THE 500 MOST INFLUENTIAL MUSLIMS - CESD

16HAJJI MOHAMMED ABD AL WAHHABAmir of Tablighi Jamaat, PakistanLeader of the Pakistan chapter of the Tablighi Jamaat—a transnational Islamic organization dedicated tospreading the message of religious conservatism andrenewed spirituality—Hajji Abd al Wahhab is a prominentPakistani scholar with a significant following inSouth Asia and the United Kingdom. Although theorganization does not have a central authority, Abd alWahhab has been increasingly influential in his leadershipof the throngs of Muslims that follow the internationalmovement in Pakistan and abroad.MissionaryAs Amir, or leader of Pakistan’s Tablighi Jamaat, HajjiAbd al Wahhab’s influence spans globally due to theorganization’s emphasis on missionary work. Considereda foremost da’ee, or inviter to the faith of Islam,Abd al Wahhab has spoken about the need to return tothe correct beliefs and practices of Islam in numerouscountries and congregations.Country: PakistanDate of Birth: 1923Source of Influence: InternationalIslamic Networks, Scholarly,AdministrativeInfluence: Leader of a Pakistan-basedorganization withchapters in 120 countries, anannual conference in Pakistan,the Raiwind Tablighi Ijtima,which drew over 1.5 million attendeesin 2009, and the BiswaIjtima conference in Bangladeshthat attracts approximatelythree million memberseach yearSchool of Thought: TraditionalSunni, HanafiRank: 2010:16 · 2009:15 Champion of ConservatismAbd al Wahhab urges Muslims to repent for their sins and to emulate the life of the ProphetMuhammad by adhering to the sunna—the Prophet’s teachings and deeds. Among these isan exhortation to partake in the act of da’wa or spreading the message of the faith. The TablighiJamaat has gradually acquired a massive membership base owing to this core tenet. Abdal Wahhab’s work is derived from close ties to the founder of the Tablighi Jamaat, MaulanaMuhammad Ilyas Kandhelvi, and stems from the prominent Islamic institution Darul UloomDeoband, in India, where the latter studied before establishing a following in Pakistan.Mass AppealAmong the throngs of Pakistanis, diaspora South Asians, and others who carry the flag of theTablighi Jamaat are notable Muslim leaders. In Pakistan alone, Abd al Wahhab’s influence haswon the allegiance of prominent politicians, actors, and athletes. Despite his influence overkey Muslim leaders from various fields of social power, Abd al Wahhab is consistent in his assertionthat the organization is wholly apolitical—identifying the work of the Tablighi Jamaatas a spiritual revivalist movement.Advocate of Non-ViolenceIn light of heightened incidences of violence by fringe Islamic militant groups, Abd al Wahhabhas publicly stated the importance of non-violence in bringing people closer to the faithof Islam. This comes after the tragic Mumbai attacks which investigations found were linkedto the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba; a militant organization Abd al Wahhab has made apoint of distancing the Tablighi Jamaat from.58