements of their Muslimpopulation. Locally it trains over 700 imams at a time with a focus on practices of moderation.al turabi, hassan abdallahAl Turabi is a Sudanese religious leader. He is widely regarded as a moderate and uses Islamicteachings to foster social development. Al Turabi is an advocate for women’s rights, and believesMuslim fundamentalists place prohibitions above social development. He has recently stated thatSudanese president Omar Al Bashir should give himself up to the International Criminal Courtfor the sake of Sudan.West AfricaNIGERIAkatsina, sheikh yakubu musa [new]Sheikh Yakubu Musa Katsina is a popular preacher in Nigeria. He is also the leader of the Izalarevivalist sect in Katsina. The Izala, or Jama’at Izalatil Bidiawa Iqamatus Sunnah (MovementAgainst Negative Innovations and for Orthodoxy) is an activist Sufi brotherhood which calls fora return to the practices of the Prophet Muhammad and a true practice of Islam. Hailing fromKatsina, the predominantly Muslim city in northern Nigeria, Sheikh Katsina is outspoken againstcorruption in the country.AsiaINDIAnaik, dr zakirAbdul-Karim Zakir Abdul-Karim Naik is an Indian public intellectual teaching about Islam. Hehosts huge public events where he speaks on Islam, highlighting misconceptions and promoting127

Preachersunderstanding about the faith. Naik also challenges leaders in other faiths to public debates thatare broadcast around the world on Peace TV—a satellite channel that he helped to found. He isalso the founder of the Islamic Research Foundation, which runs United Islamic Aid.INDONESIAshihab, quraish [new]Quraish Shihab is an Indonesian expert on Qur’anic exegesis who regularly preaches on nationaltelevision. He is noted as a progressive scholar who teaches Qur’anic exegesis using actual contextand simple language. He is an author of many Islamic books, including ‘Tafsir Al-Misbah’. Heserved as Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs in 1998 and also as chairman of the IndonesianUlama Council since 1984. Shihab was also a director of State Islamic University, Syarif Hidayatullah1992-1998.MALAYSIAibrahim, dato mashitah [new]Ibrahim is a prominent motivational preacher in Malaysia, and a lecturer in Universiti IslamAntarabangsa Malaysia, who is now active in politics. Sultan Pahang awarded her the honorarytitle ‘dato’ for her devotion to da’wa initiatives in 2000. Her views and opinions on contemporaryIslamic issues receive wide attention.PAKISTANshaikh, mohammad [new]Founder of the International Islamic Propagation Center (IIPC), a da’wa organization based inKarachi, Pakistan, Mohammad Shaikh is well-known as an influential public speaker. He has givennumerous lectures on the Qur’an and also founded the English-language IIPC TV channel whichbroadcasts to viewers across the globe. He was ranked 4th most influential Muslim in the world ona public poll by Reuters in 2009.soomro, dr khalid mehmood [new]A member of the Pakistani senate, and Secretary General of Jamiat Ulema-Islam Sindh, Dr KhalidMehmood Soomro is a popular preacher and teacher of Islam in Pakistan. Considered a prominentpolitical leader, Soomro writes for various print media and has authored several books on Islam.EuropeCZECH REPUBLIComic, imam emir [new]Imam Emir Omic is the religious leader of the Muslim community in Prague which is made upof around 2000 members, mostly businessmen, immigrants, and students. The Czech Muslimcommunity (approximately 10,000 people) is establishing itself in the country on the foundationof prayer, charity, and helping to inform the greater community about Islam.ITALYpallavicini, sheikh abd al wahidSheikh Abd al Wahid Pallavicini is a noted preacher from Milan, Italy. After converting to Islamin 1951, he joined the Ahamadiyyah Idrissiyyah Shadhiliyyah Sufi order and is now head of thebrotherhood in Italy. His son is Imam Yahya Sergio Yahe Pallavicini, the chairman of the ISESCOCouncil for Education and Culture in the West and imam of the Al Wahid Mosque of Milan.128

PreachersUNITED KINGDOMul haq, abu yusuf riyadh [new]Abu Yusuf Riyadh ul Haq is a very influential speaker and leading Deobandi scholar in the UK.He has been markedly influential through his work with the Al Kawthar Academy in Leicester. AlKawthar is a leading Islamic educational institution at the forefront of knowledge proliferationthrough diverse media forms.North AmericaCANADAbadawi, dr jamalDr Jamal Badawi is an Egyptian-Canadian Muslim preacher and a highly sought-after speaker onIslam. He is a prolific writer, interfaith advocate, and activist and has authored numerous bookson Islam and founded the Islamic Information Foundation in Canada. Badawi is a member of theexecutive council of the Fiqh Council of North America.UNITED STATESzarabozo, sheikh jamaal al-din m. [new]Sheikh Zarabozo is an American Salafi scholar who preaches internationally and is a prolific writeron Islamic education. Based in California, he teaches classes on Islam in person and virtually overthe internet. Zarabozo is also the author of numerous books.129

WOMEN’S ISSUESMiddle East and North AfricaALGERIAkheddar, cherifaCherifa Kheddar is the outspoken president and founder of the Djazairouna (Our Algeria)Association, which provides support to victims of the Algerian Civil War. She is the recipient of the2009 International Service Human Rights Award for the Defense of the Human Rights of Women.BAHRAINal zayani, afnan [new]Afnan al Zayani is the CEO of the multi-million dollar company Al Zayani Commercial Services(AZCS). She is recognized internationally as one of the most powerful businesswomen of this era.She is responsible for the passing of personal status laws in Bahrain that ensure the protection ofMuslim women’s rights in divorce and custody proceedings, something she oversaw during herleadership of the Bahrain Businesswomen’s Society (BBS). Subsequently al Zayani led the MiddleEast and North Africa Businesswomen’s Network and in 2010 she received the Leadership in PublicLife Award from Vital Voices, a women’s empowerment organization.IRANebadi, shirinShirin Ebadi is a lawyer who, in 2003, became the first Iranian to win the Nobel Peace Prize. She isthe founder of Children’s Rights Support Association and has defended and supported the rightsof children and women. Ebadi lectures about the human rights situation in Iran and espouses aliberal view of Islam appreciated by many Muslim feminists.rahnavard, zahraRahnavard is an author and staunch critic of Ahmadinejad. She broke convention by campaigningon her husband Mir-Hossein Mousavi’s 2009 presidential campaign, becoming the first womanto do so in Iran. She served as political advisor under President Khatami, and was the first femalechancellor of Alzahra University after the Islamic Revolution.JORDANhusseini, rana [new]An award-winning, internationally acclaimed journalist, Rana Husseini is credited for catalyzingthe legal reform against honour killings in Jordan. She is a senior reporter with The Jordan Times,a human rights activist, and author of Murder in the Name of Honour, which exposes the practiceof honour killings and advocates awareness of crimes against women.MOROCCOmernissi, fatemaMernissi is a Moroccan feminist writer and sociologist. She has done sociological research forUNESCO and the International Labour Organization as well as for the Moroccan authorities.Mernissi is currently a lecturer at the Mohammed V University of Rabat and a research scholarat the university’s Institute for Scientific Research in the same city. Mernissi’s work is significantin academic circles in the field of sociology and Middle Eastern Studies and is lauded by Muslimfeminists.131

Women’s Issuesyassine, nadiaNadia Yassine is the head of the women’s branch of the most powerful Islamist movement inMorocco, Al Adl Wa Al Ihssane (Justice and Charity). She has traveled to Europe, promotingthe mission of the movement to the Moroccan diaspora. She often serves as the movement’sspokesperson.PALESTINEel faqeeh, khouloudEl Faqeeh is the first female judge in Palestine and one of the first female judges in the Islamicworld for a sharia-based court. She graduated top of her class at Al Quds University and has herown private practice.QATARal missned, her highness sheikha mozah bint nasserSheikha Mozah is the wife of the ruler of Qatar, H.H. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani. She is apublic figure; advocating for women’s and children’s rights. Sheikha Mozah was the driving forcebehind Education City and Al Jazeera Children Channel. She holds several political positions,including chair of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development.SAUDI ARABIAal faiz, norah abdallahNorah al Faiz is the deputy minister for women’s education, becoming the first woman ever toserve in the Saudi Arabia Council of Ministers. She was formerly principal of a girls’ school andwas director of the women’s section at the Institute of Public Administration in Riyadh.UNITED ARAB EMIRATESal haddad, dr ahmed [new]Dr Ahmed al Haddad is the grand mufti of Dubai and director of the Dubai Fatwa Administrationwith the Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities. In late 2009 Dr al Haddadannounced the start of a program designed to develop a cadre of fully-trained and certified femalemuftis who will be able to issue fatwas and be recognized as leading Islamic scholars alongside theirmale counterparts. This is considered to be the first deliberate attempt at including women at thehighest levels of Islamic scholarship in Dubai, and presents the possibility of a female grand muftiin the future.YEMENali, nujood [new]Nujood Ali is the twelve-year-old author of the memoir ‘I am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced,’published in English for the first time in 2010. The autobiographical account of her forcedmarriage to a 30-year-old man and subsequent rape and abuse is just one step in her personal fightagainst the societal injustices associated with polygamy and child marriage. Her efforts to educatethe world have garnered global attention and catalyzed efforts to address instances of forced childmarriage in other countries.East AfricaSOMALIAosman, hibaaqA Somali Muslim and women’s rights activist, Hibaaq Osman is Special Representative to Africafor V-Day—a movement against violence against women. She is the founder of Karama, a regionalmovement working to end violence against women in the Arab World. She is also the foundingCEO of the Arab Women’s Fund and founder of the Center for the Strategic Initiatives of Women(CSIW).132

Women’s IssuesWest AfricaMAURITANIAel mokhtar, aminetouEl Mokhtar is a Nouakchott-based human rights lawyer and president of the L’Association desFemmes Chefs de Famille, which defends and supports women heads of households and theirchildren. She is also chair of the African Democracy Forum, a network of organizations promotingdemocracy.NIGERmindaoudou, her excellency dodo aichatouMindaoudou is the Nigerien Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, and African Integrity.She has served the government since the mid-1990s, and is the former secretary general for theNetwork for Rural Law. She has written extensively about economic development and women’sissues. She is one of the most senior-level women politicians in West Africa.AsiaAFGHANISTANbarakzai, shukria [new]Barakzai is the editor of Afghanistan’s first and only newspaper targeted at women, Aina-E Zan(Women’s Mirror). She is also a member of Afghanistan’s parliament.quraishi, colonel shafiqa [new]Quraishi is the Director of Gender, Human, and Child Rights in Afghanistan’s Ministry of theInterior. She has focused on increasing women’s employment in the government and created theAfghan National Gender Recruitment Strategy.BANGLADESHhossain, dr hameeda [new]Dr Hossain has published many books and articles relating to human rights and women’s issuesin Bangladesh, in Islam, and worldwide. She is a founding member of Ain o Salish Kendra, a legalaid and human rights organization.INDONESIAalawiyaah, prof. dr tutiAlawiyaah was the Indonesian Minister of Women’s Empowerment in President Suharto’s lastcabinet. Alawiyaah is currently the dean of one of Indonesia’s oldest and most prominent Islamiceducational institutions, the As Syafi’iyah University. She is a prolific preacher and broadens herreach through her regular television appearances on almost all Indonesian television channels.muhammad, husein [new]Husein Muhammad is a commissioner of Indonesia’s National Commission on Violence AgainstWomen. He is one of the founders of Fahmina Institute (in 1999), an NGO that advocates women’sissues using an Islamic framework and reinterpretation of Islamic classical literature, tafsir andfiqh. Muhammad led an anti-trafficking media campaign, which included the distribution of22,000 leaflets each week in mosques after Friday prayers, along with outreach to village healthclinics. His scholarship highlights the Islamic perspective on victims’ rights, the rights of womenand children, and the immorality of human trafficking, while emphasizing that victims should notbe criminalized and that communities have a responsibility to combat trafficking.zulminarni, nani [new]Zulminarni is the National Coordinator of PEKKA, the Program for Women-Headed Householdsin Indonesia. The organization supports thousands of widows in rural communities throughoutthe country.133

Women’s IssuesMALAYSIAanwar, zaynahAnwar is the founder and former executive director of Sisters in Islam, an organization committedto gender issues and increasing respect for women. She is also a journalist who has contributed tothe New Straits Times and the Star, the country’s two main newspapers, and has written a bookabout Islam in Malaysia.NEPALsiddiqui, muhammadi [new]Mohammadi Siddiqui is a pioneer female Muslim politician, a social worker, and a human rightsactivist. She established the Fatima Foundation in 2003 to ensure Muslim women’s rights on tworelated fronts: the personal daily struggle of women against discrimination, and the social andlegal practices that influence women’s independence and access to basic rights. The foundationorganizes Muslim women’s groups and works with religious scholars and women leaders toeducate women and raise awareness of their rights in order to advocate for the practice of ‘actual’Islamic law and ensure social justice for women. The foundation also publishes books and theQur’an in the local language; it also provides services to the victims of domestic violence.PAKISTANzafar, roshaneh [new]An economist by training, Roshaneh Zafar is a social entrepreneur and founder of the KashfFoundation, the third-largest microfinance institution in Pakistan, which specializes in offeringfinancial services to women and their families to facilitate their economic independence and selfreliance.The Kashf Foundation has disbursed over $200 million and has a national network of 152branches.PHILIPPINESbusran lao, yasmin [new]Yasmin Busran Lao is a prominent women’s activist and peace advocate who is currently runningas a senatorial candidate with the Liberal Party for the May 2010 election. The US governmentconferred the Ninoy Aquino Public Service Award on Busran Lao for her work in uplifting the plightof the marginalized. She has co-founded various women’s rights and development organizations.rasul, santanina tillah [new]The most recent Filipina Muslim woman elected to the Philippine Senate, former Senator SantaninaTillah Rasul is noted for her work toward gender equality, improved literacy, and Muslim affairsin the Philippines. She has exercised her influence in the senate to open up the Philippine MilitaryAcademy to women, among other initiatives aimed at women’s rights.SRI LANKAismail, jezima [new]The founder of the Muslim Women’s Research and Action Forum (MWRAF), Jezima Ismailhas been an educator for over three decades. She serves on various international committees onwomen’s rights and is the recipient of various awards in recognition of her work.EuropeAUSTRIAdirie, warisDirie is a Somali-Austrian women’s rights activist and former international supermodel. She wasappointed UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador for the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM),and founded several organizations, including the Waris Dirie Foundation, to raise awareness aboutFGM. Dirie underwent FGM as a child and seeks to build awareness around the fact that Islamdoes not require the practice. She is the author of several bestselling books.134

Women’s IssuesUNITED KINGDOMjanmohamed, shelina zahraShelina Zahra Janmohamed is a British writer and commentator who gained web-based acclaimfor her blog ‘spirit21’. She has recently become increasingly influential in British media as an authorand commentator on the issues of religion and gender. Her book Love in a Headscarf has been verypopular among Muslims and has also played a great role in demystifying Muslim life to a non-Muslim audience by narrating a Muslim girl’s search for love.North AmericaUNITED STATESal-hibri, dr azizah [new]Chairperson of Karamah Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights, Dr al-Hibri Esq. leadsa dynamic organization dedicated to the empowerment of Muslim women by focusing on theegalitarian message of gender-equity in the Qur’an. Al-Hibri is also a professor of law at the T.C.Williams School of Law, University of Richmond.kavakçi, prof. dr merveMerve Kavakçi is a lecturer on culture and international affairs at George Washington University.In 1999, she was barred from a position in the Turkish Parliament for refusing to remove herhijab. She is an important symbolic figure for the headscarf issue in Turkey and promotes Muslimwomen’s rights at events all over the world, criticizing Turkey’s anti-Islamic policies. Kavakçi is alsoa Hafizah of the Qur’an (one who has memorized the entire Qur’an).mogahed, daliaDalia Mogahed is the executive director and a senior analyst at the Gallup Center for MuslimStudies and director of the Muslim-West Facts Initiative. She was appointed by President Obamato serve on the Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and is thefirst hijab-wearing Muslim woman to hold a White House position. Mogahed has also held highpositions in the US-Muslim Engagement Project and is co-author of the book Who Speaks forIslam? What a Billion Muslims Really Think.135

YOUTHMiddle East and North AfricaEGYPThosni, mostafaMostafa Hosni is a commerce student-turned televangelist who is increasingly influential for hisinnovative approach to preaching Islam on weekly programs with Saudi satellite channel, Iqraa.A proponent of moderate Islam, Hosni works at an international private school on characterdevelopment and cultivating a positive religious identity with Egyptian youth.masoud, moezFounder of Al Tareeq Al Sah (The Right Way) Institute, Moez Masoud is a leading activist forIslamic education and a popular preacher trained in the Islamic sciences recognized for his globalinfluence through media productions on television and on YouTube.SAUDI ARABIAal shugairi, ahmadAl Shugairi is a televangelist with a huge following around the world. He is at the forefront of areligious revivalist movement that is affecting young people across the Middle East. In addition tohis work as a television host, al Shugairi is the founder of the youth-centric coffee shop, AndalusCafe. With no formal Islamic training and an MBA, his popularity comes from repackaging abalanced understanding of Islam for his throngs of fans of all ages.West AfricaGHANAabass, mohammedMohammed Abass is the president and spokesperson of the Ghana Muslim Students Association(GMSA) for the Greater Accra Region. Ghana has a substantial Muslim population and an activeand growing array of evangelist Christian churches, but has not been the victim of much interfaithtension. The GMSA has been noted for its promotion of community activism and successfulattempts to engage with the demands of young Muslims, conducting social work and leadershiptraining for its members and constituents.AsiaAFGHANISTANfarid, andeisha [new]A young emerging leader in Afghanistan, Andeisha Farid founded the Afghan Child Education andCare Organization (AFCECO) at the age of 25. AFCECO provides housing, education, health careand vocational training through a network of orphanages around the country and in Pakistan.INDONESIAamalee, irfan [new]Irfan Amalee created the Peace Generation Program that trains peace agents, develops peaceeducation modules, and promotes books door-to-door. It has since grown into a community ofover 10,000 young people who have set up their own training and book-retail businesses fromAceh to Sulawesi. Amalee is also the youngest member of Mizan Publishers, where he establishedPelangi Mizan, a Muslim children’s book publication. He was a recipient of the British Council’s2008 International Young Creative Entrepreneur Award.137

YouthPHILIPPINEStomawis, samira gutoc [new]The Mindanao coordinator of the Young Moro Professionals Network (YMPN), Samira Gutocis also convenor of the Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy. She is project manager ofMindanao Youth Speak and is very well-connected with the media industry and advocates for hercauses on the web and through various organizations.SINGAPOREnassir, mohammedMohammed Nassir is director of SimplyIslam.sg, a Singapore-based virtual portal for ‘a new wayto learn’ Islam through courses with leading Islamic scholars. Nassir is credited for drawing theattention of international Muslim leaders to the Muslim community of Singapore and for hisdedicated efforts in developing youth programs.EuropeUNITED KINGDOMmamdani, mohammedMohammed Mamdani is founderer and CEO of the Muslim Youth Helpline, a volunteer-basedconfidential helpline for young Muslims based in London, England that provides a network ofcommunity support and counseling services through a toll free phone line and interactive website.OceaniaAUSTRALIAhouli, bacharBachar Houli, an up-and-coming athlete within the Australian Football League has become aninspiration to young Muslims as a devout and practicing Muslim who successfully negotiates hisreligious identity and commitment to the sport of Australian rules football. Houli regularly speaksabout his faith to mainstream media outlets and was a 2008 nominee for the AFL Rising StarAward.North AmericaUNITED STATESperez, hamza [new]Hamza Perez is a prominent American Muslim, whose story of conversion to Islam andtransformation from drug-dealer to Muslim community activist is the subject of a 2009documentary, ‘New Muslim Cool.’ The film explores the challenges facing young AmericanMuslims in a post 9/11 world and has been widely-screened to international audiences.webb, imam suhaib [new]Imam Suhaib Webb is a student at Al Azhar University in Egypt and has subsequently come toprominence as a young American preacher and activist from Oklahoma. He has a substantialfollowing of Muslim youth who visit his website and attend his lectures in throngs due to hisunique appeal and moderate approach to Islam.138

PHILANTHROPYMiddle East and North AfricaIRAQal khoei, sayyed jawadSayyed al Khoei is the secretary general of the London-based Al Khoei International Foundation,an international charity promoting the welfare of Shi’a communities throughout the world. Hespends his time between the United Kingdom and his native Iraq.SAUDI ARABIAkreidie, dr samirKreidie is managing director of the Rabya Trading & Agriculture Company. He is the founderof the Inma Foundation, which helps provide humanitarian support to impoverished people inLebanon. He is also a director at Development Foundation International, an organization whichstrives to increase American participation in Lebanese humanitarian efforts.al madani, his excellency dr ahmad mohamed aliAl Madani is the president of the Islamic Development Bank, which aims to provide short andlong-term solutions to poverty alleviation in the Muslim world. The Islamic Development Bankis the principal financing institution of the Organization of the Islamic Conference. Previously, alMadani served as the deputy minister of education in Saudi Arabia, and as secretary general of theMuslim World League.al saud, his royal highness prince al waleed bin talal bin abdul azizPrince al Waleed bin Talal is an entrepreneur and investor who has built up a fortune through realestate and the stock market. In early 2009 his net worth was close to $15 billion. His philanthropicclout comes from his position among the richest people in the world. Prince al Waleed contributed$20 million to found the Center for Christian-Muslim Understanding at Georgetown University,which remains one of the key institutions globally working on Christian-Muslim relations.KUWAITal kharafi, nasserNasser al Kharafi—one of the richest people in the world—is the president of Kharafi & Sons, oneof the largest Middle Eastern companies with an estimated capital of $5 billion. He was awardedthe Lifetime Achievement Award by H.M. King Abdullah II of Jordan in 2005 for his philanthropicefforts and contributions to relief agencies.AsiaINDIAqasmi, maulana badruddin ajmal [new]Maulana Badruddin Ajmal is a prominent businessman in India who runs the Ajmal Group ofCompanies, which sells attar perfume, oils and textiles. He is a proponent and member of varioussocial service organizations and is also a scholar of Islam, having studied at the Darul UloomDeoband. Qasmi is also a politician who founded the Assam United Democratic Front politicalparty. He is noted for his contributions to charitable hospitals, orphanages, and educationalinstitutions including a women’s science college.139

PhilanthropyNorth AmericaUNITED STATEScheema, dr tariq hDr Cheema is the founder of the World Congress of Muslim Philanthropists, a Chicago-basedorganization seeking to promote effective and accountable giving. The organization is the premiercommunity of Muslim philanthropists in the world, with a number of high-level stakeholders.Cheema is a physician by profession and in 1998 he co-founded Doctors Worldwide, whichprovides medical relief in 18 countries. He was formerly the associate director of the IslamicMedical Association of North America. In early 2010 Dr Cheema announced a new global awarenessinitiative, ‘Empowerment Through Enlightenment’, aimed at achieving the UN MillenniumDevelopment goal of promoting gender equality.140

DEVELOPMENTMiddle East and North AfricaIRAQodhaib, madeeha hasanMadeeha Hasan Odhaib is a member of the district council of Karada, in Baghdad, where sheleads a community initiative to employ Iraqi women as seamstresses—alleviating poverty in thewar-torn region. She is also a dedicated humanitarian who works with the Red Cross and other aidagencies on local relief efforts.LEBANONal sadr, rababRabab al Sadr is a social and human rights activist and a philanthropist. She is a dynamic thinkerand is the president of the Imam al Sadr Foundation, one of the most successful humanitarianorganizations working in Lebanon. The foundation’s projects focus on training, development andpoverty alleviation across Lebanon. She is the sister of Imam Musa al Sadr.LIBYAN ARAB JAMAHIRIYAgaddafi, his excellency saif al islam muammarSon of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, Saif al Islam Gaddafi is the president of the LibyanNational Association for Drugs and Narcotics Control and founder of the Gaddafi InternationalCharity and Development Foundation, which addresses humanitarian and relief efforts in Libya.Saif al Islam Gaddafi is noted for his ‘Isratine’ proposal for a one-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He is likely to be the next leader of Libya.PALESTINEabu awwad, khaled [new]Khaled Abu Awwad is the General Manager of the Israeli-Palestinian Bereaved Families Forumand Chairman of Al-Tariq (The Palestinian Institution for Development and Democracy).abu elaish, dr izzeldinDr Izzeldin Abu Elaish is a public health expert and Palestinian peace activist nominated for the2009 Nobel Peace Prize. He is an outspoken advocate of a lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace.abu sarah, aziz [new]Aziz Abu Sarah is a Palestinian activist who is globally recognized for his work on peace andconflict resolution in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He was formerly the director of InternationalRelations for the Parents Circle - Families Forum, and co-hosted Radio All for Peace, a bilingualradio show on 107.2 FM in Jerusalem until 2008, when he relocated to the US where he is nowthe Director of Middle East Projects at George Mason University’s Center for World Religions,Diplomacy, and Conflict Resolution. Sarah is also a lecturer and writes for major news outletsabout the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and peace movements.QATARher excellency sheikha aisha bint faleh bin nasser al thaniSheikha Aisha al Thani is the founder of the Doha Academy and board member of Reach Out toAsia, Qatar. She is also a member of the Qatar Supreme Education Council, the highest educationalauthority in Qatar. She is a modernist development thinker, who promotes a more pronouncedand well-judged engagement with people of faith. Sheikha Aisha’s perspective resonates with themore concerted efforts by humanitarian organizations to look at the networks of people of faith asa solution to practical development problems.141

Developmenther excellency sheikha mayssa bint hamad al thaniSheikha Mayssa is the chairperson of Reach Out To Asia, an NGO that is under the QatarFoundation, that contributes to the development of societies in Asia, including the Middle East,with specific emphasis on improving the quality of both primary and secondary education, inaddition to achieving some of the goals of UNESCO’s Education For All (EFA) and the UnitedNations Millennium Development goals (MDGs).SAUDI ARABIAbin laden, bakrBakr bin Laden, half-brother of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, is the chairman of the SaudiBinladin Group. The Binladin Group is a sizeable multinational construction company withoperations in Saudi Arabia and over 30 countries—making Bakr bin Laden an increasinglyinfluential power broker in Saudi business capital.obaid, thoraya ahmedObaid is the executive director of the United Nations Population Fund, the world’s largest multilateralfund for population assistance. Obaid is the first Saudi Arabian to head a UN agency andis also the chair of the principle inter-agency organization for coordinating management matterswithin the UN. She has underlined religion and culture as important aspects for the agency’sdevelopment work.SUDANibrahim, dr mohamed ‘mo’Mohamed Ibrahim—more commonly known as Mo Ibrahim—is a Sudanese-born entrepreneur,currently based in the UK. He became successful as a businessman in the telecommunicationsindustry, founding one of Africa’s biggest cellular phone companies, Celtel. He has recently cometo prominence for his idea of a Prize for Achievement in African Leadership—which awards therecipient a $5 million initial payment, plus $200,000 a year for life. The Prize was conceived asa way to curb corruption by African leaders, who often resort to corruption to obtain financialsecurity when they leave office, and to promote good governance. The prize is believed to be theworld’s largest, surpassing the $1.3 million Nobel Peace Prize.UNITED ARAB EMIRATESher royal highness princess haya bint al husseinHRH Princess Haya bint al Hussein of Jordan is married to H.H. Amir Sheikh Mohammed binRashid al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and the rulerof Dubai. Princess Haya is recognized for her efforts in developing initiatives in humanitarianism,sports, health, science, culture and business, as well as advancing the Millennium DevelopmentGoals toward the alleviation of hunger and poverty.al abbar, mohammed bin aliAl Abbar is a member of the Executive Board of the Government of Dubai and the director of theDepartment of Economic Development. Under his leadership Dubai has been one of the fastestgrowingeconomies in the world. He has been successful in increasing the financial regulationsrequiring transparency; making Dubai a more attractive place to invest and do business in. Heis one of the main assistants of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, VicePresident and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, and ruler of Dubai.YEMENbaobaid, mohammadBaobaid is a Muslim activist working on domestic violence at the University of Sana’a. He advocatesfor men to combat domestic violence and be part of the solution to the mistreatment of women inYemen. Baobaid is also a project coordinator of the Muslim Family Safety Project, an initiative tohelp victims of violence in the Muslim community in Ontario.142

DevelopmentSouthern AfricaSOUTH AFRICApatel, ebrahimPatel is the current minister for economic development of South Africa and a former spokespersonfor COSATU (the umbrella organization for South African trade unions). He is important becauseSouth Africa’s booming economy is paradoxically leaving behind much of the population; thisis because of both the HIV/AIDS situation and also the fact that South Africa has one of thehighest unemployment rates in the world due to mass migration caused by the unstable situationin Zimbabwe.sooliman, dr imtiaz ismailSooliman is the founder of the Gift of the Givers Foundation. It is the largest disaster relieforganization of African origin on the African continent. His organization has delivered over $37million in aid to 25 countries around the world. The organization has also designed and developedthe world’s first and largest containerized mobile hospital, which has been deployed in Bosnia. Italso runs 24 development projects in South Africa and Malawi.Middle AfricaANGOLAdrame, famarDrame is founder and vice president of the Associacao Islamica de Desenvolvimento de Angola.It is the first and the only Islamic organization in a country of 13 million people and the onlyIslamic organization recognized and authorized by the government of the Republic of Angola. Itis charged with the responsibility to build a mosque with a school attached to it to teach Islamicknowledge, Arabic and Portuguese.East AfricaBURUNDInkunduwiga, harunaNkunduwiga is the secretary general of the Muslim Community of Burundi. He has been workingrecently to battle the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Burundi with other faith leaders to raise awareness,asking people to ‘stay clean’. HIV/AIDS is a serious problem in Burundi, affecting close to 20percent of the urban population and near to 10 percent of the rural population.KENYAkhalifa, sheikh mohammedKhalifa is the organizing secretary of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya, he is also thehead of the as yet unregistered Islamic Party of Kenya. Relations between the Muslim population ofKenya and the broader society, especially the government, have frayed recently with the instancesof the demonizing of Muslims as terrorists. There is widespread displeasure among the coastalMuslim population with the national government.MALAWIchabulika, sheikh dinalaChabulika is the Islamic Information Bureau’s national coordinator. He is known as an Islamicrights activist and has taken it upon himself to present the need to address social issues as religiousduties. Chabulika works on health issues, exploitation, and has built bridges with non-Muslims inMalawi. He has also fought against the forced teaching of religious texts to school children.143

DevelopmentMOZAMBIQUEcheba, sheikh muhamade aboulaiCheba is the provincial director of 139 registered madrasahs (Islamic schools), where pupils startlearning about HIV/AIDS as early as six years of age. He raises awareness that the disease is not adivine punishment, and sees mosques as the perfect place for the dissemination of such knowledge.HIV/AIDS affects roughly 15 percent of the adult population of Mozambique.SOMALIAelmi, asha hajiAsha Haji Elmi is a peace activist in Somalia who in 2008 won the Right Livelihood Award(known as the alternative Nobel Prize). She is an activist for women’s rights and formed the SixClan movement when women were excluded from the peace process in Somalia that involvedthe five traditional clans. Elmi is also the founder of Save Somali Women and Children (SSWC)and campaigns internationally against female genital mutilation in Somalia and in other areas ofAfrica.West AfricaBURKINA FASOaboubakary, maigaAboubakary is the secretary general of the Burkina Faso Islamic Organization for Population andDevelopment. His organization promotes family-planning in mosques around the country. Thetremendous growth rate in Burkina Faso has put great strain on the economy there, and threatensto sharpen the already serious problem of poverty.COTE D’IVOIRE (IVORY COAST)abdoulaziz, sheikh sarbaAbdoulaziz is the leader of the Association Soulatine Pour Les Actions De Bienfaisance. He worksin Cote d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso on the development of the Muslim community, and the fairtreatment of Muslims. He has been active at major international conferences trying to deal withthe problem of Islamophobia.NIGERIAashafa, imam muhammadAshafa is the co-director of the Muslim-Christian Interfaith Mediation Centre in the city ofKaduna, Northern Nigeria—leading task forces to resolve conflicts across the country. He workswith Christian Pastor James Wuye to promote peace between religions. Both were injured andaffected by inter-religious violence. Pastor Wuye and Imam Ashafa have gained a wide audienceand mass interest in their particular story through speaking on the issue around the world.AsiaAFGHANISTANsarabi, her excellency dr habibaHabiba Sarabi became the first female governor in Afghanistan in 2005. She is a hematologist byprofession and encourages environmental reform. In 2008, she was honoured by Time Magazinefor her help in establishing Afghanistan’s first national park, Band-e Amir.AZERBAIJANbayramov, vugar [new]Vugar Bayramov is a leading economist and in 2009 was nominated for Person of the Year,according to a public survey by local media network, Media FM. He is the chairman of a top144

Developmenteconomic think tank in Azerbaijan, the Center for Economic and Social Development. He is alsoan instructor of economics and finance at Azerbaijan State Economic University. His public policyresearch has been utilized by the government to address anti-crisis programs for development andhis papers and books are available in 25 languages across the globe.BANGLADESHabed, fazle hasan [new]Abed is the founder and chairperson of BRAC, one of the world’s largest non-governmentdevelopment organizations. This organization is known internationally for its focus on povertyeradication and relief.yunus, mohammadMohammad Yunus is the founder of the Grameen Bank. He developed the concept of microcreditfor which he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006. The bank is sharia-based but not shariacompliant;it is pro-poor but takes interest. His efforts to create economic and social developmentand to help the impoverished escape poverty by providing loans on terms suitable to them andby teaching them a few sound financial principles have been recognized by many internationalorganizations including the King Hussein Foundation, Jordan and UNESCO.MALAYSIAkader, mohideen abdulKader is vice president of the Consumers’ Association of Penang, which works to secure the rightsof every person to basic needs, a clean and safe environment, and the development of indigenousculture and knowledge. He is also a board member of Citizens International, an NGO working oninternational political issues.PAKISTANchaudry, chief justice iftikhar mChaudry is the current chief justice of Pakistan. He was the former president of the Supreme CourtBar Association of Pakistan, and a key leader of the Lawyers’ Movement. The movement startedwhen Chaudry was suspended by President General Musharraf in March 2007, for refusing toresign from his position.edhi, abdul sattarAbdul Sattar Edhi is the founder of the Edhi Foundation; the largest and most organized socialwelfare system in Pakistan. For over 50 years, Edhi has devoted his time and resources to helpthe less fortunate by providing a range of services including a 24-hour emergency service acrossthe country through 300 ‘Edhi centers’, which provide free burial of unclaimed dead bodies. Healso funds free hospitals and dispensaries, rehabilitation for drug addicts, shelter for the destitute,orphans and handicapped persons, and national and international relief efforts.PHILIPPINESabubakar, ismaelAbubakar is the former speaker of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s regionallegislative assembly. He is now concentrating on business and interfaith dialogue, convening thePhilippine Council for Islam and Democracy. He is from the predominantly Muslim Sama tribe,which garners him a significant amount of respect in dealing with the Muslim militants.rasul-bernardo, aminaRasul-Bernando is a distinguished peace and human rights advocate in Asia. She is the directorof the Philippine Council on Islam and Democracy (PCID). She is the recipient of the MuslimDemocrat of the Year Award from the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy for her longtermadvocacy for democracy and peace in the Muslim Mindanao region. Rasul-Bernando is also145

Developmenta founding member of a microfinancing organization aimed at Muslim and indigenous women—the Muslim Professional and Business Women’s Association of the Philippines. As a foundingmember of the Magbassa Kita Foundation, she was responsible for raising $2 million to fund thefoundation’s program for literacy in the Muslim and indigenous communities.THAILANDsabur, m abdusSabur is the secretary general and co-founder of the Asian Resource Foundation and the AsianMuslim Action Network. He is also co-director of the School of Peace Studies and ConflictTransformation in Bangkok. In the nineties Sabur served as coordinator of the Asian CulturalForum on Development (ACFOD). He has edited a number of publications on peace anddialogue in Southeast Asia including Understanding Human Rights: Perspectives from SouthAsia, Interfaith Conference on the Culture of Peace, Globalization and Asian Perspectives for anAlternative Development and Towards Peace in Multi-Ethnic Asia.EuropeBELARUSkanapatsky, ibragimKanapatsky is the deputy chairman of the Islamic Association of Belarus. The Islamic Associationis currently developing the infrastructure for Muslim communities in Belarus, building a mosquein Minsk, as well as renovating the ancient mosque in Smilovichi and the Muslim cemeteries thatexist throughout the country.BOSNIAmahmutcehajic, his excellency prof. dr rusmirMahmutcehajic is the president of the International Forum Bosnia, and a former vice presidentof Bosnia-Herzegovina. He has been incredibly important in efforts to heal the ethnic, religiousand social divisions that happened as a result of the Bosnian War in the mid-1990s. His projectsare some of the most successful at producing real healing between communities. He works in hishometown of Stolac, which is one of the most deeply divided towns in Bosnia.BULGARIAhadzhi, his eminence mustafa alishHadzhi is Bulgaria’s chief mufti. Bulgaria has recently been referred to as ‘Istanbulgaria’ because ofthe importance of Turkish-Bulgarian relations. Hadzhi is important as the leader of the Muslimcommunity in a predominantly Christian state with a large influx of Muslims. Bulgaria’s mufti,Mustafa Alish Hadzhi, has recently been in the news because of a decision to prevent the buildingof a new mosque; he is taking the case to the EU.FINLANDismail, atikIsmail is a famous former professional footballer and a Tatar community leader in the city ofKuopio, Finland. He regularly speaks on television to explain the indigenous brand of Islam ofhis Tatar community, and debate exponents of more radical interpretations of Islam. He is wellreceivedby the Finnish public who can identify with him.ITALYqaddorah, jamal [new]Qaddorah is a representative of Italy’s largest trade union CGIL. In 2010, he helped to organize the‘A Day Without Us’ immigrant rally across Italy. The strike drew well over 20,000 participants andhelped to highlight the important role that immigrants play in the Italian economy. A significantportion of immigrants come to Italy from countries such as Nigeria, Morocco, and Bangladeshand make up about 8 percent of the labour force there.146

DevelopmentUNITED KINGDOMazmi, dr waqarDr Waqar Azmi OBE founded the British Federation of Racial Equality Councils and is the formerchief diversity adviser at the Cabinet Office and is currently an EU Ambassador of InterculturalDialogue. In 2001 he became the youngest person from an ethnic minority to have a seniorexecutive role in the private sector, as chairman of Waterhouse Consulting Group. In 2002 Azmireceived an OBE, Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for his work.al banna, dr hanyAl Banna is the co-founder and president of Islamic Relief, the largest Western-based internationalMuslim relief and development NGO. Established in 1983, the organization provides assistance inover 30 countries worldwide. Queen Elizabeth honoured al Banna’s work, giving him an OBE forhis services to the community.boga, nizar [new]Nizar Boga is one of the trustees and directors of The Foundation Training Company, whichoffers prison-based resettlement programs and other community services. He is a Justice of thePeace, member of the Magistrates Association, a fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health and isdistinguished for his work with various Muslim charity organizations and social service programs.He also serves as an imam at Broadmoor Hospital and Pentonville Prison.OceaniaAUSTRALIAel masri, hazemHazem el Masri is a former professional rugby league footballer for the Bulldogs club. A devoutMuslim, Masri is a respected figure in his community for his social work with young people.Central AmericaMEXICOweston, omarWeston is a British convert and the head of the Islamic Mexican Cultural Center. He is a foundingmember of Organizacion Islamica Para America Latina y el Caribe, the Caribbean Muslim Forum,and Campañia Libertad Religiosa y Derechos de Expression, an active group that focuses onreligious tolerance and freedom of religious practices. Weston is the director of Dar as SalamCentre Mexico, Centro Cultural Islamico de Mexico, and Viva Halal which assesses and certifiesMexican companies.South AmericaGUYANAkhan, faizulFaizul Khan has been credited with founding an Islamic school in Guyana at the age of 17 and hasplayed a strategic role in developing Muslim institutions both locally and abroad—particularly inthe US, where he is chapter member of the Islamic Society of North America.North AmericaCANADAalshareef, muhammad [new]Muhammad Alshareef is the founder of Al Maghrib Institute, an innovative Islamic educationalinstitution that offers university-level instruction of Islamic studies through seminars and retreats.147

DevelopmentAlshareef is also the founder of DiscoverU project, an online community that offers resources andlife coaches for those navigating financial, marital or emotional obstacles in life. He is a highlysoughtafter teacher and public speaker.doueiri, danyDoueiri is the Arabic language program coordinator at California State University San Bernardinoand co-founder of Islamicity, one of the world’s most popular websites on Islam. He is vicepresident of Human Assistance & Development International, which aims to promote educationaldevelopment and relief efforts.UNITED STATESabdul-rashid, imam talibImam Abdul-Rashid is the leader of the Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood (MIB) in Harlem, NewYork. He is a counselor and advocate for Muslims living with HIV/AIDS and has worked withinterfaith organizations and in many prisons as a Muslim chaplain. Abdul-Rashid also has his ownmonthly radio show.abdur-rauf, feisalImam Feisal Abdur-Rauf is the founder of the American Society for Muslim Advancement (ASMA),a non-profit Islamic organization dedicated to building bridges between American Muslims andthe broader public through educational and leadership initiatives such as the ‘Muslim Leaders ofTomorrow.’ He is also imam of New York’s Masjid Al Farah and author of What’s Right with Islam:A New Vision for Muslims and the West. He has been an associate professor of Islamic studies atSt. Joseph’s College in Brooklyn since spring 2009.butt, suhail [new]An architect and interior designer by profession, Suhail Butt has catalyzed educational developmentin Pakistan through volunteer work in Kashmir, and by subsequently founding Actual Size Global,a Chicago-based non-profit grassroots organization which raises funds for the creation of asustainable educational system for children in impoverished areas of Pakistan. Butt raises fundsthrough the sales of his photography and artwork in addition to fundraising events in the UnitedStates.clay, mohammad aliMuhammad Ali is a legendary three-time world heavyweight boxing champion who was crownedSportsman of the Century in 1999 by ‘Sports Illustrated’. He was an extremely important figurein the civil rights movement in the United States, who used his talent and his wit to draw publicawareness to the inequality in American society. He has remained a figure of great influence,commentating on injustices where he sees them. Now, in retirement, he travels throughout theworld promoting social justice issues.idriss, shamilShamil Idriss is the CEO of Soliya, a non-profit organization which uses the latest technology tobuild connections between young people and communities across the globe. He was formerlyappointed deputy director of the Alliance of Civilizations by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annanand then took charge as executive director of the Alliance of Civilizations Media Fund, whichmerged with Soliya in 2009. Prior to this he was director of the Search for Common GroundOrganization where he facilitated the first public visit of Americans to Iran since 1979.khan, mansurMansur is co-founder and Advisory Board member of the University Muslim Medical Associationof Los Angeles; a full-time medical clinic which serves the city’s poorest residents, and hassucceeded and grown despite the failure of many other similar charitable clinics.148

Developmentlatif, imam khalidImam Khalid Latif is the chaplain and director of the Islamic center at New York University and theMuslim chaplain for the New York Police Department. He posts podcasts of his Friday sermons,which are regularly downloaded in 40-50 countries around the world, and works with manyorganizations within New York on interfaith relations.149

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGYMEDICINE, LAWMiddle East and North AfricaEGYPTel naggar, zaghloulEl Naggar is an important Egyptian geologist and scholar who writes and speaks on science andthe Qur’an. He is a fellow of the Islamic Academy of Sciences, and is well-respected by the globalscientific community for his work on geology. He has published close to 200 academic scholarlyarticles and scientific studies. He also works for the Arab Development Institute.IRANansari, anousheh [new]Anousheh Ansari is a prominent Iranian businesswoman who is chairman, CEO, and co-founder ofProdea Systems, a private US-based company which offers technological solutions for businesses.She also co-sponsored the ‘Ansari X Prize’ with other members of the Ansari family which awarded$10 million to the first NGO that launched a reusable manned spacecraft, in 2004. However shegarners most of her influence for being the first privately-funded woman, and the first Iranian,to explore space in 2006. She was lauded for leading a new era that financially advances scientificdevelopment while extending participation in space exploration to women and ‘space tourists.’salehi, dr ali akbar [new]Dr Ali Akbar Salehi was appointed as head of the Atomic Energy Organization in Iran in July 2009,after the resignation of Gholam Reza Aghazadeh. Salehi is an academic and politician who hasbeen involved in developing Iran’s nuclear energy program since prior to the Islamic revolutionin 1979. He transitioned to leading the Atomic Energy Organization after serving as a permanentrepresentative of Iran with the International Atomic Energy Agency.AsiaINDIAkalam, his excellency dr a p j abdulAn engineer by profession, Dr A P J Abdul Kalam is a former president of India. Beforebecoming president, Kalam was the Scientific Adviser to the Defense Minister and Secretary ofIndia’s Defense Research and Development Organization from 1992 to 1999, during which heled the weaponization of strategic missile systems and nuclear testing in collaboration with theDepartment of Atomic Energy. This moved India from being a state with nuclear technology toa state with nuclear weapons. Kalam is also author of India 2020, which presents his vision of anIndian superpower by the year 2020.INDONESIAmumpuni, tri [new]Tri Mumpuni has spent 14 years on improving rural communities in Indonesia through ruralelectrification initiatives based on developments with micro-hydro electric power plants. She andher husband have promoted a system that combines heat and power as a basis for more sustainablesources of electricity. Her influential work, which offers economic incentives for implementationof the micro-hydro system has been applied in 65 villages across Indonesia and an additionalvillage in the Philippines.151

Science, Technology, Medicine, LawPAKISTANkhan, dr abdul qadeer [2009:46]Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, deemed the father of the ‘Islamic Bomb’, is the scientist who broughtnuclear technology and nuclear weapons technology in the 1970s to Pakistan which was the first—and remains the only—Muslim country to have nuclear weapons. This has has made him a figureof great international interest. He has continued to use his financial success and stature to improvethe quality of education in Pakistan through building educational institutions for metallurgicalengineering. Khan also may have had more far-reaching political influence through his allegedattempts to sell nuclear technology to Libya, Iran, and North Korea.rahman, atta-urAtta-Ur Rahman is the coordinator general of the OIC’s COMSTECH—the Standing Committeeon Scientific and Technological Cooperation for the promotion and cooperation of science andtechnology activities among the OIC member states. Rahman is also former Pakistani FederalMinister for Science and Technology, chairman of the Higher Education Commission andpresident of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences. In 1999 he became the first Muslim scientist to winthe UNESCO Science Prize.SRI LANKAmarsoof, justice saleem [new]Justice Marsoof is a judge of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka and former president of the Court ofAppeals. He is an award-winning lecturer on law and development of legal studies and a prolificauthor with special interest in law reform in Sri Lanka.MALAYSIAshukor, dr sheikh muszaphar [new]Dr Shukor, an orthopedic surgeon by profession, became the first Malaysian in space when he wasselected as one of two astronauts to be trained at Star City in Russia and subsequently selected tobe the astronaut to further Malaysia’s Angkasawan program, which sent him to the InternationalSpace Station in 2007. He successfully conducted scientific experiments while in space. His launchalso prompted the Malaysian National Fatwa Council to issue specific rulings regarding observanceof religious obligations (praying and fasting) while in space. In 2010 Shukor was appointed asone of the ambassadors of Malaysia’s nationwide reading campaign to encourage literacy amongchildren.THAILANDdahlan, prof. dr winai [new]Prof. Dr Winai Dahlan is the director of the Halal Science Center (HASCI) in Thailand, namedthe Best Innovation in the Halal Industry by Malaysia’s Halal Journal. HASCI promotes halalmanufacturing and service through exhibitions and regional cooperation with Halal Centres inIndonesia and Malaysia. Dr Winai Dahlan is involved in scientific training and has written morethan 30 original research articles published internationally and locally. He has also produced morethan 2000 scientific and nutritional articles; writing weekly in 3 magazines since 1989.EuropeFINLANDel fatatry, mohamedMohamed el Fatatry, a Finland-based Egyptian entrepreneur, is chairman and CEO of a socialnetworking website for Muslims, Muxlim.com. The online community, created in 2005, has beenrecognized as a growing private venture, empowering users with a Muslim-friendly environmentfor cross-cultural communication. Muxlim.com is also the recipient of Finland’s 2010 yearlyInternationalization Award. The website boasts over 10 million visitors per month from over 190countries.152

Science, Technology, Medicine, LawFRANCEguiderdoni, dr bruno abd al haqq [new]Dr Guiderdoni is an expert on Islam in France, and professionally serves as the director of theObservatory of Lyon. He has written extensively on galaxy formation and evolution, Islamictheology and mysticism.UNITED KINGDOMal hassani, dr salim [new]Dr Salim al Hassani is a former professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of ManchesterInstitute of Science and Technology, and the celebrated author of 1001 Inventions: Muslim Heritagein Our World—a best-selling account of scientific and technological developments in Islamichistory. Dr al Hassani also serves as the chairman and founder of the Foundation for Science,Technology and Civilisation which partners with the Abdul Latif Jameel Foundation, a Britishcharity, to showcase the ‘1001 Inventions Global Touring Exhibition’ across the UK, the UnitedStates, and Turkey in 2010.khalid, fazlunFazlun Khalid is the founder and director of the Birmingham-based Islamic Foundation forEcology and Environmental Sciences. Khaled is an expert on Islamic environmentalism, and haswritten extensively on religion and conservation. In 1995 he facilitated a conference where allmajor faiths pledged to cooperate on environmental issues.qureshi, prof. khawarKhawar Qureshi QC is one of the world’s leading experts on public international law. He is theyoungest advocate ever to have appeared before the International Court of Justice in 1993 forBosnia’s genocide case against Yugoslavia. As a QC, a barrister appointed as counsel to the BritishCrown, Qureshi was one of four specially selected counselors to appear in hearings concerningalleged international terrorists. He was a legal adviser to the Bosnian government during theDayton Peace Talks and remains the vice chairman of the International Committee of the BarCouncil of England and Wales.North AmericaCANADAkutty, faisal [new]A leading Canadian lawyer, Faisal Kutty is outspoken on issues of human rights, Islamic thoughtand anti-terror legislation. He is a founding member of the Canadian Muslim Civil LibertiesAssociation and has written numerous academic articles, papers, reviews and essays on topicsranging from national security to religion and law.oz, dr mehmetMehmet Oz is a cardiothoracic surgeon who became increasingly influential as a frequent gueston the Oprah Winfrey Show. He is professor of Cardiac Surgery at Columbia University, leadsnumerous organizations and charities, and has co-authored books on health and wellness whichcome up to approximately nine million in print. Oz is featured on Oprah Winfrey’s satellite radiochannel and currently hosts his own talk show called ‘Dr Oz’ with an average 3.5 million viewersdaily. He is a regular contributor to Esquire and Time magazineqazi, dr mahmood ahmad [new]Dr Qazi is a renaissance man of sorts, having founded the Chicago-based Kazi Publications andthe Water-Hydrogen Energy Enterprises Limited (WHEEL, LLC). He has authored various Islamicbooks, is a successful chemical engineer, in addition to being imam to various communitiesin Pennsylvania, including the state correctional institutions. He is currently developing greenhydrogen-fuel energy solutions.153

Science, Technology, Medicine, Lawzewail, dr ahmedDr Ahmed Zewail is a Linus Pauling Professor at the California Institute of Technology who wonthe 1999 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his research in femtochemistry. He has recently acceptedPresident Obama’s invitation to serve on the Presidential Council of Advisors on Science andTechnology. In January 2010 Dr Zewail was appointed one of the first US science envoys to Islam.The group of scholars visited Muslim countries from North Africa to Southeast Asia to findopportunities to develop the fields of science and technology in the Muslim world.154

ARTS AND CULTUREMiddle East and North AfricaALGERIAbuhairi, muhammad ahmadMuhammad Buhairi is a prominent calligrapher distinguished in the Middle East, and globally, forhis skills. He studied at the Mimar Sinan University of Fine Arts in Turkey, where he received hisijaza (certification) in khat (script). He has been working at the Institute of Traditional Islamic Art& Architecture in Amman, Jordan.EGYPTabo auf, dr ezzatAbo Auf is president of the Cairo International Film Festival. A successful actor and co-host of thehighly popular on-air talk show ‘Cairo Today’. Abo Auf is also an accomplished musician, havingplayed with some of today’s most celebrated Egyptian musicians.al aswany, alaa [new]Alaa Al Aswany is considered Egypt’s biggest best-selling novelist and a powerful intellectualin current political reform movements in Egypt. A dentist by profession, Al Aswany came toprominence for his 2002 novel, ‘Imarat Ya‘qubian (The Yacoubian Building) which has since beentranslated into over 23 different languages. His second best-selling novel, ‘Chicago’ was publishedin 2007. Al Aswany is a prolific writer, with his opinions on social issues and politics featured inleading Egyptian media outlets.IRANnazeri, shahramShahram Nazeri is a world famous icon of classical Persian, folkloric Kurdish and Sufi music.Hailed as ‘Iran’s Pavarotti’ by the Christian Science Monitor, Nazeri has released over 40 recordingsto date and has performed in major venues worldwide.JORDANal baghdadi, abbas shakir al fattalAbbas Shakir al Fattal al Baghdadi is one of the world’s foremost exponents of Islamic calligraphy.He was born in 1951 in Baghdad and has had a distinguished career as a calligrapher and teacherof calligraphy. He adheres strictly to the rules of classical calligraphy and is adverse to ‘moderncalligraphy’, especially when its practitioners do not master the art in its traditional form. He iswell-known for the balance, clarity and readability of his works.al meheid, minwerMinwer al Meheid is director of the College of Traditional Arts and Sciences at Balqa Universityin Amman, Jordan, which trains students in traditional arts. The College’s influence is starting toshow as wealthy Muslims and others from countries beyond Jordan have commissioned work fromits craftsmen. Al Meheid has been prominent for leading the recreation of the famous Minbar ofSalahuddin from old photographs and actual remains. In 2010 he was appointed as the director ofthe Royal Aal al Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought.LEBANONassaf, rogerRoger Assaf is a convert to Shi’ism. He is a prominent Lebanese director, actor and playwright.With his actress wife Hanane Hajj-Ali, he co-founded Al Hakawati (Storyteller) Theatre Companyand the Shams Cultural Cooperative for Youth in Theatre and Culture, an organization providingunderprivileged individuals with a forum for self-expression through drama.155

Arts and CultureQATARhusain, maqbool fida (m.f.) [new]Maqbool Fida Husain is an eminent master painter who recently gave up his Indian citizenship dueto a public outcry against his paintings which depict nude deities. He has been granted citizenshipin Qatar where his artwork is on display at the Islamic museum in Doha, and where his latest workwill be the focus of an exhibit themed ‘Form Follows Function—a tribute to the power of manversus machine.’SYRIAtaha, uthman [new]Uthman Taha is an internationally acclaimed Arabic calligrapher. After training with the world’stop calligraphers, Taha began working on producing copies of the Qur’an, or mushafs with theKing Fahd Complex for the Printing of the Holy Qur’an. Of the copies he has worked on, over 200million have been distributed and are continually sought by students of the Qur’an and Muslimsacross the globe.Southern AfricaSOUTH AFRICAamla, hashimAmla is a South African cricketer. In 2004 he became the first South African team player of Indiandescent. As a devout Muslim, he has actively campaigned to remove all alcohol-promoting logosfrom merchandise and playing gear.bhika, zainZain Bhika is a South African singer-songwriter and pioneer performer of nasheed songs. He isknown for his collaborative efforts with other prominent Muslim entertainers including YusufIslam and Dawud Wharnsby Ali. Bhika also writes and directs plays written specifically for schools.West AfricaMALIkeita, salifKnown as the ‘golden voice of Africa’, Salif Keita is an Afro-pop singer-songwriter from Mali. HisWest African music is combined with influences from Europe and the Americas. In 1977 Keitareceived a National Order Award from Guianese President Sékou Touré. His music is very popularin the Francophone world, and more broadly in Europe. Keita’s latest album, La Différence, wasawarded Best World Music 2010 by the Victoires de la Musique.SENEGALn’dour, youssouYoussou N’dour is a world famous Senegalese composer, singer, percussionist and UNICEF GoodwillAmbassador. In 2005, N’Dour received a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World MusicAlbum for ‘Egypt’. As a cultural icon in Senegal, he is actively involved in social and political issuesand is building his own television and radio stations to promote social issues and give Senegalesepeople better access to home grown arts. His latest campaign was a 2009 song release of ‘WakeUp (It’s Africa Calling)’ which called for open source health applications to be brought to Africa.AsiaAZERBAIJANqasimov, alimAlim Qasimov is an Azerbaijani musician and one of the most recognized singers of Islamic-folk156

Arts and Culturemusic in the world. In 1999, he was awarded the prestigious International IMC-UNESCO MusicPrize. Qasimov has recorded nine albums, and performed in many concerts around the world.CHINAchengzhi, zhangZhang Chengzhi is considered by many to be the most influential contemporary Muslim writer inChina. His historical narrative History of the Soul, about the rise of the Jahriyya Sufi Tariqah inChina’s northwest, was the second-most popular book in China in 1994.noor deen, haji (mi guang jiang)Haji Noor Deen is a globally recognized Chinese master and lecturer in Arabic calligraphy. In 1997he became the first Chinese Muslim to be awarded the Egyptian Certificate of Arabic Calligraphyand to be admitted as a member of the Association of Egyptian Calligraphy. He currently lectureson Arabic calligraphy at the Islamic College in Zhen Zhou, China and the Zaytuna Institute inCalifornia.yue, maMa Yue is a Chinese martial artist and national champion of Wushu. His Muslim Hui family’sassociation with marital arts goes back six generations. Yue is a two-time gold medalist in theNational Chinese Traditional Wu Shu Championships and a graduate of the Wushu University ofChina. His current focus is on promoting the practice of Tai Ji.INDIAkhan, shahrukhNamed by Newsweek as one of the 50 most powerful people in 2008, Shahrukh Khan is thepreeminent Indian Bollywood star, film producer and television host. Khan is the founder andowner of two production companies, Dreamz Unlimited and Red Chillies Entertainment. Hecampaigns for better relations between India’s Muslim and Hindu communities. His 2010 movie‘My Name is Khan’ was internationally acclaimed for its pertinent commentary on the relationshipbetween Islam and the West after 9/11.rahman, allah rakha (a.r.)Rahman is a prolific composer, record producer, and musician for the Indian film industry. He isthe first Indian to receive a Golden Globe Award and two Academy Awards for his soundtrack of‘Slumdog Millionaire’. For that soundtrack he also received two Grammy awards. He was namedCNN-IBN Indian of the Year for 2009. In 2004, Rahman was appointed the Global Ambassador ofThe Stop TB Partnership, a World Health Organization project.INDONESIArosa, helvy tianaHelvy Tiana Rosa is a prominent Indonesian writer and lecturer in literature at the State Universityof Jakarta (UNJ). Rosa is a member of Majelis Sastra Asia Tenggara (the Southeast Asia Boardof Literature) and often represents Indonesia in literary events at home and abroad. She alsohelped found the Pen Circle Forum (FLP) in 1997 with the goal of encouraging young writers.MALAYSIAraihanRaihan are a world famous Malaysian nasheed group with four members: Che Amran Idris, AbuBakar Md Yatim, Amran Ibrahim and Zulfadli Bin Mustaza. Since their coming together in 1996,they have made 11 albums and received numerous awards in Malaysia.157

Arts and CulturePAKISTANjamshed, junaid [new]A former pop icon, Junaid Jamshed left his career as a recording artist with the group ‘Vital Signs’to join the ranks of Pakistan’s highly respected Qur’an reciters and nasheed singers. The departurefrom pop music was associated with his participation in the Tablighi Jamaat organization startingin 2004. He has since released best-selling albums of Islamic songs.parveen, abida [new]Abida Parveen is an internationally acclaimed vocalist, often referred to as the ‘Queen of Sufimystic singing’. She is the only woman who has reached her level of influence in devotional music,specializing in traditional ghazals, often performing to stadium-size audiences across South Asiaand globally.EuropeFRANCEdeghati, rezaReza Deghati, more commonly known simply as Reza, is an internationally acclaimedphotojournalist who has reported from all over the world for National Geographic, Vanity Fair,the New York Times and other reputable publications. He is also the founder of Aina, a nonprofithumanitarian organization dedicated to civil society development through education,information, and communication initiatives. Deghati was the 2009 Recipient of the Lucie Awardfrom the Lucie Foundation in New York.LATVIAuldis, berzinsBerzins Uldis is a Latvian poet and translator. Uldis has been teaching Turkish at the ModernLanguages Department of the University of Latvia since 2002 and is known for spending fifteenyears on the first translation of the Qur’an in Latvian, published in 2009.NETHERLANDSbenali, abdelkaderAbdelkader Benali is a Moroccan-Dutch writer and journalist. For his second novel, Delangverwachte (The long-awaited one), Benalis received the Libris Prize for Literature. Besideswriting novels and theatrical plays, Benali publishes essays and reviews in various media. His latestnovel is Hourglass (2010).el mouhandiz, rajaeRajae el Mouhandiz is a Dutch-Moroccan-Algerian poet, singer, composer and producer, andfounder of the record label Truthseeker Records. After being the first Moroccan to study at aDutch conservatory, el Mouhandiz left classical music to follow her own artistic path, seeking toincorporate her cultural roots. Her latest album Hand of Fatima (2009) features ‘Malcolm LateefShabazz’ and is an increasingly popular single about her meeting with the grandson of Malcolm X.TURKEYçelebi, hasan [new]Master Hasan Çelebi is an eminent Turkish calligrapher who is hailed for his classical Ottomancalligraphy style. His exhibitions have been featured globally and he is celebrated for his restorationof calligraphic panels in mosques around the world—from the Masjid al Nabawi in Medina to theBlue Mosque in Istanbul.yalçin, rabiaRabia Yalçin is a Turkish fashion designer. Her creations represent a synthesis of local andinternational cultures and are inspired by the opulence of her homeland’s Ottoman past. Withher line Rabia Yalçin Haute Couture, Yalçin has a strong presence in the European fashion scene.158

Arts and CultureUNITED KINGDOMabdalla, khalid [new]Khalid Abdallah is a British actor acclaimed for his performances in the award-winning film‘United 93’ and the film adaptation of ‘The Kite Runner’ in which he played the lead role. He is anincreasingly influential Muslim actor, most recently starring in the Universal Pictures production,‘Green Zone’ (2010).islam, yusufFormerly known as Cat Stevens, Yusuf Islam is a globally influential British musician andsinger-songwriter. In 1977, he converted to Islam and left the music industry for educational andphilanthropic causes. His international fame and high-regard has made him probably the singlemost influential figure in the field of arts and culture in the Muslim world. In the past five years hehas made a gradual return to music with his latest albums ‘An Other Cup’ and ‘Roadsinger’. Islamis a vocal opponent of terrorism and extremism and in 2004 was recognized with the Man of Peaceaward by the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates Committee.sanders, peterSanders is a notable photographer and convert to Islam. He was granted exclusive privileges tophotograph Hajj pilgrimage rituals in 1971, and subsequently has become an influential figurein photography as author of In the Shade of the Tree, A Visit to A Prophet, and other books thatdisplay his exploration of the Muslim world.yusuf, samiSami Yusuf is a superstar in the Muslim music industry. He is an internationally popular Britishsinger-songwriter whose music has revolutionized the nasheed industry. Yusuf’s music is mostlycomprised of Islamic themes—about being a Muslim in today’s world. He is also known for hisextensive involvement in charity work. His songs enjoy a broad appeal with all age groups in manyparts of the Muslim world and in Europe and North America.South AmericaGUYANAshah, ryhaanRyhaan Shah is considered among the best contemporary writers in Guyana and the Caribbean,best known for her 2005 novel A Silent Life. Shah is also an active public figure as the president ofthe Guyanese Indian Heritage Association.North AmericaCANADAnawaz, zarqaZarqa Nawaz is a journalist and filmmaker who produced the award-winning Canadian sitcom‘Little Mosque on the Prairie’, a comedy about a Muslim family living in Saskatchewan which hasrun for 4 seasons and may be adopted by FOX as a series in the US. Nawaz owns a company calledFUNdamentalist Films that produces films about Muslims living in North America.UNITED STATESmehdi, anisa [new]Currently a Fulbright Scholar in Amman, Jordan, Anisa Mehdi is an Emmy Award-winningjournalist and filmmaker who is noted for her National Geographic documentary ‘InsideMecca.’ Mehdi’s work has been featured on major media outlets. She is the founding president ofWhetstone Productions, and continues to work on documentary film making in the Middle East,while focusing on religion and the arts.159

Arts and Culturemos defMos Def—born Dante Terrell Smith—is a hip-hop artist who has recently become more popularfor his acting career, which garnered him Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. He is noted forhis stance against the misinterpretation of the Qur’an.zakariya, mohamedAn engineer by training, Mohamed Zakariya is now an award-winning Arabic calligrapher whosework is displayed all over the United States. In 2001, he designed the ‘Eid holiday stamp for theUnited States Postal Service and in 2002, he was featured in the PBS documentary ‘Muhammad:Legacy of a Prophet’.160

QURAN RECITERSMiddle East and North AfricaEGYPTtiblawi, sheikh mohammadTiblawi is a popular Egyptian Qur’an reciter. He gained popularity in the Middle East afterstudying at Al Azhar—the second oldest university in the world, founded in 975 CE—and recitingthe Qur’an on Egyptian television in 1956. Since then, Tiblawi has been widely recognized as aleading reciter of the Qur’an and has recited for royalty and at prominent international events.KUWAITal afasy, sheikh mishary bin rashidAl Afasy is a globally influential reciter of the Holy Qur’an, and an imam at Masjid al Kabir inKuwait. He is also a singer of Arabic language nasheed. He has gained international acclaim for hisinnovative use of technology to promote Islam through two satellite channels, a website (www.alafasy.com), and videos on YouTube.SAUDI ARABIAal ajmi, sheikh ahmed aliAl Ajmi is a Qur’an reciter from Khobar Province in Saudi Arabia. Prior to gaining prominencefor his recitation style as an imam at mosques in Khobar and now in Jeddah, he studied Qur’anicinterpretation in Saudi Arabia and subsequently in Pakistan.al ghamdi, sheikh sa’d ibn sa’idAl Ghamdi is a world famous reciter of the Qur’an. He has served as imam to Muslim communitiesacross the globe and is currently the imam of Kanoo Mosque in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. AlGhamdi has studied Usul ad Din (fundamentals of religion) and isnad (chain of narration ofHadith) and is recognized as an influential Saudi theologian.al mu’ayqali, sheikh mahir bin hamadAl Mu’ayqali is an imam at the Grand Mosque in Mecca. He is an influential reciter of the Qur’an,which he memorized with distinguished scholars in Medina. Al Mu’ayqali left his career as amathematics teacher to become a scholar in Mecca and is now a popular preacher and teacher ofQur’anic studies.al shatri, sheikh abu bakrAl Shatri is an imam in Jeddah, and a leading reciter of the Qur’an. Although he studied accounting,he has become increasingly influential for his recitation of the Qur’an at international Islamicevents and particularly across the Middle East and in Saudi Arabia.al shuraim, sheikh abu ibrahim sa’ud ibn muhammadAl Shuraim is a leading reciter of the Qur’an known for his unique recitation style across the world.He formally studied Usul ad Din (fundamentals of religion) in Saudi Arabia, before becoming ateacher, and subsequently imam at the Grand Mosque in Mecca.al sudais, sheikh abdul rahmanAl Sudais has international influence through his recitation of the Qur’an, which he memorizedat age 12. Currently an imam at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, he has studied sharia at RiyadhUniversity, Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University, and Umm al Qura University. AlSudais is also popular for his sermons and stance on peaceful conflict-resolution.161

Quran RecitersAsiaINDONESIAulfah, hajjah mariaHajjah Maria Ulfah is an internationally acclaimed reciter of the Holy Qur’an and is the firstwoman to win an international Qur’an recitation competition. She has popularized the Egyptianstyle of recitation and serves as director of the women’s department of the Institute for Qur’anStudy in Indonesia.EuropeAUSTRIApodojak, hafiz senad [new]Hafiz Podojak was born in Bosnia and has won numerous awards for Qur’anic recitation. Heis active in the community and was recently appointed to teach Islamic religious instruction inpublic schools. He is a highly distinguished member of Austria’s Muslim Community.CROATIAalili, hafiz azizAlili is a Macedonian who was trained in Qur’anic recitation in Sarajevo. He is increasinglyinfluential for his nasheed and more so for his distinct style of recitation. He is currently the imamof Medžlis Islamske Zajednice in Zagreb, Croatia.TURKEY [new]günesdogdu, mustafa özcanMustafa Özcan Günesdogdu is an acclaimed Qur’an recitor of Turkish descent who is based inGermany. His participation in interational recitation competitions has made him one of the mostpopular recitors in the world. He has published a German-language translation of the Qur’an inan album released in 2003, is a member of a nasheed group which performs across Europe and hasbeen a reciter and teacher of Qur’an for over 25 years.162

MEDIAMiddle East and North AfricaEGYPTabulmagd, his excellency prof. dr kamalAbulmagd is an important intellectual in Egypt and the wider Arab world, who holds significantinfluence over media relations and public diplomacy in the Middle East. Shortly after September 11,2001 Abulmagd was appointed the Commissioner Responsible for Dialogue Between Civilizationsby the Arab League. He is noted as one of the most influential ‘new Islamist’ thinkers. He waspreviously Egypt’s information minister and is currently a professor of International law.howeidy, dr fahmyHoweidy is one of the leading columnists in the Arab world. He writes for the Egyptian daily AlAhram, where he is the deputy editor-in-chief, however his articles are syndicated to seven otherArabic publications. Howeidy is influential both through his popularity and the fact that he hashighlighted issues concerning Muslim communities outside the Arab world in groundbreakingwork on Chinese, Bosnian, and Senegalese Muslims, among others. Muslims appreciate andrespond well to Howeidy’s use of Islam as a frame of reference in his articles.schleifer, prof. dr suleiman abdallahAbdallah Schleifer is a Middle East expert who has covered the region for over 30 years. He hasworked for NBC and many other international media outlets. A professor emeritus at the AmericanUniversity in Cairo, Schleifer is considered a bridge-builder between cultures.KUWAITal mutawa, jassemJassem al Mutawa is the president of Iqra satellite channel, an Islamic TV channel presentingprograms on everyday life problems concerning spiritual, cultural, social and economic issuesfrom a modern Islamic perspective.al mutawa, dr naifNaif al Mutawa is founder and CEO of Teshkeel Media Group and creator of the popular Islamicthemedcomic series ‘The 99’. In addition to having authored multiple children’s books, al Mutawaholds a PhD in clinical psychology and has practiced in the field for many years.sweidan, sheikh dr tariqTariq Sweidan is the CEO and owner of Gulf Innovation Group in Kuwait and the general managerof Al Resalah Satellite TV. An entrepreneur and a TV personality—his shows ranking among thehighest in the Middle East—Sweidan is also prominent as a motivational speaker and author ofbooks on Islam.PALESTINEkhanfar, waddahKhanfar is the director general of the Al Jazeera network, a position he has held since 2006. Hebegan his career as a war correspondent and has been instrumental in carving out Al Jazeera’sposition as the most watched and most respected news network in the Middle East. The networkhas recently expanded into other markets with Al Jazeera English. Al Jazeera’s ethical decisionto interview Israeli officials has been groundbreaking in promoting the idea that all perspectivesshould be broadcast on an Arabic-language news program.163

Mediakuttab, daoudKuttab is an internationally recognized Palestinian media activist and journalist. He founded theInstitute of Modern Media at Al Quds University, established the Jerusalem Film Institute andhelped in establishing the Arabic Media Internet Network (AMIN). In 2007, Kuttab establishedAmmanNet.net, the Arab world’s first Internet radio station.QATARphilips, dr abu ameenah bilalA notable convert and Islamic scholar, Philips is founder of the virtual educational institutionIslamic Online University and Discover Islam, an Islamic center based in Dubai. He reaches massMuslim audiences through his television appearances on India-based satellite channel, Peace TV.UNITED ARAB EMIRATESal rostamani, dr aminaAl Rostamani is CEO of TECOM Investments Corporation, the investment wing of the DubaiTechnology and Media Free Trade Zone since July of 2005. Al Rostamani obtained the rank of 80in the ‘Power 100: The World’s Most Influential Arabs’ in 2009.Southern AfricaSOUTH AFRICAhaffajee, ferialHaffajee is editor of the Mail and Guardian; South Africa’s premier investigative newspaper. Shewas the first non-white woman, and first Muslim woman to become the editor of a major dailynewspaper in South Africa.Morton, ShafiqShafiq Morton is an award-winning journalist, photographer and presenter of the current affairsprogram ‘Drivertime Show’ on the Muslim radio station Voice of the Cape.AsiaAFGHANISTANmohseni, saad [new]Mohseni is a successful businessman and the founder and head of the Moby Group, Afghanistan’slargest media company which has interests in television, radio, print, production, online newsservices, directories, IT&T, and retail.samandar, rahimullah [new]Samandar is the head of Afghanistan’s Independent Journalists’ Association, which serves animportant role in critiquing the freedom and limits of the press in Afghanistan.INDONESIAbagir, haidarHaidar Bagir is the founder and director of Mizan, a large publishing company that significantlyshapes the development of Islamic discourse in Indonesia. Bagir has founded and lectured-inmany educational institutions, and his philanthropic contributions include work on communitydevelopment. He has written extensively on Sufism.bayuni, endy m. [new]Bayuni is the chief editor of The Jakarta Post, Indonesia’s largest and most popular daily Englishlanguagenewspaper.164

Mediamohammad, goenawan [new]Goenawan Mohammad is a writer, editor, activist, and award-winning journalist. He is the founderand editor of Tempo Magazine, Indonesia’s most widely circulated weekly.PAKISTANhamid, zaid [new]One of the most influential television personalities in Pakistan, Zaid Hamid is a security consultantand strategic defense analyst by profession. He is also a popular political commentator, and is thefounder of Brass Tacks, a Pakistani think tank on global politics. Hamid also hosts ‘BrassTacks withZaid Hamid’ on News1 Channel and has been featured on ‘Wake up Pakistan’ on Pakistani satellitechannel ARY, as well as ‘Iqbal ka Pakistan’ on Aag TV. Although he has been deemed by some as aconspiracy theorist, he maintains a substantial audience.shakil-ur-rahman, mir [new]Shakil-ur-Rahman is the owner of the Independent Media Corporation, Pakistan’s largestmedia conglomerate. The Geo TV network and the Jang Group are both under this umbrellaorganization. Shakil-ur-Rahman is also the chief executive and editor-in-chief of the Jang Group,which publishes a number of newspapers and magazines in Urdu and English.EuropeNETHERLANDSmirza, umarUmar Mirza is chief editor of Wijblijvenhier.nl, the biggest Muslim weblog in the Netherlands. Heis also president of the Al Hidayah organization, which organizes Islamic courses, seminars andfestivals throughout the country.TURKEYdumanli, ekremEkrem Dumanli is the editor-in-chief of Zaman, a popular Turkish daily newspaper with close tiesto the Gülen movement. He has published five books and has written a play.UNITED KINGDOMatwan, abdel bariAbdel Bari Atwan is a prominent Palestinian-British journalist and editor-in-chief of the majordaily Arabic newspaper Al Quds Al Arabi. An expert on Middle Eastern and current affairs, Atwanis a leading writer and commentator, making regular appearances as a media consultant on majornews networks.joseph, sarahSarah Joseph is the editor of Emel Magazine. She has become influential as a commentator onIslam in Britain through her work as a speaker, publisher and broadcaster over the past decade.Her novel idea of creating a Muslim lifestyle magazine that focuses on the lives of everyday peoplehas played a significant part in changing the expectations of British Muslims with regards toIslamic publications. Emel also commands a readership of interested non-Muslims.khan, rizwanRizwan Khan—known more commonly as Riz Khan—is a British television news reporter andinterviewer of prominent personalities. He gained international prominence while working for theBBC and CNN in senior anchor positions, before moving to Al Jazeera English, where he currentlyhosts his own political talk show. He was born in the former South Yemen.165

Medianahdi, fuadFuad Nahdi is founding editor of Q News a leading British Muslim magazine. He is also thedirector of The Radical Middle Way, a UK-based Muslim initiative set up to promote youthactivism, authentic Islamic scholarship and education and the development of a distinct BritishMuslim identity.omaar, ragehRageh Omaar is a television news presenter and writer who was stationed in Iraq and South Africa.He was the world affairs correspondent for the BBC from 1991 until 2006 when he moved to AlJazeera English, where he currently presents the documentary series ‘Witness’. Omaar also hosts anew show, called ‘The Rageh Omaar Report.’North AmericaCANADAbaksh, nazimBaksh is a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation television and radio producer specializing in rootcauses of terrorism. He also covers issues relating to traditional Islam. He is a former MasseyFellow and has produced the international affairs radio program ‘Dispatches’ since 2000.UNITED STATESamanat, omarOmar Amanat is an entrepreneur, and successful businessman. He founded TradescapeCorporation before its sale to E*Trade in 2002 for $280 million. Amanat is the founder of SummitEntertainment, a production and distribution studio in Hollywood worth $1 billion that createdthe popular sitcom ‘Aliens in America’. The Wall Street Journal named Amanat one of the ‘Top TenMost Influential Technologists’.amanullah, shahedShahed Amanullah is the editor-in-chief of altmuslim.com, a website dedicated to opinions andsocial analyses from the Muslim world. An award-winning journalist, Amanuallah has also createdwebsites that serve as an online platform for Muslim products and mosques.godlas, dr alanGodlas is an American academic focusing on Islamic mysticism. He is known for his Islamicstudies (www.uga.edu/islam/) and Sufism websites that are highly regarded as leading academicresources for research on Islam.gouverneur, aishaAisha Gouverneur is the founder of the Islamic Texts Society and director of the non-profit,charitable foundation and publishing company Fons Vitae. Gouverneur is the co-writer of TheLife of the Prophet Muhammad (2003).wolfe, michaelMichael Wolfe is the president and executive producer of Unity Productions Foundation, whichpromotes peace through media. The company’s first full-length, award-winning film, ‘Muhammad:Legacy of a Prophet’ was broadcast extensively as a television documentary after its release in 2002.Wolfe has written a number of works on Islam and also hosted a televised account of the Hajj for‘Nightline’ in 1997 that was nominated for several awards.zakaria, fareedFareed Zakaria is one of the United States’ foremost public intellectuals. He is a politicalcommentator, journalist, bestselling author, and TV host specializing in international affairs. Hehas been editor of Newsweek International since 2000, and was former editor of Foreign Affairs. Hehas hosted several political shows, his current being ‘Fareed Zakaria GPS’ on CNN.166

RADICALSMiddle East and North AfricaEGYPTal zawahiri, aymanAyman al Zawahiri is considered the second-in-command, and the key ideological leader of AlQaeda. An alleged radical since the age of 15, he went on to become the leader of Egypt’s IslamicJihad. Al Zawahiri is author of numerous Al Qaeda statements.IRAQal baghdadi, abu omarAbu Omar Al Baghdadi is the alleged leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq. A reclusive figure whose existenceremains in question, it has been claimed by the Iraqi security forces that he has been captured—areport that has been refuted by the American government.SAUDI ARABIAbin laden, osamaThe son of a wealthy Saudi businessman Osama bin Laden is the leader of Al Qaeda and isconsidered the most wanted man internationally for several terrorist attacks—the largest of whichwere the September 11 attacks that resulted in the deaths of 3000 civilians.al madkhali, sheikh rabi’ ibn haadi ‘umayrSheikh Rabi’ Ibn Haadi ‘Umayr al Madkhali is one of the most radical thinkers in the Salafimovement. He is an influential writer and speaker, whose influence has lead to an independentfaction within Salafism. Al Madkhali’s adherents are known as Madkhali Salafis and make up oneof the most significant and influential branches inside the Salafi movement.YEMENal awlaki, anwar [new]Al Awlaki is the first American citizen that the CIA has given explicit permission to kill for hisalleged support and encouragement of terrorist operations such as 9/11, the Ft. Hood shootingsand the attempted Christmas Day and Times Square bombings in 2010. He is reportedly living inYemen.AsiaAFGHANISTANhekmatyar, gulbuddinFormer prime minister of Afghanistan (1993-1994, 1996), Gulbuddin Hekmatyar has been deemeda ‘Specially Designated Global International Terrorist’ by the US Department of State for linkswith Al Qaeda and the Taliban. He is also founder of the Hezb-e-Islami political party that wasfounded as a mujahiddeen force against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan but developed intoa militant group that is responsible for numerous attacks, including those against civilians.omar, mullah muhammadMullah Muhammad Omar is the reclusive leader of Afghanistan’s Taliban. A prominent figureduring Afghanistan’s struggle against Soviet occupation, he is better known for his support ofOsama bin Laden. He is believed to be directing the Taliban in their war against NATO andAfghanistan forces.167

Radicalshaqqani, sirajuddin [new]Haqqani heads militant forces based in Waziristan, fighting against American and NATO forces inAfghanistan. His group is reportedly closely allied with Pakistani Taliban.PAKISTANsaeed, hafiz mohammadHafiz Muhammad Saeed is the supposed leader of Jama’at ud Da’wah, Pakistan. He is formerly aprofessor of Islamic Studies at the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan.His group is suggested to have inflicted severe causalities on Indian forces in the disputed Kashmirregion as well as terror attacks on the Indian parliament house in New Delhi. He is the founder ofthe Pakistani-based Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group, which is alleged to have organized the 2008Mumbai attacks.INDONESIAbashir, abu bakarAbu Bakar Bashir is an Indonesian Muslim cleric and leader of the Indonesian MujahedeenCouncil (MMI). He runs the Al Mukmin boarding school in Ngruki, Central Java. It is alleged thathe is the spiritual head of Jemaah Islamiyah with supposed links to Al Qaeda; a suggestion he hasdenied, stating that he does not believe Jemaah Islamiyah exists. Bashir reportedly founded a neworganization, Jemaah Ansharut Tauhid in 2009.shihab, habib rizieq [new]Rizieq Shihab is the leader of Front Pembela Muslim (Islamic Defender Front), a hard line Islamicgroup in Indonesia. Criticism of FPI’s methods has mainly centered on its violent tactics. The FPIhas conducted yearly raids during the holy month of Ramadan, targeting night clubs, bars andother various venues ‘not respectful of the holy month.’ The violent raids are often covered bylocal, electronic and print media.168

INTERNATIONAL ISLAMICNETWORKSInternational Islamic FiqhAcademy; Majma Al FiqhGLOBALal abbadi, his excellency abdul salam (p. 124)The International Islamic Fiqh Academy is an agency of the Organization of the Islamic Conference.Al Abbadi is the Secretary-General of the former organization. It was set up by representatives fromall Muslim-majority countries at the Third International Islamic Summit in 2005 to provide theglobal Muslim populace a singular legal body. It remains the leading inter-sectarian institution fordefinitive legal rulings on Islam, and has a particular focus on contemporary social and politicalproblems, and interpreting Islamic law in an international legal context.Muslim Brotherhood; Al Ikhwan Al MuslimeenEGYPTbadi, dr mohammed (p. 50)Dr Mohammed Badi became the 8th Supreme Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood in January 2010.The Muslim Brotherhood, or Al Ikhwan Al Muslimeen, organizes political dissent in Egypt, recentlyhaving arranged mass protests criticizing the conflict in Gaza; it also demanded an apology from thePope in Jordan, all in the face of mounting criticism against the Brotherhood’s beliefs and practices.The Muslim Brotherhood is active throughout the Middle East, North Africa and also in manyWestern countries.Hizb Ut TahrirJORDANabu rashta, ataAta Abu Rashta is the global leader of the Islamic political party Hizb ut Tahrir. Having workedclosely with the founder of Hizb ut Tahrir—Taqiuddin an Nabhani—Abu Rashta became prominentin Jordan during the Persian Gulf War when he contested the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait; in 2003 hebecame the leader of the party. Hizb ut Tahrir is popular in the Levant, the former Soviet Union,South and South East Asia, and Western Europe.The Royal Aal al Bayt Institutefor Islamic ThoughtJORDANThe Royal Aal al Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought is an independent international nongovernmentalinstitute headquartered in Amman, the capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.The Royal Academy of the Royal Aal al Bayt Institute was officially established by law, with 100 leadingscholars of Islam as senior fellows, appointed from all over the world by royal decree. The institute’svarious aims are to serve the Islamic community worldwide through sound scholarly work, dispellingmisconceptions and fallacies about Islam and fostering dialogue and cooperation between differentschools of Islamic jurisprudence.169

International Islamic NetworksHezbollahLEBANONnasrallah, seyyed hasan (p. 62)Seyyed Hasan Nasrallah is the current and third secretary general of Hezbollah (the Party of God).Hezbollah is a Twelver Shi’a Islamic political party and paramilitary organization based in Lebanon.Political and military successes have made Nasrallah a vastly influential figure in Lebanon, and in theMiddle East more broadly. Hezbollah’s ideology is based on seeking social justice through Islamicideals. Hezbollah appears at first to be a Lebanese national party, however its broad support fromacross the Middle East from individuals and communities supporting the idea of revolutionaryShi’ism have made it a global network. It has a significant following in Iran and Syria.MarjaiyyaIRAQsistani, his eminence grand ayatollah ali husseiniAli Husseini Sistani, a Grand Ayatollah and Twelver Shi’a marja is currently the highest-ranking Shi’areligious scholar in Iraq and leads the seminary of traditional Shi’a Islamic studies in Najaf. Since theIraq war, Sistani has played a wider political role in Iraq. He has been referred to as a key figure in theso-called ‘Shi’a revival’, for his central place in the Marjaiyya (the community of marjas).Dawat-e-IslamiPAKISTAN [NEW]qadiri, sheikh muhammad ilyas attar qadiri (p. 104)Dawat-e-Islami, which translates as ‘invitation to Islam,’ is a Sunni revival movement of the Barelwisect. Based in Pakistan, this network’s influence is spread over 6 continents and 71 countries with asubstantial following in the UK. Sheikh Muhammad Ilyas Attar Qadiri founded the group in 1980.Promoting an apolitical agenda--mainly to spread the message of the Qur’an and knowledge aboutthe prophetic tradition--this network has grown over the years and now produces a 24-hour satellitechannel, ‘Madani Channel.’Tablighi JamaatPAKISTANabd al wahhab, hajji mohammed (p. 58)Abd al Wahhab is the leader of the Pakistan-based organization, Tablighi Jamaat, which has chaptersin 120 countries. The movement’s Raiwind Tablighi Ijtima annual conference, in the Punjab, Pakistandrew 1.5 million attendees in 2009. With approximately 3 million members attending the annualBiswa Ijtima conference in Bangladesh, the Tablighi Jamaat is an increasingly influential Muslimnetwork from South Asia.Gülen MovementTURKEYgülen, hodjaefendi fethullah (p. 52)Fethullah Gülen is a preacher, thinker and educator, who having assumed the leadership of thereligious movement Nurcu—started by Said Nursî (1878-1960 CE)—has gone on to become a globalphenomenon in his own right. His popularity and authority in Turkey has been the driving forceof a social movement. This movement is widely thought to have brought around the social, andeventually, political changes of which politician Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been the ultimate heir—that is the enfranchisement of Muslim politics in Turkey. Despite his peaceful means of preachingand community organization, Gülen is hated by the secularist establishment in Turkey and has beenliving in the US since 1999. The Gülen Movement started out as a distinctly Turkish movement buthas since spread worldwide. Gülen has schools in almost every corner of the globe.170

ISSUES OF THE DAYAl AqsaJORDANbin al hussein, his majesty king abdullah ii (p. 34)HM King Abdullah II of Jordan is the custodian of the Muslim holy sites in the city of Jerusalem.He maintains a unique prestige in the region. He has gone on record in March 2010 to condemnIsrael’s inclusion of West Bank religious sites in its national heritage list. The Awqaf and IslamicAffairs ministry announced in 2010 a donation of over 2 million Jordanian Dinar from HM KingAbdullah II for projects around the Al Aqsa compound.Green Revolution (Iran)IRANmoussavi, his excellency mir-hossein (p. 88) [new]“Where is my Vote?” became the slogan of the ‘Green Movement’ that gained speed in the aftermathof Mousavvi’s loss in the 2009 presidential campaign. The movement garnered internationalattention after millions of protesters went out to the streets to call for a recount and ignited aviolent confrontation with the basij forces—under the Revolutionary Guard. The cause reapedglobal support, specifically in various social media outlets such as Twitter and Facebook. Mousavvihas since headed an NGO called the Green Path that comprises six main members and variousother reformist movements to demand the implementation of the constitution and politicalreform in Iran.U.S. Foreign Policy in the Muslim worldUNITED STATEShussain, rashad (p. 121) and pandith, farahSince President Barack Obama’s appointment of Rashad Hussein and Farah Pandith as liaisons tothe Muslim world, they have come to global attention. Although Muslim communities in the USand abroad receive the outreach with skepticism, positive feedback from Hussein and Pandith’sinitial tasks could potentially lay the ground for improved relations between the US and theMuslim world. Hussein is Deputy Associate Counsel and US envoy to the Organization of theIslamic Conference. Pandith continues to serve as Special Representative to Muslim Communitiesfor the US Department of State, since her appointment in 2009.GazaPALESTINEomer, mohammed [new]An award-winning journalist, Mohammed Omar has been credited with reporting on the crises inGaza for major media outlets. He was raised in Rafah refugee camp and despite calamities faced byhis family--his father was imprisoned, his teenage brother was killed, his mother was injured in ademolition--he dedicates himself to journalism and reporting on the crisis. He is the recipient ofthe 2008 Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism.171

Issues of the DayInterfaithGLOBALthe ‘a common word’ groupThis group of 138 Islamic scholars and clerics is the catalyst behind a global bridge-building effortbetween Christians and Muslims. ‘A Common Word Between Us and You’ is an open letter issuedfrom Muslim leaders to Christian leaders about the common ground between both religiouscommunities, highlighting points of commonality found in the commandment to love God andone’s neighbor; (www.acommonword.com).EnvironmentNORTH AMERICA/ USAnasr, professor dr seyyed hossein (p. 89)Nasr has tackled issues regarding the environment from a scholarly perspective, leading amovement to use Islamic teachings to help in the fight against climate change. The term Nasremploys is ‘eco-theology’. His is an important figure in advocacy that promotes environmentalismunderscored as a matter of religious duty.UNITED ARAB EMIRATESal nahyan, his highness sheikh khalifa bin zayed (p. 114)Al Nahyan is the president of one of the fastest-growing nations in the world, the United ArabEmirates. He is funding the construction of the world’s first eco-city, Masdar, with zero carbonemissions which will run mostly on renewable energy. The cost of Masdar is estimated between$15-30 billion.ASIA/MALDIVESnasheed, his excellency mohamedAs the president of the Madives, Nasheed is one of the most environmentally conscious stateleaders in the world. In the earliest stages of his political career, Nasheed was imprisoned for hiscrticism of his country’s government and became an Amnesty Prisoner of Conscience. Today,Nasheed has managed to make the Maldives carbon-neutral within a decade by moving thecountry’s energy reliance to wind and solar power only. Time magazine named Nasheed #1 in the‘Leaders & Visionaries’ category within its annual list of Heroes of the Environment in 2009.AIDS/HIVSOUTHERN AFRICA/SOUTH AFRICAesack, faridFarid Esack runs a faith-based organization in the field of HIV/AIDS. His organization, PositiveMuslims, was established in 2000. It offers services from an Islamic perspective and encouragescompassion, mercy and non-judgementalism towards all humankind. South Africa is one of theareas worst affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic.ASIA/INDIAengineer, asghar ali (p. 102)The Asian Muslim Action Network (AMAN), of which Engineer is chairman, seeks to buildawareness and capacity among Muslim communities in Asia so that they may effectively respondto the growing problem of HIV/AIDS.172

Issues of the DayHouthi RebellionMIDDLE EAST/ YEMENhouthi, abdul-malikHouthi is the leading figure in an insurgency in the Sadah province in northern Yemen which hasbeen continuing from 2004 to the present day. The uprising has been called the Houthi Rebelliondue to Houthi’s leadership. The Zaidi community comprises around half of the population ofYemen, and is concentrated in the north. In traditional Zaidi religious belief if there is no clearleader for the Zaidi community a Caliph can emerge through armed struggle. Yemen was formerlyunder the control of a Zaidi Caliph; the Zaidi Caliphate ended in 1962. Houthi’s brothers YahiaBadreddin and Abdul-Karim are also leaders in the insurgency.PovertyASIA/ PAKISTANzafar, roshaneh (p. 147) [new]An economist by training, Roshaneh Zafar is a social entrepreneur and founder of the KashfFoundation, the third-largest microfinance institution in Pakistan, which specializes in offeringfinancial services to women and their families to facilitate their economic independence and selfreliance.The Kashf Foundation has disbursed over $200 million and has a national network of 152branches.Hijab RightsMIDDLE EAST/ KUWAITdashti, dr rola [new]Dr Rola Dashti was one of four women to be elected to the Kuwaiti parliament in 2009 aftersuccessfully lobbying for the rights of women to vote and run for parliamentary elections in 2005.She is actively engaged in leadership positions with numerous organizations, as chairperson of theKuwait Economic Society, executive member of Young Arab Leaders (Kuwait), and founder of theWomen Participation Organization, among others. Following her election Dashti was noted as oneof two MPs who refuse to wear the hijab to parliamentary meetings, protesting a stipulation thatrequires all MPs to strictly adhere to sharia law—a stipulation which is considered by some to bean unconstitutional oppression of religious freedom. Dashti continues to be vocal as a democraticand gender-equality activist.Youth UnemploymentMIDDLE EAST/QATARyounis, ahmedYounis is the young former national director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council in the UnitedStates (MPAC). His current job is to create strategic partnerships at Silatech, an organization thatrecently started to push for greater youth employment in the Middle East and North Africa. Theseregions in particular have some of the world’s highest youth unemployment rates.Economic DevelopmentASIA/ PHILIPPINESguiapal, aleem siddiqu [new]Guiapal is the project director of the Young Moro Professional Network (YMPN). This organizationis made up of 200 Muslim scholars, students and professionals who are all using their unique skillsto alleviate the plight of marginalized Muslim communities.173

Issues of the DayUighur Chinese RelationsASIA/CHINAkadeer, rebiyaKadeer is the de facto leader of the movement for social justice for the 15-million-strong Uighurethnic-population of China. She was formerly a successful businesswoman and philanthropist inChina but was imprisoned in 2000 for leaking state secrets and now lives in exile in the UnitedStates. Before her arrest, Kadeer was running the 1,000 Families Mothers’ Project, which helpedUighur women start businesses. She now presides over both the World Uighur Congress and theUighur American Association. She is well-known for her work in Europe and North Americapublicizing the plight of the Uighur ethnic group, and is partially responsible for raising the issue’sstatus both in China and abroad. The Chinese government sees Kadeer as an agitator. She wasnominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006.174

GLOSSARY=

GlossaryAhl Al Bayt (or Aal Al Bayt): Literally, the people of the house; refers to the family of theProphet Muhammad.Ahl as Sunnah wa’l Jama’ah: Literally, people of the practices of the Prophet Muhammadand the Muslim community.Al Fatiha: Literally, ‘the opening’, this is the title for the first chapter of the Holy Qur’anwhich is recited as a fundamental part of Muslims’ daily prayers.Allah: Arabic for God.Aqida: Creed: This refers to the theological and doctrinal beliefs of Muslims.Ash’ari: The school of Sunni Orthodoxy named after the followers of the 9th centuryscholar Abu al Hasan al Ash’ari (874-936 CE).Azaan/Adhan: The call to prayer.Bid’a: Literally ‘innovation’; this refers to the act of creating superfluous, or nonprescribedtraditions in the practice of Islam. It is used in common speech as adenunciation toward those not acting in accordance with the prescriptions of Islam.Caliph: The head of the entire community of Muslims, either current or in the past. Isalso used by certain sects to refer to their own leader.Chador: A loose cloth traditionally worn by Muslim women which usually covers thebody from head to foot.Da’i/ Da’ee: Missionary.Da’wa: Islamic missionary work; literally ‘making an invitation’ to the religion.Emir (or Amir): A title accorded to a leader, prince, or commander-in-chief.Fatwa: Islamic legal ruling, or legal pronouncement. It is not synonymous with a deathsentence as is sometimes thought in the West.Fiqh: Islamic jurisprudence (the philosophy of law). This is the scholarly pursuit thatenables individuals to have an educated understanding of Islamic law.Fiqh al Aqaliyaat: Islamic legal rulings for Muslims living as minorities in foreign lands.Hadith: Literally ‘sayings’. These are a set of references to the life of the ProphetMuhammad. There are numerous Hadith, and the practice of verifying them is an Islamicscholarly practice of its own that has been carried out since the life of the Prophet.Hafiz (or Hafiza) al Qur’an: A person who has committed the entire Qur’an to memory,and can recite the Qur’an at will. This is important in Islam because the Qur’an wasoriginally revealed as an oral text.Hajj: The pilgrimage to Mecca. It is mandatory for every Muslim who is able to do it, andcan afford it. Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam. The pilgrimage occurs from the 8thto 12th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the 12th month of the Islamic calendar.Halal: Permissible. A term referring to actions or objects that are permissible accordingto Islamic law. Commonly refers to food items that are permissible for Muslims to eat.177

GlossaryHaram: Sanctuary.Hijab: Headscarf worn by Muslim women.Hijaz: The region along the west coast of the Arabian Peninsula.Ibadi: The Ibadi school has origins in and is linked to the Kharijites, but the modern daycommunity is distinct from the 7th century Islamic sect. It was founded after the deathof Prophet Muhammad and is currently practiced by a majority of Oman’s Muslimpopulation. Also found across parts of Africa.Ihsan: Virtue through constant regard to, and awareness of God.Ijaza: Certification.Ijtihad: Independent reasoning, or individual interpretation of the Qur’an.Imam: (1) In both Sunni and Shi’a Islam an imam is the leader of congregational prayerswho may also deliver the Friday prayer (Jum’a) sermon; more generally, a person ofauthority within the community. (2) In Shi’a Islam this exclusively refers to a series ofpeople, descended from the Prophet Muhammad, who by lineage are considered divinelyguided spiritual leaders.Imamate: The position or institution, in Shi’a Islam, that is comprised of a series ofdivinely guided imams.Iman: Faith in God.Islam: Submission to God’s will.Jihad: Struggle. An exertion of effort in any field, not just in war.Ka’ba: The large cubic structure in the Grand Mosque in Mecca, adorned in goldembroidered black fabric, referred to by Muslims as the ‘House of God’. This structuremarks the direction in which Muslims pray and is central to the Hajj pilgrimage whenit is circumambulated, a practice rooted in pre-Islamic Arabia when it contained idolssubsequently removed by the Prophet Muhammad.Khat: Script.Khateeb: One who traditionally delivers the Friday sermon; orator.Khawarij: A group of Muslims in early Islamic history who went against the largercommunity and became outsiders. A term used to describe political deviants.Khums: Literally, 1/5 in Arabic; a religious tax of 1/5 of one’s income owed by followersof Usuli Twelver Shi’a to a very senior cleric.Madhabs: Traditional schools of Islamic legal methodology (e.g. Hanbali, Maliki, Shafi’i,Hanafi, Jafari).Madrassa: The Arabic word for ‘school’. Can refer to a religious school.Majles al Shura: Consultative religio-legislative body.Marja/Marjaiyya: The highest position of authority in the Usuli school of Twelver178

GlossaryShi’i fiqh. Also referred to as marja taqlid, meaning literally one who is worthy of beingimitated.Masjid: Arabic for ‘mosque’.Maturidi: The school of Sunni Orthodoxy named after the followers of the 9th centuryscholar Muhammad Abu Mansur al Maturidi (853-944 CE).Melayu Islam Beraja: The concept of Malay Islamic monarchy.Morchidat: Literally, guides. Refers to the Moroccan cadre of trained female preachers.Mufti: A Muslim legal expert who is empowered to give rulings on religious matters.Muqri: A reciter of Qur’an.Murid: Follower of a Sufi guide or order.Mursyidul Am: Malaysian term for religious guide.Mutabarrik: Supporter or affiliate of a Sufi guide or order.Mu’tazili: An almost obsolete school of Sunni Islam, popular in the 8th century, thatadvocates the belief that the Qur’an was created—as opposed to the Orthodox Sunniview that it is eternal and uncreated.Nasheed: Religious song traditionally performed without musical instruments.Pancasila: Indonesian concept of five basic, national principles: belief in the Oneness ofGod, just and civilized humanity, the unity of Indonesia, democracy, and social justice.Pesantren: The term for Islamic schools in Indonesia.Qibla: The direction in which Muslims offer their five daily prayers; the directionof the Ka’ba in Mecca.Ramadan: Holy month of fasting.Salafi: A movement of Sunni Muslims that places great emphasis on literal interpretationof the Qur’an and Hadith, with skepticism towards the role of human.Shahadatayn: The two testimonies of faith: There is no deity but God. Muhammad isthe Messenger of God. Stating these two sentences is sufficient to become a Muslim.Sharia: Literally, ‘the way to the source’, this refers to Islamic law. Islamic law is not, asis widely perceived, a standard set of written rules, but is rather an unwritten text thatis interpreted by legal scholars in specific instances, drawing on the Qur’an and otherreliable religious sources relevant to the tradition followed.Sheikh: (1) A position of authority granted to people who are respected in society. (2)A religious official.Shi’a: The second-largest denomination of Muslims referred to as Shi’atu ‘Ali or ‘party of‘Ali,’ the fourth caliph of Islam and first imam in Shi’ism.Sunna: Literally ‘the trodden path’; this refers to the ways and practices of the ProphetMuhammad. Reference to these practices can be found in the Qur’an and in the Hadith.179

GlossarySunni: The largest denomination of Muslims referred to as Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jama‘ahor ‘people of the prophetic tradition and community’—with emphasis on emulating thelife of the Prophet Muhammad.Tafsir: Interpretation of the Qur’an, either by commentary or exegesis.Taqlid: The practice of following rulings without questioning the religious authority.This is a core tenet of the Usuli school of Islamic law.Ummah: The collective Muslim community.Velayat-e Faqih: A position of both spiritual and temporal powers in the Republic ofIran. Literally, Guardianship of the Jurists, referring to the fact that while the Mahdi(awaited one) is in occultation, the jurists should have guardianship over the earth.Waqf: A religious endowment or charitable trust.Zakat: The religious obligation to annually give one-fortieth of one’s income and savingsto the poor and destitute.180

APPENDIX=The Muslim world spans far and wide withmajority Muslim countries nestled around theequator and concentrated in many parts of NorthAfrica, the Middle East, South and South EastAsia. An estimated 22% of the world's populationis Muslim—spanning approximately 50 countriesas a majority and speaking around 60 differentfirst languages.

Kazakhstan176KyrgyzstanUzbekistanBosniaand Herz.KosovoAzerbaijanTajikistanTurkmenistanAlbaniaTurkeyKashmirDisputed TerritoryAfghanistanLebanon SyriaTunisiaIranIraqWest Bankand GazaMoroccoJordanPakistanKuwaitBahrainQatarBangladeshSaudiArabiaLibya EgyptAlgeriaWesternSaharaOmanUnitedArabEmiratesMauritaniaNigerMaliEritrea YemenIndonesiaChadSudanBurkinaFasoSenegalThe GambiaDjiboutiGuineaBruneiDarussalamNigeriaSierra LeoneMaldivesSomaliaMalaysiaComorosMayotte (France)Cocos (Keeling)Islandsmajority muslim countriesThis map is for illustrative purposes only. Dimensions and exact borders of nations may differ from those shown here. Statistics: 2008

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AppendixContinentUnited NationssubregionsCountry / Territory Total PopulationMuslim Percentage EstimationsPEW Forum % Houssain Kettani % Reasonable Est. %Asia Western Asia Abkhazia 220,000 n.a n.a 77,000 35.000 35,200 16.000Asia Southern Asia Afghanistan 34,152,411 34,049,954 99.700 34,073,860 99.770 33,431,795 97.890Europe Southern Europe Albania 3,651,737 2,917,738 79.900 2,556,216 70.000 1,416,509 38.790Africa Northern Africa Algeria 34,429,889 33,741,291 98.000 34,085,590 99.000 33,286,817 96.680Oceania Polynesia American Samoa 66,119 n.a

AppendixContinentUnited NationssubregionsCountry / Territory Total PopulationMuslim Percentage EstimationsPEW Forum % Houssain Kettani % Reasonable Est. %Africa Western Africa Benin 8,952,619 2,184,439 24.400 2,186,230 24.420 1,793,210 20.030North America Northern America Bermuda 68,108 545 0.800 661 0.970 n.a n.aAsia Southern Asia Bhutan 696,528 6,965 1.000 34,826 5.000 27,861 4.000South America South America Bolivia 9,881,429 2,000

AppendixContinentUnited NationssubregionsCountry / Territory Total PopulationMuslim Percentage EstimationsPEW Forum % Houssain Kettani % Reasonable Est. %Oceania Australasia Christmas Island 1,402 n.a n.a n.a n.a 379 27.000Oceania Australasia Cocos (Keeling) Islands 596 n.a n.a n.a n.a 306 51.300South America South America Colombia 46,030,584 14,000

AppendixContinentUnited NationssubregionsCountry / Territory Total PopulationMuslim Percentage EstimationsPEW Forum % Houssain Kettani % Reasonable Est. %Africa Eastern Africa Eritrea 5,736,582 2,093,852 36.500 2,868,291 50.000 2,868,291 50.000Europe Northern Europe Estonia 1,294,347 1,294 0.100 1,553 0.120 9,060 0.700Africa Eastern Africa Ethiopia 86,916,490 29,464,690 33.900 29,447,307 33.880 26,944,112 31.000South America South America Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) 3,140 n.a

AppendixContinentUnited NationssubregionsCountry / Territory Total PopulationMuslim Percentage EstimationsPEW Forum % Houssain Kettani % Reasonable Est. %Europe Northern Europe Guernsey 65,955 n.a n.a 66 0.100 80 0.121Africa Western Africa Guinea 10,216,610 8,622,819 84.400 8,684,119 85.000 8,726,007 85.410Africa Western Africa Guinea Bissau 1,552,980 655,358 42.200 698,841 45.000 667,781 43.000South America South America Guyana 773,151 55,667 7.200 55,590 7.190 77,315 10.000North America Caribbean Haiti 9,137,566 2,000

AppendixContinentUnited NationssubregionsCountry / Territory Total PopulationMuslim Percentage EstimationsPEW Forum % Houssain Kettani % Reasonable Est. %Oceania Micronesia Kiribati 114,401 n.a

AppendixContinentUnited NationssubregionsCountry / Territory Total PopulationMuslim Percentage EstimationsPEW Forum % Houssain Kettani % Reasonable Est. %Oceania Micronesia Marshall Islands 65,346 n.a

AppendixContinentUnited NationssubregionsCountry / Territory Total PopulationMuslim Percentage EstimationsPEW Forum % Houssain Kettani % Reasonable Est. %North America Central America Nicaragua 5,955,553 1,000

AppendixContinentUnited NationssubregionsCountry / Territory Total PopulationMuslim Percentage EstimationsPEW Forum % Houssain Kettani % Reasonable Est. %Europe Eastern Europe Romania 22,194,971 66,585 0.300 68,804 0.310 221,950 1.000Europe Eastern Europe Russia 139,637,314 16,337,566 11.700 22,118,551 15.840 14,243,006 10.200Africa Eastern Africa Rwanda 10,651,965 191,735 1.800 193,866 1.820 1,118,456 10.500North America Caribbean Saint Barthelemy 7,448 n.a n.a n.a n.a n.a n.aAfrica Western Africa Saint Helena 7,658 n.a

AppendixContinentUnited NationssubregionsCountry / Territory Total PopulationMuslim Percentage EstimationsPEW Forum % Houssain Kettani % Reasonable Est. %Africa Southern Africa South Africa 49,136,779 737,052 1.500 717,397 1.460 712,483 1.450Europe Southern Europe Spain 40,542,411 405,424 1.000 1,191,947 2.940 486,509 1.200Asia Southern Asia Sri Lanka 21,442,574 1,822,619 8.500 1,811,898 8.450 1,715,406 8.000Africa Northern Africa Sudan 41,627,438 29,680,363 71.300 29,139,207 70.000 27,057,835 65.000South America South America Suriname 484,516 77,038 15.900 65,167 13.450 93,996 19.400Europe Northern Europe Svalbard 2,116 n.a n.a n.a n.a n.a n.aAfrica Southern Africa Swaziland 1,120,740 2,241 0.200 2,241 0.200 10,647 0.950Europe Northern Europe Sweden 9,068,547 181,371 2.000 505,118 5.570 281,125 3.100Europe Western Europe Switzerland 7,617,534 327,554 4.300 324,507 4.260 236,144 3.100Asia Western Asia Syria 20,442,254 18,847,758 92.200 17,784,761 87.000 18,463,444 90.320Asia Eastern Asia Taiwan 23,006,775 23,000

AppendixContinentUnited NationssubregionsCountry / Territory Total PopulationMuslim Percentage EstimationsPEW Forum % Houssain Kettani % Reasonable Est. %North America Caribbean Turks and Caicos Islands 23,302 n.a

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NOTLISTED IN2010=These leaders from The 500 Most InfluentialMuslims 2009 are not listed among the 500 inthis year’s edition.197

198

Not Listed in 2010CATEGORY COUNTRY NAMESCHOLARLY Bahrain al Mohmood, Prof. Abed al LateefSCHOLARLY Belgium Michot, Yahya MSCHOLARLY Brunei Haddad, GibrilSCHOLARLY Canada Kutty, Sheikh AhmadSCHOLARLY Canada El Masry, Dr MohammadSCHOLARLY Canada Rabbani, Sheikh FarazSCHOLARLY Egypt Kahlawi, Prof. Dr ‘Abla MohammedSCHOLARLY Egypt Ezzat, Dr Heba RaoufSCHOLARLY Germany Köhler, Ayyub AxelSCHOLARLY India Khan, WahiduddinSCHOLARLY Indonesia Azra, AzyumardiSCHOLARLYIranYazdi, His Eminence AyatollahMohammad Taghi MesbahSCHOLARLY Ivory Coast Damboli, Sheikh MohammadSCHOLARLYJordanHlayyel, His Excellency Justice Prof. DrSheikh AhmadSCHOLARLY Jordan al Saqqaf, Sheikh Seyyed HasanSCHOLARLYSCHOLARLYLebanonLibyan ArabJamahiriyaFadlallah, His Eminence GrandAyatollah Sayeed Mohammad HusseinNayed, Prof. Dr Aref AliSCHOLARLY Malaysia Bakar, Prof Dr Dato OsmanSCHOLARLY Morocco Azzouzi, Prof. Dr AbdelhaqSCHOLARLY Morocco al Murini, Dr al JilaniSCHOLARLY Pakistan Ansari, Zafar IshaqSCHOLARLY Pakistan Ahmed, Dr IsrarSCHOLARLY South Africa Esack, Prof. FaridSCHOLARLY South Africa Moosa, Prof. EbrahimSCHOLARLYSyriaal Bizm, His Eminence Dr Abdul-FattahSCHOLARLY Syria al Bugha, Mustafa199

Not Listed in 2010CATEGORY COUNTRY NAMESCHOLARLY Turkey Sezgin, Prof. Dr FuatSCHOLARLY United States Abdullah, Dr Umar FaruqSCHOLARLY United States Abou El Fadl, Dr KhaledSCHOLARLYUnited StatesAhmed, His Excellency AmbassadorAkbar SalahuddinSCHOLARLY United States Ayoub, Dr MahmoudSCHOLARLY United States Delorenzo, Sheikh Yusuf TalalSCHOLARLY United States Al Islam, AmirSCHOLARLY United States Kabbani, Sheikh Muhammad HishamSCHOLARLY United States Jackson, ShermanSCHOLARLY United States Sachedina, Prof. AbdulazizPOLITICALPOLITICALAfghanistanBangladeshMojaddedi, His ExcellencySibghatullahNizami, Motiur Rahman [Down from43]POLITICAL Chad Bichara, Ahmat IsmaelPOLITICAL Denmark Mojaddedi, Dr AsmatPOLITICAL Egypt El Zayat, MuntasirPOLITICAL Egypt Akef, Mahdi [Down from 12]POLITICALPOLITICALIranMalaysiaTaskhiri, His Eminence AyatollahMohammad-AliMohammad, His Excellency DrMahathirPOLITICAL Pakistan Ahsan, Barrister Chaudhry AitzazPOLITICAL Russia Umarov, DokkaPOLITIALTunisiaBaccouche, His Excellency Prof. DrHediPOLITICAL United Kingdom Ali, MockbulPOLITICAL United Kingdom Malik, ShahidADMINISTRATIVE Albania Mucha, Haxhi SelimADMINISTRATIVE Austria Baghajati, Amina200

Not Listed in 2010CATEGORY COUNTRY NAMEADMINISTRATIVE Belarus Sha’abanovic, Sheikh Abu BakerADMINISTRATIVEBelgiumAl Yahya, Dr Abdul-Aziz MohammadAbdullahADMINISTRATIVE Brazil Saifi, AhmedADMINISTRATIVE France Abu Bakr, Sheikh Prof. DalilADMINISTRATIVE Iceland Tamimi, SalmannADMINISTRATIVE India Ahmad, Sheikh AboobackarADMINISTRATIVE Iran Shahrestani, Seyyed JavadADMINISTRATIVE Jamaica Tijani, MarufatADMINISTRATIVE Lebanon Jabri, Dr Abdul-NasserADMINISTRATIVE Lithuania Jakubauskas, RomasADMINISTRATIVE Morocco Benbin, Prof. Dr Ahmad ShawqiADMINISTRATIVE Nigeria Adegbite, Dr Lateef OladimejiADMINISTRATIVE Nigeria Orire, Justice AbdulkadirADMINISTRATIVE Portugal Munir, DavidADMINISTRATIVERussiaGaynutdinov, His Eminence SheikhRavil IsmagilovichADMINISTRATIVE Turkey Aydın, His Excellency MehmetADMINISTRATIVE Turkey Eren, His Excellency HalitADMINISTRATIVE Turkey Gormez, Dr MehmetADMINISTRATIVE United Kingdom Ali, AmjadADMINISTRATIVE United Kingdom El Diwany, TareqADMINISTRATIVE United Kingdom Ghaffur, TariqueADMINISTRATIVE United States Amr, HadyADMINISTRATIVE United States Helminski, Sheikh KabirADMINISTRATIVE United States Kavakçi, Prof. Dr Hafiz Yusuf ZADMINISTRATIVE United States Al Shabazz, IlyasahADMINISTRATIVE United States Wahhaj, SirajPREACHERS Saudi Arabia Kalbani, Sheikh Adil201

Not Listed in 2010CATEGORY COUNTRY NAMEWOMEN Afghanistan Samar, Dr SimaWOMEN Belgium Ozdemir, MahinurWOMEN Egypt Al Halafawi, JihaniWOMEN Indonesia Mulia, Siti MusdahWOMEN Indonesia Munir, Lily ZakiyahWOMEN Iran Hashemi, FaezehWOMEN Malaysia Aljeffri, Sharifah ZuriahWOMEN Morocco Zitan, NaimaWOMEN Pakistan Bibi, MukhtaranWOMEN Pakistan Naim, Tanveer KausarWOMEN Saudi Arabia Al Huwaider, WajehaWOMEN Saudi Arabia Abu-Sulayman, MunaWOMEN Turkey Gül, HayrünnisaWOMEN United States Niaz, RobinaWOMEN United States Wadud, Prof. Dr AminaYOUTH Pakistan Zardari, Bilawal BhuttoYOUTH Singapore Lazim, Razak MohamedYOUTH United States Ali, BabaDEVELOPMENTBahrainShawqi, FatimaDEVELOPMENT Canada Slimi, Imam HamidDEVELOPMENT China Mah, MariahDEVELOPMENT Germany Rieger, Abu BakrDEVELOPMENT Gibraltar Sasri, MohamedDEVELOPMENT Indonesia Anwar, Syafi’iDEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENTKuwaitLebanonAl Ghoneim, His Excellency Prof. DrAbdullah YusufFahs, Sheikh Seyyed HaniDEVELOPMENT Palestine Abu Awwad, Ali202

Not Listed in 2010CATEGORY COUNTRY NAMEDEVELOPMENT South Africa Jeenah, NaeemDEVELOPMENT Spain Escudero, Dr Mansur ADEVELOPMENT Sudan Osman, Salih MahmoudDEVELOPMENT Turkey Benli, FatmaDEVELOPMENTUnited ArabEmiratesAl Mahmoudi, Hussein MohammadDEVELOPMENT United States Awad, NihadDEVELOPMENT United States Cader, Rushdi AbdulDEVELOPMENT United States Khera, FarhanaDEVELOPMENT United States Al Marayati, SalamDEVELOPMENT United States Nashashibi, RamiDEVELOPMENT United States Omar, ManalDEVELOPMENT United States Riaz, Dr KhalidSCIENCE ANDTECHNOLOGYSCIENCE ANDTECHNOLOGYSCIENCE ANDTECHNOLOGYSCIENCE ANDTECHNOLOGYSCIENCE ANDTECHNOLOGYARTS AND CULTUREIranKuwaitSyriaUnited StatesUnited StatesCanadaGholshani, Dr MehdiAl Shamlan, Prof. Dr Ali AbdullahDayeh, Her Excellency Dr Kawkab alSabah Mohammad JamilChakaki, MohamadEl Hibri, FuadAli, Dawud WharnsbyARTS AND CULTURE Canada Amir, AminARTS AND CULTURE Canada K’naan (Kanaan Warsame)ARTS AND CULTURE Denmark Bachiri, Isam and Qadri, WaqasARTS AND CULTURE Iran Abedini, RezaARTS AND CULTURE Pakistan Ahmad, SalmanARTS AND CULTURE Singapore Jalil, IskandarARTS AND CULTURE United Kingdom Azzam, Khaled203

Not Listed in 2010CATEGORY COUNTRY NAMEARTS AND CULTURE United States Canon, AnasARTS AND CULTURE United States Hammad, SuheirARTS AND CULTURE United States Sulaiman, AmirARTS AND CULTUREUnited StatesUsman, AzharMEDIA Egypt Heikal, Mohammad HassaneinMEDIA Netherlands Dami, AbdellahMEDIA Turkey Bulaç, AliMEDIA United Kingdom Alibhai-Brown, YasminMEDIAUnited KingdomSardar, ZiauddinMEDIA United States Lekovic, EdinaMEDIA United States Taylor, TayyibahRADICALSIndian-AdministeredKashmirAzhar, Maulana MasoodRADICALS Palestine-Jordan Al Maqdisi, Abu Muhammad AsemRADICALSSaudi ArabiaAl Hawali, Dr Safar bin Abdul-Rahman204

INDEX=

IndexAfghanistanBarakzai, Shukria 133Farid, Andeisha 137Gilani, Pir Sayyed Ahmad 118Haqqani, Sirajuddin 168Hekmatyar, Gulbuddin 167Karzai, His Excellency President Hamid 110Mohseni, Saad 164Omar, Mullah Muhammad 167Quraishi, Colonel Shafiqa 133Samandar, Rahimullah 164Samim, Dr Abdul Zahir Shafiq 118Sarabi, Her Excellency Dr Habiba 144AlbaniaBardhi, His Eminence Haxhi Dede Reshat 126Koci, Hafiz Sabri 120AlgeriaBouteflika, His Excellency President Abdelaziz 107Cherif, H.E. Ambassador Prof. Dr Mustafa 97Ghlamallah, His Excellency Bouabdellah 115Haddam, Anwar N 107AngolaDrame, Famar 143ArgentinaGarcia, Prof. Muhammad Isa 105Hallar, Muhammad Yusuf 123Asia/MaldivesNasheed, His Excellency Mohamed 172AustraliaAly, Waleed 104El Imam, Sheikh Fehmi 104El Masri, Hazem 147Houli, Bachar 138Austria 162Dirie, Waris 134Shakfeh, Annas 120AzerbaijanAliyev, His Excellency President Ilham 110Bayramov, Vugar 144Ibrahimoglu, Ilgar 101Pashazade, Sheikh ul Islam Haji Allahshukur Hummat 101Qasimov, Alim 156BahrainAl Zayani, Afnan 131Yaquby, Nizam 97BangladeshAbed, Fazle Hasan 145Hossain, Dr Hameeda 133Rahman, Mohammad Fazlur 118Wazed, Her Excellency Sheikha Hasina 110Yunus, Mohammad 145207

IndexBelarusKanapatsky, Ibragim 146Voronovich, Ismail Mukharemovich 120BosniaKaric, Dr Enes 103Bosnia-HerzegovinaCeric, His Eminence Sheikh Professor Dr Mustafa 86Mahmutcehajic, His Excellency Prof. Dr Rusmir 146BrazilBin Juned, His Eminence Dr Ustaz Haji Awang Abd Aziz 101Othman, Abdul-Baqi Sayed 123Brunei DarussalamWaddaulah, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin 79BulgariaHadzhi, His Eminence Mustafa Alish 146Burkina FasoAboubakary, Maiga 144Dokori, Dr Abu Bakr 100BurundiNkunduwiga, Haruna 143CambodiaAdam, H.E. Zakaryya 118CanadaAlshareef, Muhammad 147Badawi, Dr Jamal 129Baksh, Nazim 166Delic, Imam Dr Zijad 124Doueiri, Dany 148Kheddar, Cherifa 131Kutty, Faisal 153Nawaz, Zarqa 159Valiante, Wahida 124ChadAbakar, Sheikh Hussain Hassan 117Deby Itno, His Excellency President Idriss 109ChileTorres, Sheikh Ismail 105ChinaArshad, Mufti Mohammad 119Chengzhi, Zhang 157Guangyuan, Imam Chen Chen 119Kadeer, Rebiya 174Noor Deen, Haji (Mi Guang Jiang) 157Yue, Ma 157ColombiaAl Colombi, Dawood Abdl Ghafur 105208

IndexCote d’IvoireAbdoulaziz, Sheikh Sarba 144CroatiaAlili, Hafiz Aziz 162CyprusAl Haqqani, Sheikh Mehmet Nazim Adil al Qubrusi 89Czech RepublicOmic, Imam Emir 128Sanka, Vladimir 121DenmarkKhader, Nasser 112Pederson, Abdul Wahid 121EcuadorDassum, Dr Layla 105Suquillo, Juan 124EgyptAbdelkafy, Sheikh Dr Omar 127Abo Auf, Dr Ezzat 155Abulmagd, His Excellency Prof. Dr Kamal 163Al Aswany, Alaa 155Al ‘Awa, Sheikh Dr Mohammed Salim 97Al Husseini, Dr Abd Allah 115al Tayeb, His Eminence Professor Dr Sheikh Ahmad Muhammad 40Al Zawahiri, Ayman 167Badie, Dr Mohammed 50, 169ElBaradei, Dr Mohamed 92, 107El Naggar, Zaghloul 151Goma’a, His Eminence Sheikh Dr Ali 46Hosni, Mostafa 137Howeidy, Dr Fahmy 163Khaled, Amr 56Masoud, Moez 137Mubarak, His Excellency President Muhammad Hosni 107Schleifer, Prof. Dr Suleiman Abdallah 163Tiblawi, Sheikh Mohammad 161El SalvadorAl Salvadori, Mustafa 123Qattan, Dr Ahmad 105EstoniaHarsinov, His Emminence, Ahmed 103EthiopiaIdris, His Eminence Hajji Omar 100FinlandDaher, Okan 121El Fatatry, Mohamed 152Ismail, Atik 146Franceal Hussayni, His Royal Highness Shah Karim 66Bechari, Dr Mohammad 113209

IndexBencheikh, Sheikh Sohaib 103Deghati, Reza 158Guiderdoni, Dr Bruno Abd al Haqq 153Moussaoui, Mohammed 121GambiaJah, His Excellency Ambassador Prof. Dr Omar 100GermanyDenffer, Dr Ahmed von 103GhanaAbass, Mohammed 137GuyanaKhan, Faizul 147Shah, Ryhaan 159IndiaAl Azhari, Mufti Muhammad Akhtar Raza Khan Qaadiri 78Bukhari, Syed Ahmad 119Engineer, Asghar Ali 101, 172Kalam, His Excellency Dr A P J Abdul 151Khan, Shahrukh 157Madani, Maulana Mahmood 85Naik, Dr Zakir 127Qasmi, Maulana Badruddin Ajmal 139Qaudri, Professor Sayid Ameen Mian 101Rahman, Allah Rakha 157Sadiq, Maulana Kalbe 101Saheb, His Holiness Dr Syedna Mohammad Burhannuddin 88IndonesiaAlawiyaah, Prof. Dr Tuti 133Amalee, Irfan 137Bagir, Haidar 164Bashir, Abu Bakar 168Baswedan, Anies 101Bayuni, Endy M. 164Gymnastiar, Abdullah ‘Aa Gym’ 101Indrawati, Sri Mulyani 119Maarif, Syafii 102Mahfudz, Sahal 119Mohammad, Goenawan 165Muhammad, Husein 133Mumpuni, Tri 151Rosa, Helvy Tiana 157Shihab, Quraish 128Siradj, Dr KH Said Aqil 64Syamsuddin, Professor Dr M Din 84Ulfah, Hajjah Maria 162Umar, Dr Nasaruddin 119Yudhoyono, His Excellency President Susilo Bambang 44Zulminarni, Nani 133IranAhmadinejad, His Excellency President Mahmoud 107Amoli, His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Abdullah Jawadi 97Ansari, Anousheh 151Damad, His Eminence Ayatollah Prof. Dr Seyyed Mostafa Mohaghegh 97210

IndexDjalal, Dr Dino Patti 111Ebadi, Shirin 131Ebtekar, Her Excellency Dr Masoumeh 107Ismail, Dr Wan Azizah Wan 111Jafari, General Mohammad Ali 115Jalili, Saaed 108Khamenei, His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Hajj Sayyid Ali 32Khatami, His Excellency Mohammad 108Mousavi, His Excellency Mir-Hossein 88, 171Nazeri, Shahram 155Rafsanjani, His Excellency Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi 108Rahnavard, Zahra 131Salehi, Dr Ali Akbar 151Shirazi, His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Nasir Makarim 97Sobhani, His Eminence Ayatollah Jafar 115Soroush, Abdolkarim 97Vaez-Tabasi, His Eminence Ayatollah Abbas 115IraqAl Baghdadi, Abbas Shakir al Fattal 155Al Baghdadi, Abu Omar 167Al Khoei, Sayyed Jawad 139Al Najafi, Dr al Sheikh Ali Bashir 98al Najafi, His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Bashir 98Al Sadr, His Eminence Ayatollah al Faqih Seyyed Hussein Ismail 98Al Sadr, Sheikh Muqtada 125Dari, Harith 108Fayadh, His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Ishaq 92, 98Hakim, His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Said 98Kubaisi, Sheikh Dr Ahmed 127Odhaib, Madeeha Hasan 141Sistani, His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Hussein 42, 170IsraelSalah, Sheikh Raed 108ItalyPallavicini, Imam Yahya Sergio Yahe 121Pallavicini, Sheikh Abd Al Wahid 128Qaddorah, Jamal 146JamaicaMuhammad, Mustafa 123JordanAbu Rashta, Ata 169Al Abbadi, His Excellency Abdul Salam 115, 169al Abdullah, Her Majesty Queen Rania 81Al Meheid, Minwer 155Al Qudah, His Eminence Sheikh Dr Nuh Ali Salman 98Bin Al Hussein, His Majesty King Abdullah II 34, 171Bin Talal, His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan 125Farhan, Ishaq 115Husseini, Rana 131Khasawneh, His Eminence Sheikh Abdul Karim 98KenyaKhalifa, Sheikh Mohammed 143Mazrui, Dr Ali Al’Amin 100211

IndexKosovoThaçi, His Excellency Prime Minister Hashim 113Trnava, His Eminence Sheikh Naim 121KuwaitAl Afasy, Sheikh Mishary bin Rashid 161Al Kharafi, Nasser 139Al Mutawa, Dr Naif 163Al Mutawa, Jassem 163Dashti, Dr Rola 173Sweidan, Sheikh Dr Tariq 163LatviaUldis, Berzins 158LebanonAl Sadr, Rabab 141Assaf, Roger 155Daouk, Amine M 116Hariri, His Excellency Saad Rafic 108Nashabeh, Prof. Dr Hisham 116Nasrallah, Seyyed Hasan 62, 170Qabbani, His Eminence Dr Mohammad Rashid 98Libyan Arab JamahiriyaAl Sharif, Prof. Dr Muhammad Ahmed 116Gaddafi, His Excellency Colonel Muammar 78Gaddafi, His Excellency Saif al Islam Muammar 141MalawiChabulika, Sheikh Dinala 143King’ombe, Sheikh Aman 117MalaysiaAbidin, His Majesty SPB Yang DiPertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal 111Al Akiti, Dr Muhammad Afifi 102Al Attas, Dr Syed Muhammad Naquib 102Anwar, Zaynah 134Ibrahim, Dato Mashitah 128Ibrahim, His Excellency Dr Anwar 92, 111Kader, Mohideen Abdul 145Nik Mat, Dato’ Haji Nick Abdul Aziz 119Raihan 157Razak, Najib Tun 111Shukor, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar 152MaldivesSaeed, Mohamed Shaheem Ali 120MaliKeita, Salif 156Touré, His Excellency President Amadou Toumani 110MauritaniaBah, Prof. Dr Mohammed el Mokhtar Ould 118Bin Bayyah, His Eminence Sheikh Abdullah 80El Mokhtar, Aminetou 133MexicoRojas, Isa 105Weston, Omar 147212

IndexMoroccoAbdul-Rahman, Prof. Dr Taha 98Altwaijiri, His Excellency Dr Abd al Aziz bin ‘Uthman 90Buhairi, Muhammad Ahmad 155His Majesty King Mohammed VI 36Mernissi, Fatema 131Modghari, His Excellency Dr Abd al Kabir 116Yassine, Nadia 132MozambiqueCheba, Sheikh Muhamade Aboulai 144NepalSiddiqui, Muhammadi 134NetherlandsBenali, Abdelkader 158El Mouhandiz, Rajae 158Mirza, Umar 165New ZealandGhani, Dr Anwar 123Kireka-Whaanga 123NigerMindaoudou, Her Excellency Dodo Aichatou 133NigeriaAbubakar III, His Royal Eminence Amirul Mu’minin Sheikh as Sultan Muhammadu Sa’adu 72Ahmed, Dr Ibrahim Datti 100Ajibola, His Excellency Prince Bola 118Ashafa, Imam Muhammad 144Bayero, His Royal Highness Amir al Haji Dr Ado 126Katsina, Sheikh Yakubu Musa 127Mohamed, Imam Ustaz Musa 118OmanAl Khalili, His Eminence Sheikh Ahmad 116al Sa’id, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Sa’id 38PakistanAbd al Wahhab, Hajji Mohammed 58, 170Ahmed, Qazi Hussain 111Akhtar, Hazrat Maulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad 102Al Qadri, Dr Muhammad Tahir 93, 103Chaudry, Chief Justice Iftikhar M 145Edhi, Abdul Sattar 145Hamid, Zaid 165Hashmi, Dr Farhat 102Jamshed, Junaid 158Kayani, General Ashfaq 111Khan, Dr Abdul Qadeer 92, 152Lodi, Her Excellency Ambassador Dr Maleeha 111Najafi, His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Hussain 102Parveen, Abida 158Qadiri, Sheikh Muhammad Ilyas Attar Qadiri 102, 170Rahman, Atta-Ur 152Rahman, Maulana Fazlur 111Saeed, Hafiz Mohammad 168Shaikh, Mohammad 93, 128213

IndexShakil-ur-Rahman, Mir 165Siddiqui, Dr Anwar Hussain 120Soomro, Dr Khalid Mehmood 128Usmani, His Eminence Justice Sheikh Muhammad Taqi 80Zafar, Roshaneh 134, 173Palestine (West Bank/Gaza)Abbas, His Excellency President Mahmoud 108Abu Awwad, Khaled 141Abu Elaish, Dr Izzeldin 141Abu Sarah, Aziz 141Al Tamimi, His Eminence Justice Sheikh Dr Tayseer Rajab 99El Faqeeh, Khouloud 132Haniyah, Ismail 108Khanfar, Waddah 163Kuttab, Daoud 164Mashaal, Khaled 84Omer, Mohammed 171Sabri, His Eminence Sheikh Dr Ikrima Sa’id 116PhilippinesAbubakar, Ismael 145Busran Lao, Yasmin 134Guiapal, Aleem Siddiqu 173Misuari, Nur 112Rasul-Bernardo, Amina 145Rasul, Santanina Tillah 134Tomawis, Samira Gutoc 138PortugalVakil, Abdool Magid Abdool Karim 121QatarAl Missned, Her Highness Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser 132Al Qaradawi, Sheikh Dr Yusuf 54al Thani, Her Excellency Sheikha Aisha bint Faleh bin Nasser 141al Thani, Her Excellency Sheikha Mayssa bint Hamad 142Al Thani, His Highness Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa 68Husain, Maqbool Fida 156Philips, Dr Abu Ameenah Bilal 164Younis, Ahmed 173RussiaKadyrov, His Excellency President Ramzan 113Minnikhanov, His Excellency President Dr Rustam 113Nasibullahoglu, Mufti Cafer 121, 122Yevloyev, Akhmed 113Saudi ArabiaAl Ajmi, Sheikh Ahmed Ali 161Al Faisal, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed 116Al Faiz, Norah Abdallah 132Al Ghamdi, Sheikh Sa’d ibn Sa’id 161Al Madani, Dr Ahmad Mohamed Ali 139Al Madkhali, Sheikh Rabi’ ibn Haadi ‘Umayr 167Al Mu’ayqali, Sheikh Mahir bin Hamad 161Al Ouda, Sheikh Salman 76Al Qarni, Dr Aaidh 82Al Rajhi, Sulaiman Abdul Aziz 117Al Saffar, Hasan Musa 99214

IndexAl Saud, His Majesty King Abdullah bin ‘Abd Al ‘Aziz 28Al Saud, His Royal Highness Prince al Waleed bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz 139Al Shatri, Sheikh Abu Bakr 161Al Sheikh, His Eminence Sheikh Abdul Aziz Ibn Abdullah Aal 48Al Shugairi, Ahmad 137Al Shuraim, Sheikh Abu Ibrahim Sa’ud ibn Muhammad 161Al Sudais, Sheikh abdul Rahman 161Al Sudais, Sheikh Abdul Rahman 93Bin Laden, Bakr 142Bin Laden, Osama 167Kreidie, Dr Samir 139Obaid, Thoraya Ahmed 142Olayan, Lubna 116SenegalCisse, His Eminence Sheikh Ahmad Tijani Ali 83N’dour, Youssou 156SingaporeKassim, Ustaz Ibrahim 103Nassir, Mohammed 138Rasheed, His Excellency Zainul Abidin 112SomaliaAhmed, His Excellency President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh 110Aweys, Sheikh Hassan Dahir 110Elmi, Asha Haji 144Osman, Hibaaq 132South AfricaAmla, Hashim 156As-Sufi, Sheikh Abd al Qadir 125Bhika, Zain 156Desai, Mufti Ebrahim 99Esack, Farid 172Haffajee, Ferial 164Hendricks, Maulana Igsaan 117Hendricks, Sheikh Seraj 99Morton, Shafiq 164Patel, Ebrahim 143Sooliman, Dr Imtiaz Ismail 143SpainBakkach El Aamrani, Mostafa 113Sri LankaIsmail, Jezima 134Marsoof, Justice Saleem 152Mufthi, M.I.M. Rizvi 120SudanAl Bashir, His Excellency President Omar 109Al Mahdi, His Excellency Imam Sayyed al Sadiq 125Al Turabi, Hassan Abdallah 127El Bashir, His Excellency Dr Issam 127Ibrahim, Dr Mohamed ‘Mo’ 142SwedenBin Ouda, Helena 122215

IndexSwitzerlandMaizar, Hisham 122Ramadan, Dr Tariq 93, 104SyriaAl Assad, His Excellency President Bashar 109Al Bouti, Sheikh Dr Muhammad Sa’id Ramadan 60Alchaar, Dr Mohammed Nedal 117Al Sabouni, Sheikh Mohammad Ali 82Al Yaqoubi, Sheikh Muhammad 125Al-Zuhayli, Dr Prof. Sheikh Wahba Mustafa 99Hassoun, His Eminence Sheikh Dr Ahmad Badr al Din 99Itr, Sheikh Dr Nur al Din 99Qubeysi, Her Eminence Sheikha Munira 74Taha, Uthman 156TajikistanRahmon, His Excellency Emomalii 112ThailandDahlan, Prof. Dr Winai 152Pitsuwan, His Excellency Dr Surin 112Sabur, M Abdus 146Trinidad and TobagoAli, Imam Yacoob 123TunisiaEnnaifer, H’mida 99Ghannushi, Rashid 109TurkeyBardakoglu, Ali 122Çagrıcı, His Eminence Prof. Dr Mustafa 122Çelebi, Hasan 158Davutoglu, His Excellency Ahmet 113Dumanli, Ekrem 165Erbakan, His Excellency Prof. Necmettin 113Erdogan, His Excellency Recep Tayyip 30Gülen, Hodjaefendi Fethullah 52, 170Gül, His Excellency President Abdullah 81Günesdogdu, Mustafa Özcan 162Ihsanoglu, His Excellency Professor Dr Ekmelledin 87Karaman, Prof. Dr Hayrettin 104Oktar, Adnan 87Yalçin, Rabia 158TurkmenistanBerdimuhamedow, His Excellency President Gurbanguly Mälikgulyýewiç 112UgandaMamdani, Mahmood 100United Arab EmiratesAl Abbar, Mohammed bin Ali 142Al Haddad, Dr Ahmed 132al Hussein, Her Royal Highness Princess Haya bint 142Al Jifri, Sheikh Habib ‘Ali Zain al Abideen 85Al Maktoum, His Highness Amir Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid 92, 109al Nahyan, His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed 70216

IndexAl Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed 109, 172Al Rostamani, Dr Amina 164United KingdomAbdalla, Khalid 159Ahmed, Lord Nazir 114Ahsan, Dr Manazir 122Al Banna, Dr Hany 147Al Hassani, Dr Salim 153Atwan, Abdel Bari 165Azmi, Dr Waqar 147Bari, Dr Muhammad Abdul 122Boga, Nizar 147Islam, Yusuf 159Janmohamed, Shelina Zahra 135Joseph, Sarah 165Kazmi, Nadeem 122Khalid, Fazlun 153Khan, Rizwan 165Mamdani, Mohammed 138Motala, Hadhrat Sheikhul Hadith Maulana Yusuf 104Nahdi, Fuad 166Omaar, Rageh 166Qureshi, Prof. Khawar 153Sanders, Peter 159Ul Haq, Abu Yusuf Riyadh 129Warsi, Lady Sayeeda 114Winter, Timothy (Sheikh Abdal-Hakim Murad) 93, 104Yusuf, Sami 159United StatesAbdul-Rashid, Imam Talib 148Abdur-Rauf, Feisal 148Al Alwani, Dr Taha Jaber 106Al-Hibri, Dr Azizah 135Ali, Imam Mohammad Shamsi 124Al Ninowy, Sheikh Muhammad bin Yahya al Husayni 126Amanat, Omar 166Amanullah, Shahed 166Butt, Suhail 148Cheema, Dr Tariq H 140Clay, Mohammad Ali 148El Erian, Dr Mohamed 124Ellison, Representative Keith 114Estes, Sheikh Yusuf 106Ghazi, Drs Abidullah and Tasneema 124Godlas, Dr Alan 166Gouverneur, Aisha 166Hanson, Sheikh Hamza Yusuf 86Hussain, Rashad 114, 171Idriss, Shamil 148Kavakçi, Prof. Dr Merve 135Keller, Sheikh Nuh 106Khan, Mansur 148Latif, Imam Khalid 148Magid, Imam Mohamed 124Mattson, Ingrid 106Mattson, Ingrid Dr 92Mehdi, Anisa 159Mogahed, Dalia 135217

IndexMos Def 160Nasr, Professor Dr Seyyed Hossein 89Nyang, Sulayman S 106Oz, Dr Mehmet 153Pandith, Farah 171Perez, Hamza 138Qazi, Dr Mahmood Ahmad 153Shakir, Imam Zaid 106Siddiqui, Prof. Dr Muzammil H 106Webb, Imam Suhaib 138Wolfe, Michael 166Zarabozo, Sheikh Jamaal al-Din M. 129UzbekistanAlemov, His Eminence Usman 120YemenAl Awlaki, Anwar 167Ali, Nujood 132al Mansour, His Eminence Mohammad bin Mohammad 79Baobaid, Mohammad 142Hafiz, Sheikh al Habib Umar bin 83Houthi, Abdul-Malik 173ZimbabweMenk, Mufti Ismail Musa 117218

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the royal islamic strategic studies centreISBN 978-9975-428-37-29789975428372

THE 500 MOST INFLUENTIAL MUSLIMS - CESD

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