THE 500 MOST INFLUENTIAL MUSLIMS - CESD

40Maulana MahmoodMadaniLeader and Executive Memberof Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, IndiaCountry: IndiaDate of Birth: 3 March 1964Source of Influence: Scholarly, Political,AdministrativeInfluence: 10 million Muslims aremembers of Madani’s Jamiat Ulema-e-HindSchool of Thought: Traditional Sunni,DeobandiRank: 2010:40 · 2009:36 Maulana Mahmood Madani, a leading Islamicscholar and politician in India, hasgained influence for his forthright condemnationsof terrorism and unfalteringsupport of the Indian Muslim community.Religio-Political HeavyweightMadani has served as Secretary General ofthe Jamiat Ulema- e-Hind, or Organizationof Indian Scholars—one of the mostprominent Islamic organizations in India.He has been outspoken in his oppositionto the misuse of the term jihad as a tool ofterrorism in India. Following fatal bombblasts in 2008, he and others of the DarulUloom Deoband institution hosted eventscondemning terrorism as inherently un-Islamic.Defender of the FaithAs a respected political leader and Islamicscholar of India, Madani represented theJamiat Ulema-e-Hind and the esteemedcommunity of scholars from Deobandwhen he addressed the Pakistani government,and Pakistani High CommissionerShahid Malik in particular, in an openletter regarding the commissioner’s remarksin December 2008 at the UN SecurityCouncil about terrorism stemmingfrom ‘mullas in Deoband’. Madani is alsoa strong opponent of government interferencein the madrassa system.41Sheikh Habib ‘AliZain al Abideen alJifriDirector General of the TabahFoundation, UAECountry: United Arab EmiratesDate of Birth: 16 April 1971Source of Influence: Scholarly, Lineage,PhilanthropyInfluence: Globally influential throughhis teaching endeavors in Yemen andacross the worldSchool of Thought: Traditional Sunni,Shafi’i, Ash’ari, Ba’Alawi SufiRank: 2010:41 · 2009:37 Tracing back his lineage to the family of‘Ali, the fourth Caliph of Islam and cousinof the Prophet Muhammad, Sheikh Habib‘Ali Zain al Abideen al Jifri is a leading Islamicscholar and prominent speaker inthe Muslim world. Al Jifri is Director Generalof the Tabah Foundation in the UAE,member of the board of Dar al Mustafa inYemen, member of the Royal Aal al BaytInstitute for Islamic Thought in Jordan,and affiliated with various other internationalIslamic organizations.Sufi GuideAs a Ba’Alawi Sufi, al Jifri is part of a traditionthat has been based in Yemen forapproximately 800 years and traces backto the Prophet Muhammad. He is influentialas a Sufi spiritual guide in the Muslimworld; and Dar al Mustafa is an influentialIslamic educational institution in Yemen.EducatorAl Jifri founded the privately-funded philanthropicTabah Foundation for IslamicStudies and Research in Abu Dhabi, ayoung non-profit institution that aspiresto become a formidable source of reputablework in Islamic research and thought.85