Islamic religious leaders

Islamic religious leaders have traditionally been people who, as part of the clerisy, mosque, or government, performed a prominent role within their community or nation. However, in the modern contexts of Muslim minorities in non-Muslim countries as well as secularised Muslim states like Turkey, and Bangladesh, the religious leadership may take a variety of non-formal shapes.

Compared to other Abrahamic faiths, Islamic has no clergy, instead their religious leaders are said to resemble rabbis and not priests. Unlike Catholic priests they do not "serve as intermediaries between mankind and God",^[1] have "process of ordination",^[2] or "sacramental functions",^[1] but instead serve as "exemplars, teachers, judges, and community leaders," providing religious rules to the pious on "even the most minor and private" matters.^[1]

^ ^a ^b ^c Pipes, Daniel (1983). In the Path of God: Islam and Political Power. Routledge. p. 38. ISBN 9781351512916. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
^ Brown, Jonathan A.C. (2014). Misquoting Muhammad: The Challenge and Choices of Interpreting the Prophet's Legacy. Oneworld Publications. p. 24. ISBN 978-1780744209. Retrieved 4 June 2018.

[pipes-1983-38-1] Pipes, Daniel (1983). In the Path of God: Islam and Political Power. Routledge. p. 38. ISBN 9781351512916. Retrieved 5 June 2018.

[2] Brown, Jonathan A.C. (2014). Misquoting Muhammad: The Challenge and Choices of Interpreting the Prophet's Legacy. Oneworld Publications. p. 24. ISBN 978-1780744209. Retrieved 4 June 2018.

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