The 500 Most Influential Muslims

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The 500 Most Influential Muslims
The 500 most influential muslims 2009 1st edition book cover.jpg
The cover of the 2009 edition
AuthorJohn L. Esposito (contributor of the 2009 edition only), İbrahim Kalın, Usra Ghazi, Prince Alwaleed Center for Muslim–Christian Understanding, S. Abdallah Schleifer
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Series1st Edition (2009)
2nd Edition (2010)
3rd Edition (2011)
4th Edition (2012)
5th Edition (2013/14)
6th Edition (2014/15)
7th Edition (2016)
8th Edition (2017)
9th Edition (2018)
10th Edition (2019)
11th Edition (2020)
12th Edition (2021)
13th Edition (2022)
SubjectBiographical dictionary
GenreNon-fiction
PublisherRoyal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre, Createspace
Publication date
January 16, 2009 (2009-01-16)
Media typeOnline, print
Pages206
ISBN978-9957-428-37-2
OCLC514462119
Websitehttps://www.themuslim500.com/

The 500 Most Influential Muslims (also known as The Muslim 500) is an annual publication first published in 2009, which ranks the most influential Muslims in the world.

The publication is compiled by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre in Amman, Jordan.[1][2][3] The report is issued annually in cooperation with Prince Al-Waleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University in the United States.[2]

Qatar's Emir Tamim bin Hamid Al-Thani took first place in the 2022 edition. He was followed by King Salman of Saudi Arabia, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. King Abdullah II of Jordan, Pakistani scholar Muhammad Taqi Usmani, King Mohammed VI of Morocco, Emirati Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Iraqi cleric Ali al-Sistani, and Imran Khan, Prime Minister of Pakistan, are also among the top 10 list.[4]

Critics have noted that its top 50 list gives more weight to political leadership, who due to the nature of political systems in Middle East enjoy considerable clout and influence in the regional politics. As such, the influence of individuals listed in the top 50 are favored upon the fact of their existence in the political spectrum.

Overview[]

The publication highlights people who are influential as Muslims. That is people whose influence is derived from their practice of Islam or from the fact that they are Muslim.[5] The influence can be of a religious scholar directly addressing Muslims and influencing their beliefs, ideas and behaviour, or it can be of a ruler shaping the socio-economic factors within which people live their lives, or of artists shaping popular culture. The first two examples also point to the fact that the lists, and especially the Top 50, are dominated by religious scholars and heads of state. Their dominant and lasting influence cannot be denied, especially the rulers, who in many cases also appoint religious scholars to their respective positions.[6]

Nominations are evaluated on the basis of the influence that particular Muslims have had within the Muslim community and the manner in which their influence has benefited the Muslim community, both within the Islamic world and in terms of representing Islam to non-Muslims.[7] "Influential" for the purposes of the book is defined as "any person who has the power (be it cultural, ideological, financial, political or otherwise) to make a change that will have a significant impact on the Muslim World".[8][9]

The publication defines eligible entries with the following: "Traditional Islam (96% of the world's Muslims): Also known as Orthodox Islam, this ideology is not politicized and largely based on consensus of correct opinion—thus including the Sunni, Shi'a, and Ibadi branches of practice (and their subgroups) within the fold of Islam, and not groups such as the Druze or the Ahmadiyya, among others."[10]

The book starts with an overall top 50, ranked the most influential Muslims in the world. The remaining 450 most prominent Muslims is broken down into 15 categories without ranking,[11][12] of scholarly, political, administrative, lineage, preachers and spiritual guides, women, youth, philanthropy/charity, development, science and technology, arts and culture, Qu'ran reciters, media, radicals, international Islamic networks and issues of the day.[13] Each year the biographies are updated.[3]

The publication also gives an insight into the different ways that Muslims impact the world and also shows the diversity of how people are living as Muslims today.[11] The book's appendices comprehensively list populations of Muslims in nations worldwide, and its introduction gives a snapshot view of different ideological movements within the Muslim world, breaking down clearly distinctions between traditional Islam and recent radical innovations.[14]

Publications[]

2009 edition[]

In 2009, the book was edited by Professors John L. Esposito and Ibrahim Kalin at Georgetown University in Washington.[15]

The 500 most influential Muslims were chosen largely in terms of their overt influence.[14] The top 50 is dominated by religious scholars[16] and either heads of state, which automatically gives them an advantage when it comes to influence, or they have inherited their position. Lineage is a significant factor – it has its own category – and the predisposition to include children of important people reveals a mindset that indicates achievement is an optional extra.[5] The top 50 fits into six broad categories as follows: 12 are political leaders (kings, generals, presidents), four are spiritual leaders (Sufi shaykhs), 14 are national or international religious authorities, three are "preachers", six are high-level scholars, 11 are leaders of movements or organizations.[14]

The book has given the first place to King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia. Second place went to Ayatollah Syed Ali Khamenei, the spiritual leader of Iran. King Mohammed VI of Morocco found third place and King Abdullah II Al-Hussain of Jordan occupied fourth place. Fifth place went to Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.[15]

The first solely religious leader is Iraq's Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in seventh place. Fethullah Gülen came 13th. The heads of Hezbollah; Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah listed 17th and Hamas Khaled Mashaal listed 34th.

The highest-ranking American (and highest-ranking convert) at 38th place was Sheikh Hamza Yusuf Hanson, founder of the Zaytuna Institute in Berkeley, California. Right after him comes the highest-ranking European, Sheikh Mustafa Cerić, grand mufti of Bosnia and Herzegovina.[17]

In total 72 Americans are among the 500, a disproportionately strong showing.[14] Timothy Winter (Abdal Hakim Murad) was the highest ranked British Muslim, in an unspecified position between 51st and 60th, considerably higher than the three other British people who made the list – the Conservative Party chairman Baroness Sayeeda Warsi; the UK's first Muslim life peer, Lord Nazir Ahmed; and Dr Anas Al Shaikh Ali, director of the International Institute of Islamic Thought.[18]

The women featured had a separate section from the men.[5] There were only three women listed in the top 50. Sheikha Munira al-Qubaysi (number 21), an educator of girls and women; Queen Rania of Jordan (number 37), who promotes global education; and Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned of Qatar (number 38), who is chairwoman of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development.[12]

The listing also includes an extensive Arts and Culture Section. The general Arts and Culture Section included the names of singers Salif Keita, Youssou N'Dour, Raihan, Yusuf Islam and Sami Yusuf, Dawud Wharnsby; musician A. R. Rahman (India); film stars Aamir Khan and Shahrukh Khan; comedian Azhar Usman and martial artist Ma Yue. All the Qāriʾs (Quran reciters) listed in the book are from Saudi Arabia.[15]

Foreign Policy magazine's Marc Lynch stated, "Esposito and Kalin's methodology seems strange. Any list in which the Sultan of Oman (Qaboos bin Said al Said, who was sixth) outranks, say, Turkish preacher Fethullah Gülen (placed 13th) or the Aga Khan (Aga Khan IV, who was placed 20th) seems odd to this observer..."[19]

2010 edition[]

In 2010, Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz topped the list as the most influential Muslim in the world for the second consecutive year. Ayatollah Syed Ali Khamenei maintained second place. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan moved into third place. Jordanian King Abdullah II was placed fourth above Moroccan King Mohammed VI who moved down to fifth place.

2011 edition[]

In 2011, achievements of a lifetime were given more weight than achievements within the current year. which meant that the lists of names were going to change gradually, rather than dramatically, year-on-year. The Arab Spring had no impact on Saudi King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia's influence, it had boosted King Mohammed VI of Morocco's influence, who moved up to second place, and it had no effect on Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan who came in third place.[2]

Erdoğan was expected by many to receive the top spot in light of the Arab Spring. Erdoğan was credited with Turkey's "Muslim democracy", and was seen as the leader of a country that, as the Brookings Institution said, "played the 'most constructive' role in the Arab events."[20]

Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani influence rose during the Arab Spring, moving him to sixth place. He had driven much of the Arab Spring through the coverage given by Al Jazeera, given financial support to protesters and political support to Libya, making him arguably the biggest enabler of the Arab Spring.[21]

2012 edition[]

In 2012, the edition was published by S. Abdallah Schleifer, Professor Emeritus and Senior Fellow Kamal Adham Center for Television & Digital Journalism, The American University in Cairo.[9]

There were more Muslims from America than any other country again with 41 spots on the 500 list. Countries with the next highest number of names were Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom, with 25 Muslims each, followed by Indonesia, with 24.[22] It lists the winners according to 13 categories, including spiritual guides, Quran reciters, scholars, politicians, celebrities, sports figures, radicals, and media leaders.[1][23]

For the fourth year running, Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz topped the list. He was followed by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at second place.[16] Erdoğan's advance gave him advantage over Moroccan King Mohammed VI who took the third place. Fourth place went to Dr Mohammed Badie, whose name appeared in the top 10 for the first time. He was followed by Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani who took the fifth place. Sheikh Al-Azhar Dr. Ahmad el-Tayeb and prominent Islamic scholar Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi who is President of Global Association of Muslim Scholars, also made it to the top 10 ranks.[11]

2013/14 edition[]

In 2013, the list was edited once again by Professor Emeritus S. Abdallah Schleifer of the American University in Cairo.[24]

The top of the list went to Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, the Grand Sheikh of the Al Azhar University for the prominent role played by him in Egypt's troubled democratic transition.[25] His astute decision making over the past couple of years has preserved the traditional approach of Al-Azhar which faced threats from Islamists and Salafis in the years that have followed Mubarak's fall.[26] His public support of General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's coup also gave it a strong religious grounding that was necessary for it to achieve the legitimacy needed to prevent a civil war, effectively making him a "king-maker" and cementing his place at the top of the list.[24] He was followed on the listing by Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud and Iranian Grand Leader Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei.[25]

Reflective of the wider trajectory of the Arab Spring, this year's list showed a decline in influence from Muslim Brotherhood associated figures Dr Mohammed Badie, Sheikh Yusuf al Qaradawi and ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi. Coup kingpin General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi who was previously unlisted now ranks at 29.[25]

The US dominates the list again with 41 inclusions including Muhammad Ali, Dr Mehmet Oz, Rep. Keith Ellison, Yasiin Bey (Mos Def), and Fareed Zakaria. Representing the UK are Mo Farah, Yusuf Islam, Riz Khan, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, Cambridge's Dr Timothy Winter and 18 others.[26]

2014/2015 edition[]

In 2014, the chief editor of the list was again Professor S Abdallah Schleifer. The top spot went back to Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud, due to his being the "absolute monarch of the most powerful Arab nation." The list accords him the place in light of Saudi Arabia being home to Islam's two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, which millions of Muslims visit throughout the year, as well as the kingdom's oil exports. Rounding out the top three are Dr Muhammad Ahmed al-Tayeb, grand sheikh of Al-Azhar University and grand imam of Al-Azhar mosque, and Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The top nine are all political leaders and royals, including Morocco's King Mohammed VI and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.[27]

The top 50 fit into six broad categories: 12 are political leaders (kings, generals, presidents), four are spiritual leaders (Sufi shaykhs), 14 are national or international religious authorities, three are "preachers", six are high-level scholars, 11 are leaders of movements or organizations. In total 72 Americans are among the 500 most influential Muslims, a disproportionately strong showing, but only one among the top 50, Sheikh Hamza Yusuf Hanson of Zaytuna Institute listed at number 38.[14]

2016 edition[]

In 2015, the top 50 was again dominated by religious scholars and heads of state. The top five, was King Abdullah of Jordan; Ahmed el-Tayeb, the grand sheikh of Egypt's Al-Azhar University; King Salman of Saudi Arabia; Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei; and King Mohammed VI of Morocco. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan came in at Number eight, but surprisingly Syrian President Bashar al-Assad did not make the Top 50 this year or last, though he is still listed in the 500. The prime minister of Iraq did not make the list, but Iraq's Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Hussein Sistani did, coming in at number nine.[28]

There were 32 newcomers to the 2016 list.[28] 22 Indians featured on the list.[29][30][31] As in past years, there continued to be more Muslims from the United States than any other country. Since at least 2012, the U.S. has outpaced nations with a far larger Muslim population, with at least 40 notable people of influence, with Pakistan (33), Saudi Arabia (32), Egypt (27) and the UK (27).[28]

2017 edition[]

In 2017, the top five were Sheikh Ahmad al-Tayyeb of Egypt; King Abdullah II of Jordan of Jordan; King Salman of Saudi Arabia; Ayatollah Ali Khamenei of Iran; King Mohammed VI of Morocco.[32]

2018 edition[]

In 2018, the top five were Sheikh Ahmad Muhammad Al-Tayeeb of Egypt; King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia; King Abdullah II Ibn Al-Hussein of Jordan; Ayatollah Hajj Sayyid Ali Khamenei of Iran; President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey. [33]

2019 edition[]

In 2019, the top five were President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey; King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia; King Abdullah II Ibn Al-Hussein of Jordan; Ayatollah Hajj Sayyid Ali Khamenei of Iran; King Mohammad VI of Morocco.[34]

2020 edition[]

In 2020, the top five were Sheikh Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani of Pakistan, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey; King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia; Ayatollah Hajj Sayyid Ali Khamenei of Iran; King Abdullah II Ibn Al-Hussein of Jordan.

The Woman of the Year was Rashida Tlaib of the United States and the Man of the Year was Imran Khan of Pakistan.[35]

2021 edition[]

In 2021, the top five were President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey; King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia; Ayatollah Hajj Sayyid Ali Khamenei of Iran; King Abdullah II Ibn Al-Hussein of Jordan.

The Woman of the Year was Bilkis Bano of India and the Man of the Year was Ilham Tohti of China.[36]

2022 edition[]

In 2022, the top five were Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar; King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia; Ayatollah Hajj Sayyid Ali Khamenei of Iran; President Recep Tayyib Erdoğan of Turkey.

The Woman of the Year was President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania and the Man of the Year was Uğur Şahin of Germany.[37]

Current top ten[]

Rank Change Name Citizenship Age Image Occupation Source of Influence Influence School of Thought Previous rankings
1 Increase10 Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani Qatar
Qatar 		(1980-06-03) 3 June 1980 (age 41) تميم بن حمد بن خليفة آل ثاني (49759678641) (cropped).jpg Emir of Qatar Political Ruler of richest country per capita in the world. Diplomatic authority over Muslim Brotherhood, Jamaat e Islami, Hamas and the Taliban ruled Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Moderate Wahhabi, Muslim Brotherhood 19 (2019)
12 (2020) Increase7
11 (2021) Increase1
1 (2022) Increase10
2 Steady King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia 		(1935-12-31) December 31, 1935 (age 86) Salman bin Abdull aziz December 9, 2013.jpg King of Saudi Arabia and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Political King with authority over 26 million residents of Saudi Arabia and approximately 14 million pilgrims annually. Political and diplomatic authority over worldwide Wahhabi Muslims. Orthodox Wahhabi Unlisted (2009)
Unlisted (2010)
Unlisted (2011)
Unlisted (2012)
Unlisted (2013/14)
Unlisted (2014/15)
3 (2016) Increase
3 (2017) Steady
2 (2018) Increase1
2 (2019) Steady
4 (2020) Decrease2
2 (2021) Increase2
3 Steady Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Iran
Iran 		(1939-07-17) July 17, 1939 (age 82) Seyyed Ali Khamenei.jpg Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Political, Administrative Supreme Leader of 82.5 million Iranians. Ayatollah of Twelver Shias worldwide. Traditional Twelver Shi‘a, Revolutionary Shi'ism, Usuli 2 (2009)
3 (2010) Increase1
5 (2011) Decrease2
6 (2012) Decrease1
3 (2013/14) Increase3
3 (2014/15) Steady
4 (2016) Decrease
4 (2017) Steady
4 (2018) Steady
4 (2019) Steady
2 (2020) Increase2
3 (2021) Decrease1
4 Decrease3 Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Turkey
Turkey 		(1954-02-26) February 26, 1954 (age 67) Recep Tayyip Erdoğan 2019 (cropped).jpg President of Turkey Political President of 83.6 million Turkish citizens Traditional Sunni, Hanafi 5 (2009)
2 (2010) Increase3
3 (2011) Decrease1
2 (2012) Increase1
6 (2013/14) Decrease4
6 (2014/15) Steady
8 (2016) Decrease2
8 (2017) Steady
5 (2018) Increase3
1 (2019) Increase4
6 (2020) Decrease5
1 (2021) Increase5
5 Decrease1 King Abdullah II of Jordan Jordan
Jordan 		(1962-01-30) January 30, 1962 (age 60) King Abdullah II (cropped).jpg King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Political, Lineage King with authority over approximately 7 million Jordanians and outreach to traditional Islam. Custodian of the Holy Sites in Jerusalem. Moderate Wahhabi 4 (2009)
4 (2010) Steady
4 (2011) Steady
7 (2012) Decrease3
4 (2013/14) Increase3
4 (2014/15) Steady
1 (2016) Increase3
2 (2017) Decrease1
3 (2018) Decrease1
3 (2019) Steady
5 (2020) Decrease3
4 (2021) Increase1
6 Decrease1 Mufti Taqi Usmani Pakistan
Pakistan 		(1943-10-05) October 5, 1943 (age 78) Deobandi leader Scholar Leading scholar of Islamic jurisprudence who is considered to be the intellectual leader of the Deobandi movement. Veteran figure of Islamic banking and finance. Deobandi Movement 27 (2009)
31 (2010) Decrease4
32 (2011) Decrease1
32 (2012) Steady
25 (2013/14) Increase7
19 (2014/15) Increase6
22 (2016) Decrease3
6 (2017) Increase16
7 (2018) Decrease1
6 (2019) Increase1
1 (2020) Increase5
5 (2021) Decrease4
7 Decrease1 King Mohammed VI of Morocco Morocco
Morocco 		(1963-08-21) August 21, 1963 (age 58) King Mohammed VI of Morocco, Africa Forum Summit 2015 (cropped).jpg King of Morocco Political, Administrative, Development King with authority over 32 million Moroccans. Traditional Sunni, Maliki 3 (2009)
5 (2010) Decrease2
2 (2011) Increase3
3 (2012)Decrease1
5 (2013/14) Decrease2
5 (2014/15) Steady
5 (2016) Steady
5 (2017) Steady
6 (2018) Decrease1
5 (2019) Increase1
7 (2020) Decrease2
6 (2021) Increase1
8 Decrease1 H.H. General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan United Arab Emirates
UAE 		(1961-03-11) March 11, 1961 (age 60) His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on February 11, 2016.jpg Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Administration of Religious Affairs, Philanthropy, Charity and Development, Political Military and political leadership. Traditional Sunni 22 (2009)
22 (2010) Steady
18 (2011) Increase4
15 (2012) Increase3
10 (2013/14) Increase5
9 (2014/15) Increase1
7 (2016) Decrease2
12 (2017) Decrease5
15 (2018) Decrease3
15 (2019) Steady
3 (2020) Increase12
7 (2021) Decrease4
9 Decrease1 Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Hussein Sistani Iraq
Iraq 		(1930-08-04) August 4, 1930 (age 91) Ali Sistani edit1.jpg Marja' of the Hawza, Najaf, Iraq Scholarly, Lineage Highest authority for 21 million Iraqi Shi‘a, and also internationally as religious authority to Usuli Twelver Shi‘a. Traditional Twelver Shi‘a, Usuli 7 (2009)
8 (2010) Decrease1
10 (2011) Decrease2
13 (2012) Decrease3
8 (2013/14) Increase5
7 (2014/15) Increase1
9 (2016) Decrease2
7 (2017) Increase2
8 (2018) Decrease1
7 (2019) Increase1
8 (2020) Decrease1
8 (2021) Steady
1 (2022) Decrease
10 Increase5 Imran Khan Pakistan
Pakistan 		(1952-10-05) 5 October 1952 (age 69) Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi - UNGA (48784380531) (cropped).jpg Prime Minister of Pakistan Prime Minister of Pakistan Leader of 222 million Muslims in Pakistan and major influence on the Pakistani diaspora. Traditional Sunni 15 (2021)
10 (2022) Increase5

Previous top ten entrants[]

Rank Change Name Citizenship Age Image Occupation Source of Influence Influence School of Thought Previous rankings
11 Decrease5 Qaboos bin Said al Said Oman
Oman 		(1940-11-18) November 18, 1940 (age 81) QaboosBinSaidAlSaid.jpg Sultan of Oman Lineage, Political, Development Leader of 4 million citizens and residents of Oman. Traditional Ibadi 6 (2009)
6 (2010) Steady
9 (2011) Decrease3
12 (2011) Decrease3
9 (2013/14) Increase3
8 (2014/15) Increase1
6 (2016) Increase2
12 Decrease5 H.H. General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan United Arab Emirates
UAE 		(1961-03-11) March 11, 1961 (age 60) General Mohammed bin Zayed.jpg Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Administration of Religious Affairs, Philanthropy, Charity and Development, Political Military and political leadership. Traditional Sunni 22 (2009)
22 (2010) Steady
18 (2011) Increase4
15 (2012) Increase3
10 (2013/14) Increase5
9 (2014/15) Increase1
7 (2016) Decrease2
13 Decrease1 Ahmed el-Tayeb Egypt
Egypt 		(1946-01-01) January 1, 1946 (age 76) Ahmed el-Tayeb May 2015 (17963337671).jpg Grand Sheikh of the Al-Azhar University and Grand Imam of the Al-Azhar Mosque Administrative Highest scholarly authority for a majority of Sunni Muslims, runs the foremost and largest Sunni Islamic university with close to 400,000 students. Traditional Sunni 25 (2009)
7 (2010) Increase18
7 (2011) Steady
8 (2012) Increase1
1 (2013/14) Increase7
2 (2014/15) Decrease1
2 (2016) Steady
31 Increase1 Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi Qatar
Qatar 		(1926-09-09) September 9, 1926 (age 95) Qardawi.JPG Head of the International Union of Muslim Scholars Scholarly Leading scholar for global Muslim Brotherhood movement, host of Ash-Shariah wal-Hayat on Al Jazeera with 40 million viewers worldwide. Muslim Brotherhood, Sunni 9 (2009)
14 (2010) Decrease5
13 (2011) Decrease1
16 (2013/14) Decrease3
31 (2014/15) Decrease15
32 (2016) Decrease1
48 Decrease33 Muhammet Fethullah Gülen Turkey
Turkey 		(1941-04-27) April 27, 1941 (age 80) Fethullah Gülen cropped.jpg Turkish Muslim preacher and founder of the Gülen movement Scholarly Figure of spiritual and social leadership for millions of Turkish Muslims and others around the world. Own movement 13 (2009)
13 (2011) Steady
15 (2011) Decrease2
10 (2011) Increase5
11 (2013/14) Decrease1
14 (2014/15) Decrease3
15 (2016) Increase1
55 Decrease39 Sheikh Ali Gomaa Egypt
Egypt 		(1953-03-03) March 3, 1953 (age 68) Ali Gomaa.JPG Grand Mufti of The Arab Republic of Egypt Scholarly, Political Legal authority for 87 million Egyptians. Traditional Sunni, Shafi‘i 10 (2009)
10 (2010) Steady
12 (2011) Decrease2
14 (2013/14) Decrease2
15 (2014/15) Decrease1
16 (2016) Increase1
Top 450 Steady Dr Mohammed Badie Egypt
Egypt 		(1943-08-07) August 7, 1943 (age 78) Mohammed Badiea.jpg Supreme Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood Administrative, Political, International Islamic Networks Leader of a transnational movement in Egypt and across the Middle East, Africa, the United Kingdom, and United States. Traditional Sunni, Muslim Brothers Unlisted (2009)
12 (2010)
8 (2011) Decrease4
4 (2012) Increase4
36 (2013/14) Decrease32
Top 450 (2014/15) Decrease414
Top 450 (2016) Steady
Unlisted Decrease450 Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani Qatar
Qatar 		(1952-01-01) January 1, 1952 (age 70) Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (cropped).jpg Emir of Qatar Political, Administrative, Lineage, Philanthropy Political leader of over 1.5 million residents of oil-rich Qatar. Moderate Salafi Unlisted (2009)
21 (2010)
6 (2011) Increase15
5 (2011) Decrease1
Unlisted (2013/14) Decrease
Top 450 (2014/15) Increase
Top 450 (2016) Steady
Unlisted Decrease President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Indonesia
Indonesia 		(1949-09-09) September 9, 1949 (age 72) SusiloBambangYudhoyono.jpg President of Indonesia Political, Development Leader of 233.5 million citizens and residents of Indonesia. Traditional Sunni Unspecified (2009)
9 (2010)
11 (2011) Decrease2
9 (2011) Increase2
7 (2013/14) Decrease2
Unlisted (2014/15)
Unlisted (2016)Decrease
Unlisted Deceased King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia 		(1924-08-01)August 1, 1924 – January 23, 2015(2015-01-23) (aged 90) King Abdullah bin Abdul al-Saud January 2007.jpg King of Saudi Arabia and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Political, Administrative, Lineage King who had authority over 26 million residents of Saudi Arabia, 2.4 million Hajj pilgrims and approximately 14 million Umrah pilgrims annually. Moderate Salafi 1 (2009)
1 (2010) Steady
1 (2011) Steady
1 (2012) Steady
2 (2013/14) Decrease1)
1 (2014/15) Increase1
Unlisted (2016)Decrease
9 Steady Sheikh Al-Habib Umar bin Hafiz Yemen
Yemen 		May 27,1963 (age 58–59) Director of Dar Al Mustafa, Tareem, Yemen Scholarly, Spiritual leader and Preacher, Lineage Millions of traditional Muslim followers globally. Traditional Sunni, Shafi'i, Ba 'Alawiy Sufi. 28 (2016) Steady
25 (2017) Increase3
10 (2018) Increase15
8 (2019) Increase2
9 (2020) Decrease1
9 (2021) Steady
10 Increase1 Salman al-Ouda Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia 		(1956-12-14) December 14, 1956 (age 65) Salman al-Ouda.jpg Saudi Muslim scholar. Scholar Influential Muslim Cleric on Arab World. Traditional Sunni, Hanbali 19 (2017) {{}}
11 (2018) Increase8
10 (2019) Increase1
11 (2020) Decrease1
10 (2021) Increase1

See also[]

References[]

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