the 500 most influential muslims - The Royal Islamic Strategic ...

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AMR KHALED
Preacher and Social Activist
Amr Khaled has been a televangelist to the Islamic
world since 1998. Described as the 'world's most
influential Muslim television preacher' by The New
York Times Magazine, and ranked as the 13th most
influential person in the world by TIME Magazine.
He communicates through his TV shows and web
campaigns using Islamic ethics as a way to inspire,
foster community development, tolerance and intercultural
relations.
Popular Media Figure
Part of Khaled's influence derives from the fact that
he appeals to the common person. He holds a degree
in accounting, and has no formal religious education;
wears suits and ties, not flowing robes; and has a
Country: Egypt
Date of Birth: 5 September 1967
Source of Influence: Media,
Youth
Influence: Most popular personal
website in the world with 20
million regular users; 232,219
fans on 79 Facebook groups;
Approx. 2 million hits on 200
YouTube videos
School of Thought: Traditional
Sunni in a modern style
clean-shaven face except for a trimmed moustache—everything you do not expect from a
Muslim preacher. His everyman appeal has lead to immense popularity. Khaled's television
shows are broadcast by four Arab satellite stations but air primarily on Saudi-based
religious channel Iqraa. Khaled's speeches are published online, on bestselling cassettes
and CDs. His website is translated from Arabic to nearly twenty languages and rivals
Oprah Winfery's in terms of traffic.
Voice for the Youth
Amr Khaled is a pioneering Muslim preacher and effective social activist who is revered
by many as the leader of a revival in the Muslim world, but his influence stems largely
from the fact that he engages young people. Youth in the Middle East and North Africa
face disproportionate challenges, such as unemployment and social exclusion—obstacles,
which make it difficult to compete with development in other areas of the world. Faith is
important to young people in the Middle East, but they do not connect with the majority
of preachers whose teachings do not speak to the problems in their lives.
Community Development
Khaled's goal is to encourage community development in the Muslim world by its own
people with religious faith as the guiding inspiration—something he believes should be
linked to interfaith dialogue, tolerance and moderation. The break up of communities is
something he sees as responsible for the malaise in the Muslim world, and something he
believes puts the future of young people in jeopardy. One program he has launched to
realize this objective of community development is Life Makers, which has a stated goal
of producing a renaissance for the Arab and Muslim world.
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