Imagine that; at least according to the secular magazine, Foreign Policy, which conducted a poll of who are the world’s top public intellectuals. Of course one has to add the caveat it’s a rather unscientific poll. However, over 500,000 responded to this poll and here are the results:
FETHULLAH GÜLEN-Religious leader • Turkey
MUHAMMAD YUNUS-Microfinancier, activist • Bangladesh
YUSUF AL-QARADAWI-Cleric • Egypt/Qatar
ORHAN PAMUK-Novelist • Turkey
AITZAZ AHSAN-Lawyer, politician • Pakistan
AMR KHALED-Muslim televangelist • Egypt
ABDOLKARIM SOROUSH-Religious theorist • Iran
TARIQ RAMADAN-Philosopher, scholar of Islam • Switzerland
MAHMOOD MAMDANI-Cultural anthropologist • Uganda
SHIRIN EBADI-Lawyer, human rights activist • Iran
Quite a potpourri of schools of thought and political philosophies. I don’t see any warriors, jihadists, former al-Qaida members on the list although some would try to argue that Qaradawi or Ramadan might qualify for that title. What this list does show is the diversity inherent in the world wide Muslim community and the appreciation Muslims have for people of all walks of life who make a contribution to the benefit of their way of life.
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