Muslims in Southeast Asia, South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa are particularly likely to say they are very free to practice their faith. In 622, they headed to Medina, another oasis town, where they were promised freedom to practice their religion. In 33 of the 38 countries where the question was asked at least half say people of other faiths are very free to practice their religion. Building Churches is prohibited. When did Malcolm X convert to Islam? [12] Nicolai Sinai, William Montgomery Watt Professor of Arabic and Islmic Studies, University of Edinburgh, 1964-79. By contrast, fewer than a quarter of Muslims view Islamic parties more favorably than other parties in the Palestinian territories (21%), Kosovo (16%), Bosnia-Herzegovina (12%), Azerbaijan (11%) and Kazakhstan (9%). Fewer, though still a majority, prefer democracy over a strong leader in Guinea Bissau (61%), Niger (57%) and Tanzania (57%). It is an Anglicized/Latinized version of the Arabic word or Khalfah, which means "successor", that is, successor to the Muhammad. 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. He was followed by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoan at second place. Lebanon was a fully functioning democracy in the early 1970's,. Muhammad, the prophet who spread Islam, dies | HISTORY 632 Muhammad, the prophet who spread Islam, dies In Medina, located in present-day Saudi Arabia, Muhammad, one of the most influential religious and political leaders in history, dies in. Compared with support for democracy and religious freedom, sharper regional differences emerge over the question of the role of religious leaders in politics. [12] 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. Muslims perform ablution before prayer -- a brief prescribed . In early modern times it is mainly used for the headmaster of an Islamic Boarding School (in Indonesia known as pondok pesantren). They talked face to face with the assistance of a translatorMonsignor Gaid Yoannis Lahzi, a Coptic Egyptian priest and one of the popes private secretaries. The move from Mecca to Medina is known as the hijrathe flightand marks year 1 of the Islamic, or hijri, calendar. Islam is today the religion of more than 350 million Muslims (or Moslems or Mohammedans), occupying a wide belt stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific, across Africa, parts of Europe,. Views on the role of religion in politics may not be the only factor affecting attitudes toward Islamic parties. These attitudes varied dramatically from region to region and throughout history; the societies that produced the works discussed here are among those that allowed the depiction of the Prophet. What Is a Muslim Religious Leader Called? - Reference.com [26], 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. The 500 Most Influential Muslims - Wikipedia The Woman of the Year was Rashida Tlaib of the United States and the Man of the Year was Imran Khan of Pakistan.[33]. The power of the Quraish derived from their role as successful merchants. "[18], Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani influence rose during the Arab Spring, moving him to sixth place. It should be emphasized that todays encounter is the first time ever that the sheik of Al-Azhar has visited the Vatican to meet the pope. List of Rulers of the Islamic World See works of art Caliphs and Wazirs Rashidun Dynasty A.H. 11-40 / A.D. 632-661 Abu Bakr A.H. 11-13 / A.D. 632-634 'Umar ibn al-Khattab A.H. 13-23 / A.D. 634-644 'Uthman ibn 'Affan A.H. 23-35 / A.D. 644-656 'Ali ibn Abi-Talib A.H. 35-40 / A.D. 656-661 Umayyad Dynasty A.H. 41-132 / A.D. 661-750 Mu'awiya I Great work Francis! 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 Erdoan of Turkey. National Baptist Convention of America, Inc. Ohio Valley Christian Baptist Church of God, Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference, Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ, Iglesia Evangelica Metodista en las Islas Filipinas, General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches, Supreme Governor of the Church of England, Episcopal Church in the United States of America, Federation of Anglican Churches in the Americas, Church of God Ministry of Jesus Christ International, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Acharya Shree Koshalendraprasadji Maharaj, Congress of the Jewish Religious Organizations and Associations in Russia, Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia, Chief Rabbis of the United Hebrew Congregations, "Preacher, racer are two of a kind. 21 Faith Leaders To Watch in 2021 - Center for American Progress Four-in-ten Palestinian Muslims see suicide bombing as often or sometimes justified, while roughly half (49%) take the opposite view. Meanwhile, in Brunei, Singapore and Malaysia, those who lead any prayers in any places such as at home, are also called imam. Islamic religious leaders by nationality (20 C) A. Ayatollahs (8 C, 14 P) C. Caliphs (27 C, 4 P) Muslim clergy (3 C, 1 P) F. Female Islamic religious leaders (3 C, 32 P) G. Grand Muftis (30 C, 13 P) I. Imams (10 C, 12 P) M. Marja' (3 P) Religious leaders of the medieval Islamic world (9 C) Fifth place went to Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoan.[13]. Mounted on the heavenly steed Buraq, Muhammad traveled from the Ka'ba in Mecca to the "Farthest Mosque," which Muslims believe to be the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. On one of these occasions, the Archangel Gabriel (Jibra'il in Arabic) appeared to him and instructed him to recite "in the name of [your] lord." On a spectrum from most to least democratic, these countries are: Morocco, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, Bahrain, Algeria, Qatar, and Yemen. 5. Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the 12th and last month of the Islamic Lunar Calendar. (+1) 202-419-4372 | Media Inquiries. Imam is an Arabic word meaning "Leader". 0-9 21st-century caliphs (11 P) I 21st-century imams (82 P) Pages in category "21st-century Islamic religious leaders" The following 20 pages are in this category, out of 20 total. [26], There were 32 newcomers to the 2016 list. [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. Leading scholar of Islamic jurisprudence who is considered to be the intellectual leader of the Deobandi movement. Initially overwhelmed by the significance of what was being revealed to him, Muhammad found unflinching support in his wife and slowly began to attract followers. Attitudes vary somewhat in the other regions surveyed. 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. American Muslims: 25 most influential - CNN [16], The women featured had a separate section from the men. He then returned to earth to continue spreading the message of Islam. And among those who view non-Muslims as very free to practice their faith, the prevailing opinion is that this is a good thing. [12], The book has given the first place to King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia. Muslim Views on Religion and Politics | Pew Research Center Erdoan 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. On balance, more Muslims are concerned about Islamic than Christian extremist groups. Substantial proportions in some countries, including countries surveyed in the Middle East and North Africa, express concern about both Muslim and Christian extremist groups. The gaps are particularly wide in Jordan (-22 percentage points), Kyrgyzstan (-20), Turkey (-20) and Egypt (-15). The publication is compiled by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre in Amman, Jordan. In 15 of the countries surveyed, Muslims are significantly more likely to say they themselves are very free to practice their religion than to say the same about people of other faiths. One faction, the Shi'a, believed that only individuals with direct lineage to the Prophet could guide the Muslim community righteously. From 1933: A longtime editor of America offers his thoughts on the agony of writingas well as some of its joys and rewards. What was Malcolm X's relationship with the civil rights movement? Born in 1182 in Assisi, Italy, part of the Holy Roman Empire, St. Francis was a Catholic friar and preacher who eventually became one of the most important religious figures in the Middle Ages, if not throughout all of history. In the Middle East-North Africa region, a majority of Muslims in most countries surveyed say religious leaders should play a role in politics. When he was roughly forty, Muhammad began having visions and hearing voices. Thank you Holy Father. It is commonly used to refer to the official that leads the prayers at the mosques. MIDDLE EAST: Islam and Democracy - Council on Foreign Relations The rise of Islam is intrinsically linked with the Prophet Muhammad, believed by Muslims to be the last in a long line of prophets that includes Moses and Jesus. Louis Farrakhan, in full Louis Abdul Farrakhan, original name Louis Eugene Walcott, (born May 11, 1933, Bronx, New York, New York, U.S.), leader (from 1978) of the Nation of Islam, an African American movement that combined elements of Islam with Black nationalism. When Muhammad died in 632, he had not named a successor. Afghanistan's intelligence agency, the National Directorate of Security, says some madrassa funding helps support Islamic State activities, though most religious leaders of both mosques and . Calling the 6-to-3 decision handed down Thursday more than disappointing, the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities said that the court ignores the more-than-apparent effects of continued racism in our society.. Over the last three decades a new generation of women religious leaders has emerged in Indonesia . [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". The Hijra In the Middle East-North Africa region, a majority of Muslims in most countries surveyed say religious leaders should play a role in politics. In Central Asia, the percentage of Muslims concerned about religious extremism ranges from roughly six-in-ten in Kazakhstan (63%) and Kyrgyzstan (62%) to fewer than one-in-ten in Azerbaijan (6%). He was the principal of the Muslim College in London, which he founded in 1986. Religious leadership in Islamic social circles, Toggle Titles used only by Shia Muslims subsection, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Islamic_religious_leaders&oldid=1153449467, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0, This page was last edited on 6 May 2023, at 12:25. Early Life In all countries where the question was asked, substantial percentages of Muslims rate Islamic parties as the same as other political parties, including at least half in Indonesia (57%) and Lebanon (51%). . [35], In 2023, the top five were Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud King of Saudi Arabia, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Sayyid Ali Khamenei Supreme Leader of Iran, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamid Al-Thani Emir of Qatar, The Woman of the Year was Aisha Abdurrahman Bewley and the Man of the Year was Mahmood Madani President of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind from india.[36]. They represent the Ijmah, or Islamic consensus of the Ummah on religious issues; this does not mean that there can be no disputes - far from it - but they should be aware of what counts as the main consensual opinion, of other dissenting views and their objections. "He who has ears let him hear!" Ruhollah Khomeini, also spelled Rallh Khomeyn, original name Ruhollah Mostafavi Musavi, (born September 24, 1902 [ see Researcher's Note ], Khomeyn, Irandied June 3, 1989, Tehrn), Iranian Shii cleric who led the revolution that overthrew Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi in 1979 ( see Iranian Revolution) and who was Iran 's ultimate political an. The concept of Imam has its origins in the Quran. [24] 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. The meeting is the message, Pope Francis said as he welcomedSheikhAhmed al-Tayeb, the grand imam of Al-Azhar and the highest religious authority of the Sunni Muslims, to the Vatican on May 23. Pope Francis blesses palliums for 32 new archbishops, tells them to follow the example of Sts. There he prayed with other prophets such as Moses, Abraham, and Jesus, and ascended to the skies, where he was led by Gabriel through Paradise and Hell, and finally came face to face with God. The first was a large medallion of the Olive of Peace, and he explained its significance not just with words but also with hand gestures indicating a coming together of both sides. After the initial welcome, the two religious leaders sat at the side of the table in the library where Francis meets heads of states and other dignitaries. Only in the Palestinian territories (29%), Azerbaijan (27%) and Turkey (26%) do more than a quarter subscribe to this view. Clearly Pope Francis is led by the Holy Spirit in spite of the many rock throwers who sit behind computer screens and are on the comfortable peripheries. Please visit ourmembership pageto learn how you can invest in our work by subscribing to the magazine or making a donation. If youre already a subscriber or donor, thank you! (This question was not asked in Afghanistan.). Religion. At least half in nine of the 16 countries surveyed in sub-Saharan Africa also say they are concerned about religious extremism. 25 Influential American Muslims By Daniel Burkeand Madeleine Stix, CNN We asked American Muslims to name the most influential people in their fields. Al-Azhar, which was established in Cairo in 969 C.E., is the most prominent center of learning in Sunni Islam. if you are trying to comment, you must log in or set up a new account. The Islamist party Ennahda won a plurality of seats in the Constituent Assembly elections in October 2011, and the Constituent Assembly met for the first time in November 2011. King with authority over approximately 7 million Jordanians and outreach to traditional Islam. As such the influence of individuals listed in the top 50 owes much to the fact of their existence in the political spectrum. The Woman of the Year was President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania and the Man of the Year was Uur ahin of Germany. Roughly six-in-ten in Tunisia (58%) and Iraq (57%) agree. [13], Foreign Policy magazine's Marc Lynch stated, "Esposito and Kalin's methodology seems strange. As a frequent reader of our website, you know how important Americas voice is in the conversation about the church and the world. He usually is the person who performs the athan. We can't do it without youAmerica Media relies on generous support from our readers. (return to text), 1615 L St. NW, Suite 800Washington, DC 20036USA 10 Muslim peace activists proving negative stereotypes wrong For example, in Guinea Bissau, more than half of Muslims (54%) say they are at least somewhat concerned about Islamic extremist groups; in Ghana 45% say the same, as do roughly a third of Muslims in Djibouti (36%), Chad (33%), Kenya (33%) and Niger (32%). 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." [23], 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. Muhammad was born into the most powerful tribe in Mecca, the Quraish, around 570 A.D. In each country in the region except Lebanon, about a quarter or more say religious leaders should have a large influence on politics, including 37% in Jordan. All that took five minutes. The book is called Resalah, which is usually a reinvention of the book Al-Urwatu l-Wuthqah, according to their knowledge of the most authentic Islamic sources and their application to current life. . "[9], The book starts with an overall top 50, ranked the most influential Muslims in the world. ", "U.S. dominates list of world's '500 Most Influential Muslims', "Influencing Muslims: The 500 Most Influential Muslims", "2013 list of 'World's Most Influential Muslims' released", "Politics to pop royalty: World's 500 influential Muslims unveiled", "World's 500 Most Influential Muslims Highlights Muslim-American Influence", "22 Indians among world's influential Muslims", "The Muslim 500: Most influential Indian Muslims in the world", "22 Indians Among 500 Most Influential Muslims", A Defense of the Powerful: The Muslim 500, List of Most Influential Muslims Illustrates the Problem and Presents Opportunities, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_500_Most_Influential_Muslims&oldid=1162677206, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2023, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0. [2], Erdoan was expected by many to receive the top spot in light of the Arab Spring. In 12 of the 16 countries surveyed in sub-Saharan Africa, roughly two-thirds or more prefer a democratic government, including nearly nine-in-ten (87%) in Ghana. Mary Novak. Oh, and homosexuality carries the death penalty. The top nine are all political leaders and royals, including Morocco's King Mohammed VI and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In Afghanistan, a substantial minority of Muslims (39%) say that this form of violence against civilian targets is often or sometimes justifiable in defense of Islam. Muslims generally say they are very free to practice their religion. 21st 22nd 23rd 24th 25th 26th Subcategories This category has the following 2 subcategories, out of 2 total. Muslims and Islam: Key findings in the U.S. and around the world Some titles for traditional Islamic leaders include Caliph, Imam, Sheikh, Mufti, Mujtahid and Allamah. And while the vast majority of Muslims in most countries say suicide bombing is rarely or never justified to defend Islam against its enemies, substantial minorities in a few countries consider such violence justifiable in at least some circumstances. . Islamic religious leaders have traditionally been people who, as part of the clerisy, mosque, or government, performed a prominent role within their community or nation. Caliph is the term for the Islamic leader of the Ummah, or community of Islam. The conflict with the Quraish continued, but after several years of violent clashes, Mecca surrendered. In Egypt (home of the pope's visitor), Article 2 of its 2014 Constitution declares the principles of Islamic Sharia to be the main source of legislation. Sunnis and Shia: Islam's ancient schism - BBC News Ayatollah (Arabic: ; Persian: ) is a prestigious title given to major Shia clergymen. Read and vote", "Timothy Winter: Britain's most influential Muslim - and it was all down to a peach", "The world's 500 most influential Muslims", "World's top Muslims list appears with Erdogan only #3. Who should be #1? Sunni Saudi Arabia (where the criminal law is based totally on sharia) does not allow immigrant Catholic workers (mostly Filipino) to practice their faith openly. Shi'a institutions abroad are also funded this . Liberia - United States Department of State Fethullah Glen came 13th. Because Muhammad was the chosen recipient and messenger of the word of God through the divine revelations, Muslims from all walks of life strive to follow his example. In most of the 21 countries where the question was asked few Muslims endorse suicide bombing and other forms of violence against civilian targets as a means of defending Islam against its enemies. 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. Your source for jobs, books, retreats, and much more. The "Grand Imam" or "Imam of imams" (Arabic: ) of the Al-Azhar Mosque and Al-Azhar University is a prestigious Sunni Islam title and a prominent official title in Egypt. According to Islamic belief, Muhammad was the only person to see Heaven and Hell while still alive. They were afraid that trade, which they believed was protected by the pagan gods, would suffer. Al-Azhar, founded in 969 C.E. Islamic religious leaders - Wikipedia Muslims in Uzbekistan (39%) are the least likely among the Muslim populations surveyed to say they are very free to practice their faith. Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images Islam is the second largest religion in the world after Christianity, with about 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide. She succeeded Sister Simone Campbell, who was named a CAP faith leader . Simply breathtaking. But in a few countries, substantial minorities believe suicide bombing can be often justified or sometimes justified. He spoke about this on the flight back from Mexico, and he sent his envoys to visit Al-Azhar to invite the grand imam to a face-to-face meeting. Accounts of the ascension (mi'raj) of Muhammad have captured the imaginations of writers and painters for centuries. They thought that 'Ali, Muhammad's closest surviving blood male relative, should be their next leader (caliph). In Sunni belief, the term is used for the founding scholars of the four Sunni madhhabs, or schools of religious jurisprudence (fiqh). Only a few of the most important ayatollah of one of the ayatollahs refer to him in many situations and ask him to publish his Juristic book in which he answers the vast majority of daily Muslim affairs. Teachers Guide - Muslims | Teacher Center | FRONTLINE | PBS She is known for her nonviolent work to secure the safety of women and her struggle for women's rights in Yemen. The publication highlights people who are influential as Muslims. [1][21], For the fourth year running, Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz topped the list. Meanwhile, Muslims in Kyrgyzstan are divided over the issue (46% say religious leaders should have an influence on political matters, 51% disagree). [citation needed] Each year the biographies are updated. [25], 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. Ghazi was an individual who participated in ghazw, meaning military expeditions or raiding. Islam is a monotheistic religion, the second largest religion in the world after Christianity. The Role of Religious Leaders and Religious Communities in - Brookings After they died, however, Muhammad's situation in Mecca became dire. However, nowadays it is common in Indonesia to call any elderly preacher from any cultural background with this title. In South Asia, a large majority in Afghanistan (82%) and Bangladesh (69%) believe religious leaders ought to influence political matters, while 54% of Pakistani Muslims agree. [30], 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 Erdoan of Turkey. Elsewhere, at least one-in-five rate Islamic and other political parties the same. This list may not reflect recent changes. Emigration became the only hope for Muhammad and his followers' survival. Muslim Leaders - Elijah Interfaith In these (very) short essays, they explain how they encountered God in others and their faith grew because of it. 10. And in most countries, Islamic extremism rather than Christian extremism is the principal worry. In Medina, Muhammad continued to receive divine revelations and built an ever-expanding community around the new faith.