THE 500 MOST INFLUENTIAL MUSLIMS - CESD

26Mufti Muhammad Akhtar RazaKhan Qaadiri Al AzhariBarelwi Leader and Spiritual GuideCountry: IndiaDate of Birth: 23 November 1943Source of Influence: Administrative,ScholarlyInfluence: Approximately 2 millionBarkatiya Barelwis worldwideSchool of Thought: Traditional Sunni,Hanafi, SufiRank: 2010:26Mufti Muhammad Akhtar Raza Khan is theleader of the Indian Barelwis and consideredby his followers as the Grand Mufti ofIndia. He is the great-grandson of AhmedRaza Khan (d. 1921), who founded theBarelwi movement in South Asia.Scholarly LineageMufti Akhtar Raza was ordained at the ageof 20 by his predecessor Mufti Mustafa RazaKhan. He was subsequently granted permissionto lead the Qaadriya, Barakaatiyah,and Nooriyah Sufi orders in India. He wasalso appointed to the position of MuslimChief Justice of India in 2006.Dynamic MuftiMufti Akhtar Raza is esteemed for his extensivecollection of English-language rulings,the Azharul Fatawa. He became involved inissuing Islamic rulings from the age of 17and is noted for having issued over 5,000rulings since attaining leadership as mufti.Spiritual TraditionThe Barelwis are an apolitical Sufi communitybased in a volatile region wherereligion has been used as a platform for violence—despitethis, it thrives as a sociallyengaged mystical movement. A missionarymovement, the Barelwis have spread theirmessage within South Asia and also amongdiaspora communities. This group is distinctfrom Deobandi Muslims—who practicea more conservative brand of Islam.27His ExcellencyColonel MuammarGaddafiBrother Leader of theRevolution of the Great SocialistPeople’s Libyan Arab JamahiriyaCountry: Libyan Arab JamahiriyaDate of Birth: 1942Source of Influence: PoliticalInfluence: Longest serving leader of6.4 million people in oil-rich country,founded large international da’wa council,Chairman of the African Union in acontinent that is 45 percent MuslimSchool of Thought: Traditional SunniRank: 2010:27Colonel Muammar Gaddafi is the 3rd longestserving of all current national leadersand the longest-serving leader over hiscountry in its history. He has been a centralfigure in the life of Libya since he seizedpower there in a bloodless coup in 1969.He is noted for his stature and longevity inglobal politics, global-scale da’wa initiativesand advocacy of pan-Africanism.MissionaryGaddafi founded the World Islamic CallSociety (Jamiat al Da’wa al Islamiya) witha significant endowment, making himone of the most influential people in theworld for proselytizing for Islam. With anemphasis on activities outside Libya, theWISCS also operates a state-run universityfor moderate Muslim clerics from outsidethe Arab world.Political OutspokennessGaddafi’s open relations with the Westand outspoken political rhetoric makehim a versatile world figure. While Gaddafiabandoned Libya’s nuclear program in2006 and has made vocal stances againstterrorism, he has also made sharp statementsabout NATO, Israel and Americanforeign policy.78