The 500 Most Influential Muslims

{{Short description|Annual publication of influential Muslims}} {{Cleanup rewrite|date=October 2023}} {{Infobox book | name = The 500 Most Influential Muslims | image = The_500_most_influential_muslims_2009_1st_edition_book_cover.jpg | image_size = 210px | caption = The cover of the 2009 edition | author = [[John Esposito|John L. Esposito]] (contributor of the 2009 edition only), [[İbrahim Kalın]], Usra Ghazi, [[Prince Alwaleed Center for Muslim–Christian Understanding]], [[S. Abdallah Schleifer]] | country= [[United Kingdom]] | language= [[English language|English]] | series = 1st 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) 14th Edition (2023) | subject = [[Biographical dictionary]] | genre = [[Non-fiction]] | publisher = [[Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre]] | publisher2 = Createspace | pub_date = {{Start date|2009|1|16}} | media_type = Online, print | pages = 206 | isbn = 978-9957-428-37-2 | oclc = 514462119 | URL = {{URL|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]].<ref name="huffingtonpost1"/><ref name="onislam1"/><ref name="prnewswire1"/> The report is issued annually in cooperation with [[Prince Alwaleed Center for Muslim–Christian Understanding|Prince Al-Waleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding]] at [[Georgetown University]] in the [[United States]].<ref name="onislam1"/>

Qatar's emir [[Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani|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 Sunni Islamic scholar [[Taqi Usmani]], King [[Mohammed VI of Morocco]], President of the UAE [[Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan]], Iranian Shia Islamic scholar [[Ali al-Sistani]] and Pakistani Sunni Islamic scholar [[Awrangzib Faruqi|Aurangzeb Farooqi]] are also among the top 9 in the top 10 in the list.<ref>{{cite book |title=The World's 500 Most Influential People |year=2013|publisher=[[The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre]]|location=[[Amman]] |isbn=978-9957-635-56-5|pages=66–86 |edition=2021 |url=https://themuslim500.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/TheMuslim500-2021_Edition-low_res_20201028.pdf |access-date=18 December 2020}}</ref>

Critics{{who|date=August 2024}} have noted that its top 50 list gives more weight to political leaders, who due to the nature of political systems in the Middle East enjoy considerable clout and influence in the regional politics. As such the influence of individuals listed in the top 50 owes much to the fact of their existence in the political spectrum.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

==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.<ref name="guardian">{{cite news |last=Butt|first=Riazat|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2009/nov/19/500-influential-muslims-list|title=The world's most influential Muslims?|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=November 19, 2009|access-date=July 1, 2013}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|date=16 November 2021|title=The Muslim 500|url=https://themuslim500.com/introduction-2022/|access-date=16 November 2021|website=The Muslim 500}}</ref>

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.<ref name="thenewstribe">{{cite news|last=Hasni|first=Areeb|url=http://www.thenewstribe.com/2012/05/09/the-top-500-most-influential-muslim-nominations-open-for-2012/|title=The Top 500 Most Influential Muslims: Nominations open for 2012!|publisher=The News Tribe|date=May 9, 2012|access-date=July 1, 2013|archive-date=April 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200429101831/https://www.thenewstribe.com/2012/05/09/the-top-500-most-influential-muslim-nominations-open-for-2012/|url-status=usurped}}</ref> "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".<ref name="aquila-style">{{cite news |last=Fitriat|first=Afia R|url=http://www.aquila-style.com/focus-points/500-most-influential-muslims-2012/|title=Accomplished Women in 500 Most Influential Muslims 2012|publisher=Aquila Style|date=December 5, 2012|access-date=July 1, 2013}}</ref>

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 Islam|Sunni]], [[Shia Islam|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."<ref name="themuslimtimes">{{cite news |last=Alim|first=Abdul|url=http://www.themuslimtimes.org/2012/11/islam-2/worlds-500-most-influential-muslims-2012-dominated-by-u-s|title=World's '500 Most Influential Muslims' 2012 Dominated By U.S.|publisher=The Muslim Times|date=November 29, 2012|access-date=February 1, 2015}}</ref>

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,<ref name="onislam2"/><ref name="timesunion"/> of scholarly, political, administrative, lineage, preachers and spiritual guides, women, youth, philanthropy/charity, development, science and technology, arts and culture, [[Quran|Qu'ran]] reciters, media, radicals, international Islamic networks and issues of the day.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}} Each year the biographies are updated.<ref name="prnewswire1">{{cite news |last=Sacirbey|first=Omar|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-muslim-500-the-worlds-most-influential-500-muslims-180970281.html|title='The Muslim 500: The World's Most Influential 500 Muslims'|publisher=[[PR Newswire]]|date=November 27, 2012|access-date=July 1, 2013}}</ref>

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.<ref name="onislam2">{{cite news |last=Yasin|first=Susan|url=http://www.onislam.net/english/news/global/460164-worlds-500-most-influential-muslims.html|title=World's 500 Most Influential Muslims|publisher=OnIslam.net|date=November 24, 2012|access-date=July 1, 2013}}</ref> 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.<ref name="muslimmedianetwork">{{cite news|last=James|first=Adil|url=http://muslimmedianetwork.com/mmn/?p=5366|title=Muslim 500 – A Listing of the 500 Most Influential Muslims in the World|newspaper=[[The Muslim Observer]]|date=November 17, 2009|access-date=July 1, 2013|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002213841/http://muslimmedianetwork.com/mmn/?p=5366|archive-date=October 2, 2011}}</ref>

==Publications==

===2009 edition=== In 2009, the book was edited by Professors [[John Esposito|John L. Esposito]] and Ibrahim Kalin at Georgetown University in Washington, DC.<ref name="islamicvoice">{{cite news|url=http://islamicvoice.com/December2009/THEMUSLIMWORLD/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130701061221/http://islamicvoice.com/December2009/THEMUSLIMWORLD/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 1, 2013|title=Book lists '500 Most Influential Muslims': Top 20 inclusions seem to be less convincing and dictated|publisher=Islamic Voice|date=December 2009|access-date=July 1, 2013}}</ref>

The 500 most influential Muslims were chosen largely in terms of their overt influence.<ref name="muslimmedianetwork"/> The top 50 is dominated by religious scholars<ref name="ciibroadcasting1"/> 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.<ref name="guardian"/> 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.<ref name="muslimmedianetwork"/>

The book has given the first place to King [[Abdullah of Saudi Arabia|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 of Jordan|Abdullah II Al-Hussain]] of Jordan occupied fourth place. Fifth place went to Turkey's Prime Minister [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]].<ref name="islamicvoice"/>

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 Mashal]] listed 34th.

The highest-ranking American (and highest-ranking convert) at 38th place was Sheikh [[Hamza Yusuf]] Hanson, founder of the [[Zaytuna College|Zaytuna Institute]] in Berkeley, California. Right after him comes the highest-ranking European, Sheikh [[Mustafa Cerić]], grand mufti of Bosnia and Herzegovina.<ref name="blogs.reuters1">{{cite news |last=Heneghan|first=Tom|url=http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2009/11/17/poll-the-worlds-top-500-muslims-read-and-vote/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091119102855/http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2009/11/17/poll-the-worlds-top-500-muslims-read-and-vote/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 19, 2009|title=POLL: The world's top 500 Muslims? Read and vote|work=[[Reuters]]|date=November 17, 2009|access-date=July 1, 2013}}</ref>

In total 72 Americans are among the 500, a disproportionately strong showing.<ref name="muslimmedianetwork"/> [[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 [[Sayeeda Warsi, Baroness Warsi|Baroness Sayeeda Warsi]]; the UK's first Muslim life peer, [[Nazir Ahmed, Baron Ahmed|Lord Nazir Ahmed]]; and Anas Al Shaikh Ali, director of the International Institute of Islamic Thought.<ref name="independent">{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/timothy-winter-britains-most-influential-muslim--and-it-was-all-down-to-a-peach-2057400.html|title=Timothy Winter: Britain's most influential Muslim - and it was all down to a peach|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|date=August 20, 2010|access-date=July 1, 2013}}</ref>

The women featured had a separate section from the men.<ref name="guardian"/> 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.<ref name="timesunion">{{cite news|last=Haqqie|first=Azra|url=http://blog.timesunion.com/muslimwomen/making-the-500-most-influential-muslims-this-year/4368/|title=Making the '500 Most Influential Muslims' this year|newspaper=timesunion.com|date=November 26, 2012|access-date=July 1, 2013|archive-date=December 3, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121203040845/http://blog.timesunion.com/muslimwomen/making-the-500-most-influential-muslims-this-year/4368/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

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 [[Salman Khan]], [[Aamir Khan]] and [[Shah Rukh Khan|Shahrukh Khan]]; comedian [[Azhar Usman]] and martial artist [[Ma Yue]]. All the [[Qāriʾ]]s (Quran reciters) listed in the book are from Saudi Arabia.<ref name="islamicvoice"/>

''[[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..."<ref name="trueslant">{{cite news |last=Ungerleider|first=Neal|url=http://trueslant.com/nealungerleider/2009/11/19/the-worlds-500-most-influential-muslims/|title=The world's 500 most influential Muslims|publisher=[[True/Slant]]|date=November 19, 2009|access-date=July 1, 2013}}</ref>

===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.<ref name="onislam1">{{cite news |url=http://www.onislam.net/english/news/global/454883-worlds-500-most-influential-muslims.html|title=World's 500 Most Influential Muslims|publisher=OnIslam|date=December 3, 2011|access-date=July 1, 2013}}</ref>

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."<ref name="muslimvoices">{{cite news|last=Leslie|first=Liz|url=http://muslimvoices.org/muslim-500-list-names-influential-muslims/|title=World's 500 Most Influential Muslims|publisher=Muslim Voices|date=November 29, 2011|access-date=July 1, 2013|archive-date=June 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620085554/http://muslimvoices.org/muslim-500-list-names-influential-muslims/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

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 Media Network|Al Jazeera]]'', given financial support to protesters and political support to Libya, making him arguably the biggest enabler of the Arab Spring.<ref name="blogs.reuters2">{{cite news |last=Heneghan|first=Tom|url=http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2011/11/28/worlds-top-muslims-list-appears-with-erdogan-only-3-who-should-it-be/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111130040954/http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2011/11/28/worlds-top-muslims-list-appears-with-erdogan-only-3-who-should-it-be/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 30, 2011|title=World's top Muslims list appears with Erdogan only #3. Who should be #1?|work=[[Reuters]]|date=November 28, 2011|access-date=July 1, 2013}}</ref>

===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]].

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.<ref name="deseretnews">{{cite news |last=Renouard|first=Chelynne|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765616747/US-dominates-list-of-worlds-500-Most-Influential-Muslims.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150113024901/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765616747/US-dominates-list-of-worlds-500-Most-Influential-Muslims.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 13, 2015|title=U.S. dominates list of world's '500 Most Influential Muslims'|newspaper=[[Deseret News]]|date=December 3, 2012|access-date=July 1, 2013}}</ref> It lists the winners according to 13 categories, including spiritual guides, Quran reciters, scholars, politicians, celebrities, sports figures, radicals, and media leaders.<ref name="huffingtonpost1">{{cite news |last=Sacirbey|first=Omar|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/29/worlds-500-most-influential-muslims-2012_n_2208667.html|title=World's '500 Most Influential Muslims' 2012 Dominated By U.S.|work=[[The Huffington Post]]|date=November 29, 2012|access-date=July 1, 2013}}</ref><ref name="washingtonpost">{{cite news |last=Sacirbey|first=Omar|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/us-dominates-list-of-worlds500-most-influential-muslims/2012/11/28/27187f62-3999-11e2-9258-ac7c78d5c680_story.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130419110624/http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-11-28/national/35511535_1_nihad-awad-muslim-women-lawyers-azizah-al-hibri|url-status=live|archive-date=April 19, 2013|title=World's '500 Most Influential Muslims' 2012 Dominated By U.S.|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=November 28, 2012|access-date=July 1, 2013}}</ref>

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.<ref name="ciibroadcasting1">{{cite news |last=Moosa|first=Ebrahim|url=http://www.ciibroadcasting.com/2012/12/04/nine-south-africans-on-500-most-influential-muslims-list/|title=Nine South Africans on 500 Most Influential Muslims list|publisher=Cii Broadcasting|date=December 4, 2012|access-date=July 1, 2013}}</ref> Erdoğan's advance gave him advantage over Moroccan King Mohammed VI who took the third place. Fourth place went to [[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 [[Ahmed el-Tayeb|Ahmad el-Tayeb]] and prominent Islamic scholar [[Yusuf al-Qaradawi]] who is President of Global Association of Muslim Scholars, also made it to the top 10 ranks.<ref name="onislam2"/>

===2013/2014 edition=== In 2013, the list was edited once again by professor emeritus S. Abdallah Schleifer of the American University in Cairo.<ref name="prnewswire2">{{cite news |url=http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/influencing-muslims-the-500-most-influential-muslims-234026621.html|title=Influencing Muslims: The 500 Most Influential Muslims|publisher=[[PR Newswire]]|date=December 2, 2013|access-date=February 1, 2014}}</ref>

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.<ref name="ciibroadcasting2">{{cite news |url=http://www.ciibroadcasting.com/2013/11/27/2013-list-of-worlds-most-influential-muslims-released/|title=2013 list of 'World's Most Influential Muslims' released|publisher=Cii Broadcasting|date=November 27, 2013|access-date=February 1, 2014}}</ref> 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.<ref name="newswire">{{cite news|url=http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1272211/influencing-muslims-the-500-most-influential-muslims|title=Influencing Muslims: The 500 Most Influential Muslims|publisher=[[CNW Group]]|date=December 2, 2013|access-date=February 1, 2014|archive-date=January 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101035304/http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1272211/influencing-muslims-the-500-most-influential-muslims|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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.<ref name="prnewswire2"/> He was followed on the listing by Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud and Iranian Grand Leader Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei.<ref name="ciibroadcasting2"/>

Reflective of the wider trajectory of the Arab Spring, this year's list showed a decline in influence from [[Muslim Brotherhood]] associated figures 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.<ref name="ciibroadcasting2"/>

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]], [[Cat Stevens|Yusuf Islam]], Riz Khan, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, Cambridge's Timothy Winter and 18 others.<ref name="newswire"/>

===2014/2015 edition=== In 2014, the chief editor of the list was again [[Abdallah Schleifer|Professor S Abdallah Schleifer]]. The top spot went back to Saudi King [[Abdullah of Saudi Arabia|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 were Dr [[Ahmed el-Tayeb|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 were all political leaders and royals, including Morocco's King Mohammed VI and Turkish President [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan|Recep Tayyip Erdogan]].<ref name="alarabiya">{{cite news|last=Ansari|first=Saffiya|url=http://www.english.alarabiya.net/en/perspective/features/2014/10/03/Politics-to-pop-royalty-World-s-500-influential-Muslims-unveiled.html|title=Politics to pop royalty: World's 500 influential Muslims unveiled|publisher=Al Arabiya News|date=October 3, 2014|access-date=January 1, 2014|archive-date=September 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922235451/https://english.alarabiya.net/en/perspective/features/2014/10/03/Politics-to-pop-royalty-World-s-500-influential-Muslims-unveiled.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The top 50 fit into six broad categories: 12 were 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|Hamza Yusuf Hanson]] of [[Zaytuna College|Zaytuna Institute]] listed at number 38.<ref name="muslimmedianetwork"/>

===2016 edition=== In 2015, the top 50 was again dominated by religious scholars and heads of state. The top five were: King [[Abdullah II of Jordan|Abdullah of Jordan]]; [[Ahmed el-Tayeb]], the grand sheikh of Egypt's Al-Azhar University; [[Salman of Saudi Arabia|King Salman]] of Saudi Arabia; Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah [[Ali Khamenei]]; and King [[Mohammed VI of Morocco|Mohammed VI]] of Morocco. Turkish president [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan|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 was still listed in the 500. The prime minister of Iraq did not make the list, but Iraq's Grand Ayatollah Sayyid [[Ali al-Sistani|Ali Hussein Sistani]] did, coming in at number nine.<ref name="huffingtonpost2">{{cite news |last=Harbin|first=Julie Poucher|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/americans-dominate-list-of-the-worlds-500-most-influential-muslims_561c1656e4b028dd7ea4bb8c|title=World's 500 Most Influential Muslims Highlights Muslim-American Influence|work=[[The Huffington Post]]|date=October 12, 2015|access-date=November 1, 2015}}</ref>

There were 32 newcomers to the 2016 list.<ref name="huffingtonpost2"/> 22 Indians featured on the list.<ref name="timesofindia">{{cite news |last=Jafri|first=Syed Amin|url=http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/22-Indians-among-worlds-influential-Muslims/articleshow/49315830.cms|title=22 Indians among world's influential Muslims|location=India|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=October 13, 2015|access-date=November 1, 2015}}</ref><ref name="catchnews">{{cite news |url=http://www.catchnews.com/world-news/the-muslim-500-most-influential-indian-muslims-in-the-world-1443959022.html|title=The Muslim 500: Most influential Indian Muslims in the world|publisher=Catch News|date=October 4, 2015|access-date=November 1, 2015}}</ref><ref name="gulte">{{cite news|url=http://www.gulte.com/news/43200/22-Indians-Among-500-Most-Influential-Muslims|title=22 Indians Among 500 Most Influential Muslims|publisher=Gulte.com|date=October 13, 2015|access-date=November 1, 2015|archive-date=November 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151115184448/http://www.gulte.com/news/43200/22-Indians-Among-500-Most-Influential-Muslims|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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).<ref name="huffingtonpost2"/>

=== 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]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Muslim 500 {{!}} 2017|url=https://www.themuslim500.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/TheMuslim500-2017-low.pdf|website=The Muslim 500}}</ref>

===2018 edition===

In 2018, the top five were Sheikh [[Ahmed el-Tayeb|Ahmad Muhammad Al-Tayeeb]] of Egypt; King [[Salman of Saudi Arabia|Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud]] of Saudi Arabia; King [[Abdullah II of Jordan|Abdullah II Ibn Al-Hussein]] of Jordan; Ayatollah Hajj [[Ali Khamenei|Sayyid Ali Khamenei]] of Iran; President [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]] of Turkey.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Muslim 500 {{!}} 2018|url=https://themuslim500.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/TheMuslim500-2021_Edition-low_res_20201028.pdf|website=The Muslim 500}}</ref>

===2019 edition===

In 2019, the top five were President [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]] of Turkey; King [[Salman of Saudi Arabia|Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud]] of Saudi Arabia; King [[Abdullah II of Jordan|Abdullah II Ibn Al-Hussein]] of Jordan; Ayatollah Hajj [[Ali Khamenei|Sayyid Ali Khamenei]] of Iran; King [[Mohammed VI of Morocco|Mohammad VI]] of Morocco.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Muslim 500 : the world's 500 most influential Muslims, 2019 : with cumulative rankings over ten years|editor=Schleifer, Abdallah|isbn=9789957635343|edition= 10th Anniversary |location=Amann, Jordan|oclc=1089929346|year = 2018 |publisher=The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre}}</ref>

===2020 edition=== In 2020, the top five were Sheikh Mufti [[Taqi Usmani]] of Pakistan, President [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]] of Turkey; King [[Salman of Saudi Arabia|Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud]] of Saudi Arabia; Ayatollah Hajj [[Ali Khamenei|Sayyid Ali Khamenei]] of Iran; King [[Abdullah II of Jordan|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.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Schleifer|first1=Abdallah|last2=El-Ella|first2=Omayma|last3=Ahmed|first3=Aftab|title=The 500 World's Most Influential Muslims, 2020|date=2020|location=Amman, Jordan|isbn=978-9957-635-45-9|edition=11 |url=https://www.themuslim500.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/TheMuslim500-2020-low.pdf|access-date=16 November 2021 |publisher=The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre}}</ref>

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

The Woman of the Year was [[Bilkis Dadi|Bilkis Bano]] of India and the Man of the Year was [[Ilham Tohti]] of China.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Schleifer|first1=Abdallah|last2=El-Ella|first2=Omayma|last3=Ahmed|first3=Aftab|title=The 500 World's Most Influential Muslims, 2020|date=2020|location=Amman, Jordan|isbn=978-9957-635-56-5|edition=12 |url=https://themuslim500.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/TheMuslim500-2021_Edition-low_res_20201028.pdf|access-date=16 November 2021 |publisher=The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre}}</ref>

===2022 edition=== In 2022, the top five were Sheikh [[Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani|Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani]] of Qatar; [[Salman of Saudi Arabia|King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud]] of Saudi Arabia; [[Ali Khamenei|Ayatollah Hajj Sayyid Ali Khamenei]] of Iran; President [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan|Recep Tayyib Erdoğan]] of Turkey, and King [[Abdullah II of Jordan]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Schleifer |first1=Abdallah |url=https://themuslim500.com/books/The%20Muslim%20500%202022%20edition%20-%20Free%20eBook.pdf |title=The 500 World's Most Influential Muslims, 2022 |last2=El-Ella |first2=Omayma |last3=Ahmed |first3=Aftab |date= |isbn=978-9957-635-60-2 |edition=13 |location=Amman, Jordan |access-date=17 December 2023}}</ref>

The Woman of the Year was President [[Samia Suluhu Hassan]] of Tanzania and the Man of the Year was [[Uğur Şahin]] of Germany.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Persons of the Year {{!}} 2022 |url=https://themuslim500.com/introduction-2022/persons-of-the-year-2022/ |access-date=2023-12-17 |website=The Muslim 500 |language=en-US}}</ref>

===2023 edition=== In 2023, the top five were Salman bin Saudi Arabia king Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, [[Ali Khamenei|Sayyid Ali Khamenei]] Supreme Leader of Iran, [[Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani|Sheikh Tamim bin Hamid Al-Thani]] Emir of Qatar, President [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan|Recep Tayyib Erdoğan]] of Turkey, and King [[Abdullah II of Jordan]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Schleifer |first1=Abdallah |url=https://themuslim500.com/books/The%20Muslim%20500%202023%20edition%20-%20Free%20eBook.pdf |title=The 500 World's Most Influential Muslims, 2023 |last2=El-Ella |first2=Omayma |last3=Ahmed |first3=Aftab |date=2023 |isbn=978-9957-635-45-9 |edition=14 |location=Amman, Jordan |access-date=17 December 2023 |publisher=The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Persons of the Year {{!}} 2023 |url=https://themuslim500.com/introduction-2023/persons-of-the-year-2023/ |access-date=2022-11-01 |website=The Muslim 500 |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== 2024 edition === In 2024, the top five were [[Umar bin Hafiz|Habib Umar bin Hafiz]], founder and dean of [[Dar al-Mustafa]] [[Madrasa|Islamic seminary]], [[Salman of Saudi Arabia|King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud]] of Saudi Arabia, [[Ali Khamenei|Sayyid Ali Khamenei]] Supreme Leader of Iran, Sheikh [[Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani|Tamim bin Hamid Al Thani]], Emir of Qatar, and King [[Abdullah II of Jordan]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Top 50 – 2024 |url=https://themuslim500.com/top-50-2024/ |access-date=2023-12-17 |website=The Muslim 500 |language=en-US}}</ref>

The Woman of the Year was [[Edna Adan Ismail]] and the Man of the Year was [[Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Persons of the Year {{!}} 2024 |url=https://themuslim500.com/2024-edition/introduction-2024/persons-of-the-year-2024/ |access-date=2023-12-17 |website=The Muslim 500 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Current top nine==  {| class="wikitable non-sortable" style="font-size:1.00em; line-height:1.5em;" |- style="height:50px" ! style="width:2em;"| Rank ! style="width:2em;"| Change ! Name ! Citizenship ! Age ! Image ! Occupation ! Source of Influence ! Influence ! School of Thought ! style="width:9em;"| Previous rankings: |- |- style="vertical-align:middle; height:50px; text-align:left;" | style="padding-right:9px; text-align:center;" |1 | align="center" | {{increase}}10 | [[Umar bin Hafiz]] | align="center" | {{flagicon|Yemen}} [[Yemen]] | {{birth date and age|1963|5|27|df=y}} | [[File:Habib Umar bin Hafidz, Nabawi TV, 08.44.jpg|67px]] | Founder and Dean of [[Dar al-Mustafa]] [[Madrasa|Islamic seminary]] | Scholarly, Lineage | Preacher, Spiritual Guide | [[Sunni|Traditional Sunni]] | 33 (2009) 37 (2010) {{decrease}}4 37 (2011) {{steady}} 36 (2012) {{increase}}1 28 (2013/14) {{increase}}8 28 (2014/15) {{steady}} 28 (2016) {{steady}} 25 (2017) {{increase}}3 10 (2018) {{increase}}15 8 (2019) {{increase}}2 9 (2020) {{decrease}}1 9 (2021) {{steady}} 11 (2022) {{decrease}}2 11 (2023) {{steady}} |- |- style="vertical-align:middle; height:67px; text-align:left;" | style="padding-right:9px; text-align:center;" |2 | align="center" | {{decrease}}1 | [[Salman of Saudi Arabia|King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud]] | align="center" | {{flagicon|Saudi Arabia}} [[Saudi Arabia]] | {{Birth date and age|1935|12|31|mf=y}} | [[File:Salman bin Abdull aziz December 9, 2013.jpg|67px]] |[[King of Saudi Arabia]] and [[Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques]] | Political & Administrative | King with authority over 38.5 million residents of Saudi Arabia and approximately 14 million pilgrims annually. | [[Salafi|Hanbali Sunni-Salafi]] | 3 (2016) {{increase}} 3 (2017) {{steady}} 2 (2018) {{increase}}1 2 (2019) {{steady}} 4 (2020) {{decrease}}2 2 (2021) {{increase}}2 2 (2022) {{steady}} 1 (2023) {{increase}}1 |- |- style="vertical-align:middle; height:67px; text-align:left;" | style="padding-right:9px; text-align:center;" |3 | align="center"|{{decrease}}1 | [[Ali Khamenei|Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei]] | align="center" | {{flagicon|Iran}} [[Iran]] | 19 April 1939 (age 86) (killed 28 February 2026) | [[File:Seyyed Ali Khamenei.jpg|67px]] | [[Supreme Leader of Iran|Supreme Leader of the Republic of Iran]] | Political, Administrative | Supreme Leader of 82.5 million Iranians. Ayatollah of Twelver Shias worldwide. | Traditional [[Twelver]] [[Shia Islam|Shi‘a]], Revolutionary Shi'ism, [[Usuli]] | 2 (2009) 3 (2010) {{increase}}1 5 (2011) {{decrease}}2 6 (2012) {{decrease}}1 3 (2013/14) {{increase}}3 3 (2014/15) {{steady}} 4 (2016) {{decrease}} 4 (2017) {{steady}} 4 (2018) {{steady}} 4 (2019) {{steady}} 2 (2020) {{increase}}2 3 (2021) {{decrease}}1 3 (2022) {{steady}} 2 (2023) {{increase}}1 |- |- style="vertical-align:middle; height:50px; text-align:left;" | style="padding-right:9px; text-align:center;" |4 | align="center" | {{decrease}}1 | [[Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani]] | align="center" | {{flagicon|Qatar}} [[Qatar]] | {{birth date and age|1980|6|3|df=y}} | [[File:تميم بن حمد بن خليفة آل ثاني (49759678641) (cropped).jpg|67px]] | [[Emir of Qatar]] | Political | Ruler of Qatar. | [[Sunni|Traditional Sunni]] | 19 (2019) 12 (2020) {{increase}}7 11 (2021) {{increase}}1 1 (2022) {{increase}}5+ 3 (2023) {{decrease}}2 |- |- style="vertical-align:middle; height:67px; text-align:left;" | style="padding-right:9px; text-align:center;"|5 | align="center"| {{steady}} | [[Abdullah II of Jordan|King Abdullah II of Jordan]] | align="center" | {{flagicon|Jordan}} [[Jordan]] | {{Birth date and age|1962|1|30|mf=y}} | [[File:King Abdullah II (cropped).jpg|70px]] |[[List of kings of Jordan|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. | [[Sunni|Traditional Sunni]] | 4 (2009) 4 (2010) {{steady}} 4 (2011) {{steady}} 7 (2012) {{decrease}}3 4 (2013/14) {{increase}}3 4 (2014/15) {{steady}} 1 (2016) {{increase}}3 2 (2017) {{decrease}}1 3 (2018) {{decrease}}1 3 (2019) {{steady}} 5 (2020) {{decrease}}3 4 (2021) {{increase}}1 5 (2022) {{decrease}}1 5 (2023) {{steady}} |- |- style="vertical-align:middle; height:67px; text-align:left;" | style="padding-right:9px; text-align:center;"|6 | align="center"| {{increase}}2 | [[Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan|Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan]] | align="center"| {{flagicon|UAE}} [[UAE]] | {{Birth date and age|1961|3|11|mf=y}} | [[File:His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on February 11, 2016.jpg|70px]] | Ruler of Abu Dhabi and President of the UAE | Administration of Religious Affairs, Philanthropy, Charity and Development, Political | Military and political leadership. | Traditional Sunni | 22 (2009) 22 (2010) {{steady}} 18 (2011) {{increase}}4 15 (2012) {{increase}}3 10 (2013/14) {{increase}}5 9 (2014/15) {{increase}}1 7 (2016) {{decrease}}2 12 (2017) {{decrease}}5 15 (2018) {{decrease}}3 15 (2019) {{steady}} 3 (2020) {{increase}}12 7 (2021) {{decrease}}4 8 (2022) {{decrease}}1 8 (2023) {{steady}} |- |- style="vertical-align:middle; height:67px; text-align:left;" | style="padding-right:9px; text-align:center;" |7 | align="center" | {{decrease}}3 | [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]] | align="center" | {{flagicon|Turkey}} [[Turkey]] | {{Birth date and age| 1954|02|26|mf=y}} | [[File:Recep_Tayyip_Erdoğan_2019_(cropped).jpg|70px]] | [[President of Turkey]] | Political | President of over 85 million Turkish citizens | [[Sunni|Traditional Sunni]], [[Hanafi]] | 5 (2009) 2 (2010) {{increase}}3 3 (2011) {{decrease}}1 2 (2012) {{increase}}1 6 (2013/14) {{decrease}}4 6 (2014/15) {{steady}} 8 (2016) {{decrease}}2 8 (2017) {{steady}} 5 (2018) {{increase}}3 1 (2019) {{increase}}4 6 (2020) {{decrease}}5 1 (2021) {{increase}}5 4 (2022) {{decrease}}3 4 (2023) {{steady}} |- |- style="vertical-align:middle; height:67px; text-align:left;" | style="padding-right:9px; text-align:center;"|8 | align="center"| {{decrease}}2 | [[Muhammad Taqi Usmani|Mufti Taqi Usmani]] | align="center"| {{flagicon|Pakistan}} [[Pakistan]] | {{Birth date and age|1943|10|5|mf=y}} | [[File:Taqi Usmani in London (2016).jpg|70px]] | [[Deobandi| 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) {{decrease}}4 32 (2011) {{decrease}}1 32 (2012) {{steady}} 25 (2013/14) {{increase}}7 19 (2014/15) {{increase}}6 22 (2016) {{decrease}}3 6 (2017) {{increase}}16 7 (2018) {{decrease}}1 6 (2019) {{increase}}1 1 (2020) {{increase}}5 5 (2021) {{decrease}}4 6 (2022) {{decrease}}3 6 2023 {{steady}} |- |- style="vertical-align:middle; height:50px; text-align:left;" | style="padding-right:9px; text-align:center;" |9 | align="center" | {{steady}} | [[Ali al-Sistani|Ali al-Husayni al-Sistani]] | align="center"| {{flagicon|Iraq}} [[Iraq]] | {{Birth date and age|1930|8|4|mf=y}} | [[File:Ali Sistani edit1.jpg|70px]] | [[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) {{decrease}}1 10 (2011) {{decrease}}2 13 (2012) {{decrease}}3 8 (2013/14) {{increase}}5 7 (2014/15) {{increase}}1 9 (2016) {{decrease}}2 7 (2017) {{increase}}2 8 (2018) {{decrease}}1 7 (2019) {{increase}}1 8 (2020) {{decrease}}1 8 (2021) {{steady}} 9 (2022) {{decrease}}1 9 (2023) {{steady}} |- |- style="vertical-align:middle; height:50px; text-align:left;" |}

==See also== *''[[The Muslim 100]]'' *[[The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History]] *[[Forbes list of the World's Most Powerful People|''Forbes'' list of The World's Most Powerful People]] *[[Who's Who]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{Official website|http://www.themuslim500.com/}} *[https://books.google.com/books?id=4c6EtgAACAAJ&q=The+500+Most+Influential+Muslims+in+the+World The 500 Most Influential Muslims 2009] on [[Google Books]] *{{Facebook|Muslim500|The 500 Most Influential Muslims}} *[http://www.theislamicmonthly.com/a-defense-of-the-powerful-the-muslim-500/ A Defense of the Powerful: The Muslim 500] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520124745/http://www.theislamicmonthly.com/a-defense-of-the-powerful-the-muslim-500/ |date=2021-05-20 }}. ''[[The Islamic Monthly]]''. June 18, 2012 *[http://aifdemocracy.org/list-of-most-influential-muslims-illustrates-the-problem-and-presents-opportunities/ List of "Most Influential Muslims" Illustrates the Problem – and Presents Opportunities]. ''[[American Islamic Forum for Democracy]]''. November 30, 2012

{{DEFAULTSORT:500 Most Influential Muslims, The}} [[Category:2009 non-fiction books]] [[Category:International biographical dictionaries]] [[Category:Top people lists|Muslim 500]] [[Category:Lists of Muslims]] [[Category:Annual publications]] [[Category:Publications established in 2009]] [[Category:Religion-related lists of superlatives]]