Editing The 500 Most Influential Muslims (section)

==Publications==

===2009 edition===
In 2009, the book was edited by Professors [[John Esposito|John L. Esposito]] and Ibrahim Kalin at Georgetown University in Washington, DC.

The 500 most influential Muslims were chosen largely in terms of their overt influence. The top 50 is dominated by religious scholars and either heads of state, which automatically gives them an advantage when it comes to influence, or they have inherited their position. Lineage is a significant factor – it has its own category – and the predisposition to include children of important people reveals a mindset that indicates achievement is an optional extra.<ref name="guardian"/> The top 50 fits into six broad categories as follows: 12 are political leaders (kings, generals, presidents), four are spiritual leaders (Sufi shaykhs), 14 are national or international religious authorities, three are "preachers", six are high-level scholars, 11 are leaders of movements or organizations.

The book has given the first place to King [[Abdullah of Saudi Arabia|Abdullah bin Abdulaziz]] of Saudi Arabia. Second place went to Ayatollah Syed [[Ali Khamenei]], the spiritual leader of Iran. King [[Mohammed VI of Morocco]] found third place and King [[Abdullah II of Jordan|Abdullah II Al-Hussain]] of Jordan occupied fourth place. Fifth place went to Turkey's Prime Minister [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]].

The first solely religious leader is Iraq's Ayatollah [[Ali al-Sistani]] in seventh place. [[Fethullah Gülen]] came 13th. The heads of [[Hezbollah]]; Seyyed [[Hassan Nasrallah]] listed 17th and [[Hamas]] [[Khaled Mashaal]] listed 34th.

The highest-ranking American (and highest-ranking convert) at 38th place was Sheikh [[Hamza Yusuf]] Hanson, founder of the [[Zaytuna College|Zaytuna Institute]] in Berkeley, California. Right after him comes the highest-ranking European, Sheikh [[Mustafa Cerić]], grand mufti of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In total 72 Americans are among the 500, a disproportionately strong showing. [[Timothy Winter]] (Abdal Hakim Murad) was the highest ranked British Muslim, in an unspecified position between 51st and 60th, considerably higher than the three other British people who made the list – the Conservative Party chairman [[Sayeeda Warsi, Baroness Warsi|Baroness Sayeeda Warsi]]; the UK's first Muslim life peer, [[Nazir Ahmed, Baron Ahmed|Lord Nazir Ahmed]]; and Dr Anas Al Shaikh Ali, director of the International Institute of Islamic Thought.

The women featured had a separate section from the men. There were only three women listed in the top 50. Sheikha [[Munira al-Qubaysi]] (number 21), an educator of girls and women; [[Queen Rania of Jordan]] (number 37), who promotes global education; and Sheikha [[Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned]] of Qatar (number 38), who is chairwoman of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development.

The listing also includes an extensive Arts and Culture Section. The general Arts and Culture Section included the names of singers [[Salif Keita]], [[Youssou N'Dour]], [[Raihan]], [[Yusuf Islam]] and [[Sami Yusuf]], [[Dawud Wharnsby]]; musician [[A. R. Rahman]] (India); film stars [[Salman Khan]], [[Aamir Khan]] and [[Shah Rukh Khan|Shahrukh Khan]]; comedian [[Azhar Usman]] and martial artist [[Ma Yue]]. All the [[Qāriʾ]]s (Quran reciters) listed in the book are from Saudi Arabia.

''[[Foreign Policy]]'' magazine's [[Marc Lynch]] stated, "Esposito and Kalin's methodology seems strange. Any list in which the Sultan of Oman ([[Qaboos bin Said al Said]], who was sixth) outranks, say, Turkish preacher Fethullah Gülen (placed 13th) or the [[Aga Khan]] ([[Aga Khan IV]], who was placed 20th) seems odd to this observer..."

===2011 edition===
In 2011, achievements of a lifetime were given more weight than achievements within the current year. which meant that the lists of names were going to change gradually, rather than dramatically, year-on-year. The [[Arab Spring]] had no impact on Saudi King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia's influence, it had boosted King Mohammed VI of Morocco's influence, who moved up to second place, and it had no effect on Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan who came in third place.

Erdoğan was expected by many to receive the top spot in light of the Arab Spring. Erdoğan was credited with Turkey's "Muslim democracy", and was seen as the leader of a country that, as the [[Brookings Institution]] said, "played the 'most constructive' role in the Arab events."

Emir of Qatar Sheikh [[Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani]] influence rose during the Arab Spring, moving him to sixth place. He had driven much of the Arab Spring through the coverage given by ''[[Al Jazeera Media Network|Al Jazeera]]'', given financial support to protesters and political support to Libya, making him arguably the biggest enabler of the Arab Spring.

===2012 edition===
In 2012, the edition was published by [[S. Abdallah Schleifer]], Professor Emeritus and Senior Fellow [[Kamal Adham]] Center for Television & Digital Journalism, [[The American University in Cairo]].

There were more Muslims from America than any other country again with 41 spots on the 500 list. Countries with the next highest number of names were Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom, with 25 Muslims each, followed by Indonesia, with 24.<ref name="deseretnews">{{cite news |last=Renouard|first=Chelynne|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765616747/US-dominates-list-of-worlds-500-Most-Influential-Muslims.html|title=U.S. dominates list of world's '500 Most Influential Muslims'|newspaper=[[Deseret News]]|date=December 3, 2012|access-date=July 1, 2013}}</ref> It lists the winners according to 13 categories, including spiritual guides, Quran reciters, scholars, politicians, celebrities, sports figures, radicals, and media leaders.

For the fourth year running, Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz topped the list. He was followed by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at second place. Erdoğan's advance gave him advantage over Moroccan King Mohammed VI who took the third place. Fourth place went to Dr [[Mohammed Badie]], whose name appeared in the top 10 for the first time. He was followed by Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani who took the fifth place. Sheikh Al-Azhar Dr. [[Ahmed el-Tayeb|Ahmad el-Tayeb]] and prominent Islamic scholar Dr. [[Yusuf al-Qaradawi]] who is President of Global Association of Muslim Scholars, also made it to the top 10 ranks.

===2013/2014 edition===
In 2013, the list was edited once again by Professor Emeritus S. Abdallah Schleifer of the American University in Cairo.

The top of the list went to Sheikh [[Ahmed el-Tayeb]], the Grand Sheikh of the Al Azhar University for the prominent role played by him in Egypt's troubled democratic transition. His astute decision making over the past couple of years has preserved the traditional approach of Al-Azhar which faced threats from Islamists and Salafis in the years that have followed Mubarak's fall. His public support of General [[Abdel Fattah el-Sisi]]'s coup also gave it a strong religious grounding that was necessary for it to achieve the legitimacy needed to prevent a civil war, effectively making him a "king-maker" and cementing his place at the top of the list. He was followed on the listing by Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud and Iranian Grand Leader Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei.

Reflective of the wider trajectory of the Arab Spring, this year's list showed a decline in influence from [[Muslim Brotherhood]] associated figures Dr Mohammed Badie, Sheikh Yusuf al Qaradawi and ousted Egyptian President [[Mohamed Morsi]]. Coup kingpin General [[Abdel Fattah el-Sisi]] who was previously unlisted now ranks at 29.

The US dominates the list again with 41 inclusions including [[Muhammad Ali]], Dr [[Mehmet Oz]], Rep. [[Keith Ellison]], Yasiin Bey ([[Mos Def]]), and [[Fareed Zakaria]]. Representing the UK are [[Mo Farah]], [[Cat Stevens|Yusuf Islam]], Riz Khan, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, Cambridge's Dr Timothy Winter and 18 others.

===2014/2015 edition===
In 2014, the chief editor of the list was again [[Abdallah Schleifer|Professor S Abdallah Schleifer]]. The top spot went back to Saudi King [[Abdullah of Saudi Arabia|Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud]], due to his being the "absolute monarch of the most powerful Arab nation." The list accords him the place in light of Saudi Arabia being home to Islam's two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, which millions of Muslims visit throughout the year, as well as the kingdom's oil exports. Rounding out the top three are Dr [[Ahmed el-Tayeb|Muhammad Ahmed al-Tayeb]], grand sheikh of Al-Azhar University and grand imam of Al-Azhar mosque, and Iran's Supreme Leader [[Ali Khamenei]]. The top nine are all political leaders and royals, including Morocco's King Mohammed VI and Turkish President [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan|Recep Tayyip Erdogan]].

The top 50 fit into six broad categories: 12 are political leaders (kings, generals, presidents), four are spiritual leaders (Sufi shaykhs), 14 are national or international religious authorities, three are "preachers", six are high-level scholars, 11 are leaders of movements or organizations. In total 72 Americans are among the 500 most influential Muslims, a disproportionately strong showing, but only one among the top 50, Sheikh [[Hamza Yusuf|Hamza Yusuf Hanson]] of [[Zaytuna College|Zaytuna Institute]] listed at number 38.<ref name="muslimmedianetwork"/>

===2016 edition===
In 2015, the top 50 was again dominated by religious scholars and heads of state. The top five, was King [[Abdullah II of Jordan|Abdullah of Jordan]]; [[Ahmed el-Tayeb]], the grand sheikh of Egypt's Al-Azhar University; [[Salman of Saudi Arabia|King Salman]] of Saudi Arabia; Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah [[Ali Khamenei]]; and King [[Mohammed VI of Morocco|Mohammed VI]] of Morocco. Turkish President [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan|Recep Tayyip Erdogan]] came in at Number eight, but surprisingly Syrian President [[Bashar al-Assad]] did not make the Top 50 this year or last, though he is still listed in the 500. The prime minister of Iraq did not make the list, but Iraq's Grand Ayatollah Sayyid [[Ali al-Sistani|Ali Hussein Sistani]] did, coming in at number nine.

There were 32 newcomers to the 2016 list.<ref name="huffingtonpost2">{{cite news|last=Harbin|first=Julie Poucher|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/americans-dominate-list-of-the-worlds-500-most-influential-muslims_561c1656e4b028dd7ea4bb8c|title=World's 500 Most Influential Muslims Highlights Muslim-American Influence|work=[[The Huffington Post]]|date=October 12, 2015|access-date=November 1, 2015}}</ref> 22 Indians featured on the list.<ref name="timesofindia">{{cite news |last=Jafri|first=Syed Amin|url=http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/22-Indians-among-worlds-influential-Muslims/articleshow/49315830.cms|title=22 Indians among world's influential Muslims|location=India|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=October 13, 2015|access-date=November 1, 2015}}</ref><ref name="catchnews">{{cite news |url=http://www.catchnews.com/world-news/the-muslim-500-most-influential-indian-muslims-in-the-world-1443959022.html|title=The Muslim 500: Most influential Indian Muslims in the world|publisher=Catch News|date=October 4, 2015|access-date=November 1, 2015}}</ref><ref name="gulte">{{cite news |url=http://www.gulte.com/news/43200/22-Indians-Among-500-Most-Influential-Muslims|title=22 Indians Among 500 Most Influential Muslims|publisher=Gulte.com|date=October 13, 2015|access-date=November 1, 2015}}</ref> As in past years, there continued to be more Muslims from the United States than any other country. Since at least 2012, the U.S. has outpaced nations with a far larger Muslim population, with at least 40 notable people of influence, with Pakistan (33), Saudi Arabia (32), Egypt (27) and the UK (27).

=== 2017 edition ===

In 2017, the top five were Sheikh [[Ahmad al-Tayyeb]] of Egypt; King [[Abdullah II of Jordan]] of Jordan; King [[Salman of Saudi Arabia]]; Ayatollah [[Ali Khamenei]] of Iran; King [[Mohammed VI of Morocco]].

===2018 edition===

In 2018, the top five were Sheikh [[Ahmed el-Tayeb|Ahmad Muhammad Al-Tayeeb]] of Egypt; King [[Salman of Saudi Arabia|Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud]] of Saudi Arabia; King [[Abdullah II of Jordan|Abdullah II Ibn Al-Hussein]] of Jordan; Ayatollah Hajj [[Ali Khamenei|Sayyid Ali Khamenei]] of Iran; President [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]] of Turkey.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Muslim 500 {{!}} 2018|url=https://themuslim500.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/TheMuslim500-2021_Edition-low_res_20201028.pdf|website=The Muslim 500}}</ref>

===2019 edition===

In 2019, the top five were President [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]] of Turkey; King [[Salman of Saudi Arabia|Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud]] of Saudi Arabia; King [[Abdullah II of Jordan|Abdullah II Ibn Al-Hussein]] of Jordan; Ayatollah Hajj [[Ali Khamenei|Sayyid Ali Khamenei]] of Iran; King [[Mohammed VI of Morocco|Mohammad VI]] of Morocco.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Muslim 500 : the world's 500 most influential Muslims, 2019 : with cumulative rankings over ten years|editor=Schleifer, Abdallah|isbn=9789957635343|edition= 10th Anniversary |location=Amann, Jordan|oclc=1089929346|year = 2018 |publisher=The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre}}</ref>

===2020 edition===
In 2020, the top five were Sheikh Mufti [[Muhammad Taqi Usmani]] of Pakistan, President [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]] of Turkey; King [[Salman of Saudi Arabia|Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud]] of Saudi Arabia; Ayatollah Hajj [[Ali Khamenei|Sayyid Ali Khamenei]] of Iran; King [[Abdullah II of Jordan|Abdullah II Ibn Al-Hussein]] of Jordan.

The Woman of the Year was [[Rashida Tlaib]] of the United States and the Man of the Year was [[Imran Khan]] of Pakistan.

===2021 edition===
In 2021, the top five were President [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]] president of Turkey; King [[Salman of Saudi Arabia|Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud]] of Saudi Arabia; Ayatollah Hajj [[Ali Khamenei|Sayyid Ali Khamenei]] of Iran, and King [[Abdullah II of Jordan|Abdullah II Ibn Al-Hussein]] of Jordan.

The Woman of the Year was [[Bilkis Dadi|Bilkis Bano]] of India and the Man of the Year was [[Ilham Tohti]] of China.

===2022 edition===
In 2022, the top five were Sheikh [[Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani|Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani]] of Qatar; [[Salman of Saudi Arabia|King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud]] of Saudi Arabia; [[Ali Khamenei|Ayatollah Hajj Sayyid Ali Khamenei]] of Iran; President [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan|Recep Tayyib Erdoğan]] of Turkey, and King [[Abdullah II of Jordan]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Schleifer |first1=Abdallah |url=https://themuslim500.com/books/The%20Muslim%20500%202022%20edition%20-%20Free%20eBook.pdf |title=The 500 World's Most Influential Muslims, 2022 |last2=El-Ella |first2=Omayma |last3=Ahmed |first3=Aftab |date= |isbn=978-9957-635-60-2 |edition=13 |location=Amman, Jordan |access-date=17 December 2023}}</ref>

The Woman of the Year was President [[Samia Suluhu Hassan]] of Tanzania and the Man of the Year was [[Uğur Şahin]] of Germany.

===2023 edition===
In 2023, the top five were Salman bin Saudi Arabia king Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, [[Ali Khamenei|Sayyid Ali Khamenei]] Supreme Leader of Iran, [[Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani|Sheikh Tamim bin Hamid Al-Thani]] Emir of Qatar, President [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan|Recep Tayyib Erdoğan]] of Turkey, and King [[Abdullah II of Jordan]].

The Woman of the Year was [[Aisha Abdurrahman Bewley]] and the Man of the Year was [[Mahmood Madani]] President of [[Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind]] from India.

=== 2024 edition ===
In 2024, the top five were [[Umar bin Hafiz|Habib Umar bin Hafiz]], founder and dean of [[Dar al-Mustafa]] [[Madrasa|Islamic seminary]], [[Salman of Saudi Arabia|King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud]] of Saudi Arabia, [[Ali Khamenei|Sayyid Ali Khamenei]] Supreme Leader of Iran, Sheikh [[Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani|Tamim bin Hamid Al Thani]], Emir of Qatar, and King [[Abdullah II of Jordan]].

The woman of the Year was [[Edna Adan Ismail]] and the Man of the Year was [[Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas]].