THE 500 MOST INFLUENTIAL MUSLIMS - CESD

Preachersunderstanding about the faith. Naik also challenges leaders in other faiths to public debates thatare broadcast around the world on Peace TV—a satellite channel that he helped to found. He isalso the founder of the Islamic Research Foundation, which runs United Islamic Aid.INDONESIAshihab, quraish [new]Quraish Shihab is an Indonesian expert on Qur’anic exegesis who regularly preaches on nationaltelevision. He is noted as a progressive scholar who teaches Qur’anic exegesis using actual contextand simple language. He is an author of many Islamic books, including ‘Tafsir Al-Misbah’. Heserved as Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs in 1998 and also as chairman of the IndonesianUlama Council since 1984. Shihab was also a director of State Islamic University, Syarif Hidayatullah1992-1998.MALAYSIAibrahim, dato mashitah [new]Ibrahim is a prominent motivational preacher in Malaysia, and a lecturer in Universiti IslamAntarabangsa Malaysia, who is now active in politics. Sultan Pahang awarded her the honorarytitle ‘dato’ for her devotion to da’wa initiatives in 2000. Her views and opinions on contemporaryIslamic issues receive wide attention.PAKISTANshaikh, mohammad [new]Founder of the International Islamic Propagation Center (IIPC), a da’wa organization based inKarachi, Pakistan, Mohammad Shaikh is well-known as an influential public speaker. He has givennumerous lectures on the Qur’an and also founded the English-language IIPC TV channel whichbroadcasts to viewers across the globe. He was ranked 4th most influential Muslim in the world ona public poll by Reuters in 2009.soomro, dr khalid mehmood [new]A member of the Pakistani senate, and Secretary General of Jamiat Ulema-Islam Sindh, Dr KhalidMehmood Soomro is a popular preacher and teacher of Islam in Pakistan. Considered a prominentpolitical leader, Soomro writes for various print media and has authored several books on Islam.EuropeCZECH REPUBLIComic, imam emir [new]Imam Emir Omic is the religious leader of the Muslim community in Prague which is made upof around 2000 members, mostly businessmen, immigrants, and students. The Czech Muslimcommunity (approximately 10,000 people) is establishing itself in the country on the foundationof prayer, charity, and helping to inform the greater community about Islam.ITALYpallavicini, sheikh abd al wahidSheikh Abd al Wahid Pallavicini is a noted preacher from Milan, Italy. After converting to Islamin 1951, he joined the Ahamadiyyah Idrissiyyah Shadhiliyyah Sufi order and is now head of thebrotherhood in Italy. His son is Imam Yahya Sergio Yahe Pallavicini, the chairman of the ISESCOCouncil for Education and Culture in the West and imam of the Al Wahid Mosque of Milan.128