THE 500 MOST INFLUENTIAL MUSLIMS - CESD

Scholarlyal qadri, dr muhammad tahirAl Qadri is a politician, professor, and the founder of Minhaj ul Qur’an International Worldwide,an organization whose aim is to establish unity and understanding between communities. He isalso the founder of the Minhaj Welfare Foundation that provides welfare for the needy. Al Qadrihas authored some 450 published works and given more than 6,000 lectures on economics andpolitical studies, religious and social philosophy, law and medical sciences which are aired oninternational satellite channels such as QTV, PTV Prime and the Islam Channel. He also served asa jurist consult (legal advisor) on Islamic law for the Supreme Court and the Federal Shariah Courtof Pakistan and has worked as a specialist adviser on Islamic curricula for the Federal Ministry ofEducation of Pakistan.SINGAPOREkassim, ustaz ibrahimIbrahim Kassim is one of Singapore’s most respected Islamic scholars. A judge of the sharia courtin Singapore and the sheikh of the Chistiyyah Sufi tariqah in Singapore, Kassim is deeply involvedin the rehabilitation of Jemaah Islamiyah members that are under detention for plotting terroristattacks in Singapore. This rehabilitation work has garnered international attention as a model forthe reintegration of suspected terrorists that could be replicated in other countries.EuropeBOSNIAkaric, dr enes [new]Dr Enes Karic is a professor of Qur’anic studies and history of the interpretation of Qur’an at theFaculty of Islamic Studies with the University of Sarajevo. He previously served as the Minister ofEducation, Science, Culture and Sports with the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina from 1994-1996.Dr Karic has written extensively on the Qur’an and Islamic studies in English and Bosnian.ESTONIAharsinov, his emminence, ahmedAhmed Harisnov is the mufti of Estonia; he has campaigned for the right of Estonia’s Muslimsto have their own mosque. He also carries out important work as a public figure assuring thecountry’s Christian population that Muslims are a peaceful people. Islam has been present inEstonia for over 100 years, but apprehension about Islam has grown since September 11, 2001,putting the spotlight on figures such as Harsinov.FRANCEbencheikh, sheikh sohaibBencheikh is a theologian, a modernist former grand mufti of Marseilles, and one of the mostinfluential social leaders and scholars of Islam in France. Bencheikh is also head of the HigherInstitute for Islamic Studies. Marseilles is a cosmopolitan city with a huge population of Muslimsof North African ancestry. Bencheikh is a passionate advocate for integration of the Muslimpopulation, hijab rights and women’s involvement as imams in the Muslim community.GERMANYdenffer, dr ahmed von [new]Dr Ahmed von Denffer is an influential figure in Germany. He has been pivotal in German Islamand is a prominent author and translator of Islamic publications in the German language. He haspublished works on the Qur’an, the Islamic Sciences, and Christian-Muslim relations.hoffman, his excellency ambassador, dr muradHoffman is an author and Muslim intellectual, respected by both Muslims and non-Muslims. Heis a prominent former German diplomat and author of several books on Islam, including Journey103