‘The Muslim 500’ recognises the Grand Imam, Dr Ahmad al-Tayyeb Shaykh al-Azhar, as the most influential Muslim in the world in latest edition of 2017.
‘The Muslim 500’ introduces a list of the 500 most influential Muslims in the world, researched and published by The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre based in Amman. It ranks the Top 50, and places the remaining 450 into 13 categories: Scholarly, Political, Administration of Religious Affairs, Preachers and Spiritual Guides, Philanthropy/Charity and Development, Social Issues, Business, Science and Technology, Arts and Culture, Quran Reciters, Media, Celebrities and Sports and Radicals. These people are the movers and shakers of the contemporary Muslim world. Knowing them and their ideas gives a solid foundation for understanding how Muslims’ view themselves.
In the recently published 2017 edition, rich tribute has been paid to the Grand Imam, Dr Ahmad al-Tayyeb Shaykh al-Azhar, who has been ranked as the number one most influential Muslim in the world with influence far greater than other scholars, cultural personalities and heads of states. The Muslim 500 honours the 57 years that Dr Ahmad al-Tayyeb has been involved with Al-Azhar University since he began to study in an Al-Azhar affiliated school at the tender age of ten. It also paid rich tribute to Al-Azhar stating that ‘the university is considered the most prominent Islamic educational institution and the foremost centre of Sunni Muslim scholarship worldwide’.
The report adds that Al-Tayyeb presides over the Muslim Council of Elders, established in 2014, which aims at spreading the culture of peace and coexistence all over the world, countering violence and terrorism and replying to the misconceptions about teachings of Islam by relying on Al-Azhar’s moderate understanding of Islam. Moreover, the report highlights that the Grand Imam has been active in trying to diffuse the influence of Daesh, organizing many initiatives and conferences. He has also tried to improve foreign relations and accepted an invitation to meet Pope Francis in the Vatican in May 2016.
The President of the UK Branch of the World Association for Al-Azhar Graduates (WAAG UK), Shaykh Muhammad Imdad Hussain Pirzada, and his long-standing endeavours have also been recognised as he is ranked amongst the 500 most influential Muslims in the world who bears substantial scholarly influence based in the United Kingdom.
The publication is available for free download at http://www.themuslim500.com
