POLL: The world’s top 500 Muslims? Read and vote
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If you’ve ever been confused by Muslim names you read in the news or unsure who’s important in the Islamic world, help is near. A new book entitled “The 500 Most Influential Muslims – 2009″ lists prominent Muslims from different fields — politics, religion, women, media, even radicals — with informative short biographies explaining who they are. It starts with an overall “top 50″ list and then surveys the most prominent Muslims in their fields. Here it is in PDF.
The book, edited by Professors John Esposito and Ibrahim Kalin at Georgetown University in Washington, is the first in what is planned to be an annual survey of the top Muslim personalities around the world. It’s a joint effort by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center in Amman and Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding. Esposito is director of the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center and Kalin is spokesman for the Common Word dialogue initiative we’ve written about on this blog before.
As the editors say in their introduction: “Influence in the Muslim world is particular to its context. There is not a clear hierarchy or organised clergy for Muslims to identify a leader, such as a patriarch for Orthodox Christians or a pope for Catholics.” They took a mix of factors into account in working out their top 50 list and have even asked readers to send in suggestions for next year’s list. You can vote for your candidate for “most influential Muslim” in the poll at the bottom of this post.
(UPDATE: The online poll has been closed after more than 1.8 million votes but comments are still open. See the results below.)
So who are the world’s most influential Muslims, according to this book? Here are the top 10:
1. King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, king of Saudi Arabia, custodian of the two Holy Mosques
2. Grand Ayatollah Hajj Sayyid Ali Khamenei, supreme leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran
3. King Mohammed VI, king of Morocco
4. King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
5. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, prime minister of the republic of Turkey
6. Sultan Qaboos bin Sa’id al Sa’id, sultan of Oman
7. Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Hussein Sistani, Marja of the Hawza, Najaf
8. Sheikh Al Azhar Dr Muhammad Sayyid Tantawi, grand sheikh of the Al Azhar University, grand imam of Al Azhar Mosque
9. Sheikh Dr Yusuf Qaradawi, head of the International Union of Muslim Scholars
10. Sheikh Dr Ali Goma’a, grand mufti of the Arab Republic of Egypt
(Photo: Saudi King Abdullah, 17 Nov 2009/Philippe Wojazer)
A few initial comments about these 10 andthe other 40 (check the PDF for the full list):
– Lots of kings and sultans crowding the top of the full list, with Recep Tayyip Erdogan the highest elected politician (5th). “Influential” is clearly interpreted broadly here, including political, religious and other types of influence.
– The first solely religious leader is Iraq’s Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani (7th), and even he has political power behind the scenes.
– Fethullah Gülen, who won an Internet poll on “the world’s top public intellectuals ” in Foreign Policy magazine last year apparently thanks to a click-in campaign by his supporters, still comes a strong 13th.
– The heads of Hezbollah (Seyyed Hasan Nasrallah, 17th) and Hamas (Khaled Mashaal, 34th) are also listed.
– The highest-ranking American (and highest-ranking convert, it seems) at 38th place is Sheikh Hamza Yusuf Hanson, founder of the Zaytuna Institutein Berkeley, California. Right after him comes the highest-ranking European, Sheikh Mustafa Ceric, grand mufti of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
– Even Abdul Qadeer Khan, the Pakistani scientist behind Islamabad’s nuclear program who sold nuclear secrets to Iran, Libya and North Korea, gets ranked (46th).
(Photo: Abdul Qadeer Khan, 28 Aug 2009/Mian Khursheed)
Beyond the top 50, there are chapters on leading Muslims in different fields but no ranking. So Osama bin Laden is there under “radicals,” Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens) under “arts and culture” and microcreditor Mohammad Yunus under “development”. There are short essays on Islam and the Muslim world. All in all, an excellent reference work.
What do you think? Who is the most influential Muslim in the world? To give us your own view, enter the name of your choice into the box below. The poll will automatically tally the answers and produce a top 10 according to the number of votes each person receives.
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Adnan Oktar and Harun Yahya is the same person. don’t divide the votes. Give vote to Imam Adnan OKtar
ATTENTION: Harun Yahya is pen name of Adnan Oktar so, if you want to vote Harun Yahya please write “Adnan Oktar”. Otherwise votes will be seperated.
adnan oktar does interviews with the biggest and most effective newspapers of the world I listened to his washington post interview.he gives excellent messages for the whole muslim community and joys people with the coming of the Mahdi aleyhissalam. Golden age is about to come with ALLAH’a will.
before harun yahya’s work and service some of muslim countries were like communists. When Harun yahya collapsed the evolution theory collapsed darwinism,Muslim countries changed for the better.
Harun Yahya is the most influencial muslim in Russia.
fettullah gülen
I’m glad and I thank God that I knew shaykh Nazim Al Haqqani and Shaykh Hisham Kabbani..
I give my vote to the one and only Fethullah Gülen
adnan oktar is the worlds most spectacular author. HE influenced millions of people. his books are published over 70 languages and sold over 60 million all over the world.Please visit his main website:www.harunyahya.com
Harun Yahya
Being “influential” globally one must have the capability to exert a positive influence to many lives, especially in the realm of the Heart. If the Heart is correct, everything else follow suit. Sh. Nazim possesses those qualities. He has been serving humanity tirelessly for more than half a century. He is now 87 years old – a hidden treasure among us.
I vote for Sheikh Mehmet Nazim Adil al Qubrusi al Haqqani & Shaykh Hisham Kabbani
I vote Harun Yahya.
Harun Yahya is the most influencial muslim in Russia.His books and documentalny films are very effective.I advice the russian sites of Harun Yahya also.www.harunyahya.ru
In Russian muslim life Adnan Oktar indisputable is the leader of islamic and also chtistian informed minds.He is absolutely hero in evolution theory exposuring in russian speaking CIS countries. And I think this vote results are demonstrative.
Definetly Harun YahyaHaving millions of readers, and great influence,my vote for Mr Harun Yahya
Kazakhstan is also voting for Adnan Oktar. His activites in the field of islamic education Kazakhstan are praiseworthy
Fethullah Gülen
I vote for Sheikh Mehmet Nazim Adil al Qubrusi al Haqqani & Shaykh Hisham Kabbanizubair from Mumbai
Mehdi is the most influencial muslim in the world and till 1400 he is between us.
I vote for Shaykh Nazim
I vote for Sheikh Mehmet Nazim Adil al Qubrusi al Haqqani & Shaykh Hisham Kabbani
I vote for Syeikh Mehmet Nazim haqqaniSyeikh M Hisham Kabbani
My Vote go for Adnan Oktar
I wish to vote for and celebrate the contribution of Sheikh Mehmet Nazim Adil al Qubrusi al Haqqani and Shaykh Hisham Kabbani for their lifelong effort to introduce authentic Islamic practice to thousands ofpeople worldwide. Sheikh Mehmet Nazim al Qubrusi al Haqqani rescued me some years ago when I follow inhis words ‘the wrong steps’. He intervened directlyand spiritually
I vote for Sheikh Mehmet Nazim Adil al Qubbrusi al Haqani
HARUN YAHYA
aslam o alakummaulana sheik nazim alhaqqani is the best personality in this era of time.
Ukraine muslims are also hope Adnan Oktar in some years will be a leader of islamic world, and conciderate with the name of God all faithful mans of the world, not only muslims, but christians and jews also,inshaAllah
http://www.harunyahya.ru changed my life.For this reason I vote HARUN YAHYA.
I vote for Sheikh Mehmet Nazim Adil al Qubrusi al Haqqani and Shaykh Hisham Kabbani.We Love You Maulana!
http://www.harunyahya.ru is the most populer Islamic internet site.Definitely Harun Yahya.
I vote for Sheikh Mehmet Nazim Adil al Qubrusi al Haqqani & Shaykh Hisham Kabbani
please do vote for MOHAMMAD SHAIKH OF IIPC.he deserves to be on no.1 position as he is the only one in todays era who is guiding us only from quranic ayats . he is encouraging us to analyse the ayats of ALLAH and take it for one own self to be more precise he is guiding us towards the right path so plz do vote … and u can visit his website http://www.iipc.tv and get an access to his online lectures full of enlightment and guidance
Of course Harun Yahya.
may Allah grant sheikh Nazim and Sheikh Hisham many more years of inspirational spiritual benefit to share with us – as they have generously done in the way of Allah.imparting their wisdom and teachings so beautifully that your love for your deen of islam increases and you stay in love and committed to it.Their love radiates globally.
I vote for Sheikh Mehmet Nazim Adil al Qubrusi al Haqqani & Shaykh Hisham Kabbani
We are given great pleasure to vote for Sh.Nazim and Sh.Hisham.May Allah grant them many more healthy years ahead ameen.Their generosity in sharing the knowledge,wisdom and love that is so needed today in the religion of islam is awesome.Their commitment, dedication and perserverance is of such benefit globally.They radiate a love that is felt,seen and so so beautiful for the deen of islam.mashallah love is not love that can be altered by a remover to remove -it is an ever fixed mark!
I voted two days ago I have yet to see my vote.
i definitely vote for shaikh nazim al haqqani and shaikh hisham kabbani.they spread the truth about islam.the message of truth and love towards all mankind regardless of race,religion,colours,status and nationalities.they changed the lives of many muslims.physically or spiritually.even non muslims are appreciative,happy,reciprocate and accept what these two wonderful person did or says.they have also shown the best and highest charactor,descipline,attitude in public or in person.
Adnan OKTAR (HARUN YAHYA )is the most influential Müslim in the world…http://www.harunyahya.org
May God be pleased with all the Muslim scholars who works to enlight the others. Fethullah Gulen is one of the sincere, kind Muslim identities who influenced many young generations. I have been greatly impressed his respect and love to God’s messengers and his approach to today’s problems as well as by his talks that convey the message science and religion do not compete each other. For more info : http://www.fethullahgulen.org/
I am very happy among these great people there is somebody from my country Bosnia-Herzegovina
Congradulations to mr. Grand Mufti Ceric… I would say, if we are small country there is nothing that can happened without Bosnians 
Interview ADNAN OKTAR and Sheikh Nazim Qubrusi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okJaxeceb 48 (It has English subtitle)
I vote for beloved Sheikh Mehmet Nazim Adil al Qubrusi al Haqqani & Shaykh Hisham Kabbani.
VERY GOOD PERSON = HARUN YAHYA
HARUN YAHYA is the most beatiful choice in the poll.
ADNAN OKTAR, with more than 300 books-200 sites and thousands of conferences, IS THE WINNER FOR SURE!In our hearts, ADNAN OKTAR is the shinning sun!
WHEN WILL YOU CLOSE THIS POLL?
Sheikh Mehmet Nazim Adil al Qubrusi al Haqqani is a true hero in the Muslim world. He is a pious scholar who openly condemns the narrow, angry rhetoric of the Wahabi teachings and guides millions of people to classical Islamic practice. Mawlana Sheikh Nazim is a spiritual inheritor of the way of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. teaching purification of the heart and the perfection of character. Without the Sheikh\’s living example, and that of other authorized spiritual teachers, the Islamic world would be abandoned to the likes of the Wahabis. The Sheikh promotes peaceful relations with all people and he is the antidote for materialism, greed and bad behavior, may God bless him and give him long life.