THE 500 MOST INFLUENTIAL MUSLIMS - CESD

GlossarySunni: The largest denomination of Muslims referred to as Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jama‘ahor ‘people of the prophetic tradition and community’—with emphasis on emulating thelife of the Prophet Muhammad.Tafsir: Interpretation of the Qur’an, either by commentary or exegesis.Taqlid: The practice of following rulings without questioning the religious authority.This is a core tenet of the Usuli school of Islamic law.Ummah: The collective Muslim community.Velayat-e Faqih: A position of both spiritual and temporal powers in the Republic ofIran. Literally, Guardianship of the Jurists, referring to the fact that while the Mahdi(awaited one) is in occultation, the jurists should have guardianship over the earth.Waqf: A religious endowment or charitable trust.Zakat: The religious obligation to annually give one-fortieth of one’s income and savingsto the poor and destitute.180