Is there a top Hindue , Top Islamic Cleric and Jewish Rabbi?

Question

The Catholics have the Pope and Christians pretty much agree that Billy Graham is at the top ....but what about the other 3 religions. Do any of these have a main leader or mentor?

3 question here. I'm sorry if mispelled Hindu.

Answer 1

I don't think there's a "Top" Hindu, Muslim or Jew.

In fact, there used to be the Caliph, for the Muslims. The title itself translated as "Leader of the Faithful", but that died of disuse due to infighting and politics.

Hinduiism is not so much a "Religion" as it's a way of life. There are, however, Mathas and Ashrams, but they are actually colleges and retreats, respectively, and they have a Chancellor called the Acharya or Guru, but that doesn't count as the Pope kind of thing.

The Jews used to have a Council, but that's long gone.

All the best!?!?

Answer 2

Just a small reminder: Catholics are Christians, the same applies to Protestants. Billy Graham only applies to the US.
The Orthodox Christian Churches (Greek, Russian, Maronite's, etc.) have their respective patriarchs.
There are some world organizations representing for instance (most of) the Christian churches or Muslim groups.

Answer 3

Nope. All I can think of is the Dalai Lama for Buddhism. I've never even heard of Billy Graham.

Answer 4

I get a kick out of the term "Jewish Rabbi"-are there any Christian Rabbis?

Answer 5

For muslims it the khalifah.

But we don't have one in the present day.

Answer 6

there certainly is - check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_religious_leaders_in_2005

Answer 7

Muslims don't have any hierarchical priesthood. Generally, for Shiites the Grand Ayatollah is the highest position of religious authority while Sunnis view their respective Grand Muftis at the top. Qom in Iran is the highest learning centre for Shia Islam while Al-Azhar University in Cairo is for Sunni Islam (i.e. mainstream Islam). For purposes of unity and consensus, all prominent scholars from all 8 schools of thoughts in Islam would usually come together in solemn proclamation whenever a fatwa (Islamic religious verdict) is proclaimed.

For instances:

1. Open Letter to Pope Benedict XVI - In an unprecedented move, an open letter signed by 38 leading Muslim religious scholars and leaders around the world was sent to Pope Benedict XVI on Oct. 12, 2006. The letter, which is the outcome of a joint effort, was signed by top religious authorities such as Shaykh Ali Jumu‘ah (the Grand Mufti of Egypt), Shakyh Abdullah bin Bayyah (former Vice President of Mauritania, and leading religious scholar), and Shaykh Sa‘id Ramadan Al-Buti (from Syria), in addition to the Grand Muftis of Russia, Bosnia, Croatia, Kosovo, Slovenia, Istanbul, Uzbekistan, and Oman, as well as leading figures from the Shi‘a community such as Ayatollah Muhammad Ali Taskhiri of Iran. The letter was also signed by HRH Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad bin Talal of Jordan and by Muslim scholars in the West such as Shaykh Hamza Yusuf from California, Professor Seyyed Hossein Nasr of George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and Professor Tim Winter of the University of Cambridge. (taken from: http://www.islamicamagazine.com/online-analysis/open-letter-to-his-holiness-pope-benedict-xvi.html)

2. Scholars of Islam speak out against terrorism; clarify position of Islam:

The co-signers of the statement are members of many scholarly societies in the United States and Canada. They include:

Professor Asma Afsaruddin, of Notre Dame University
Professor Vivienne Sm. Angeles, La Salle University
Professor Ghazala Anwar of the University of Canterbury, New Zealand
Professor Jonathan Brockopp, Director of the Religion Program at Bard College
Professor Patrice C. Brodeur of Connecticut College
Professor Arthur Buehler of Louisiana State University
Professor Amila Buturovic of York University
Professor Juan E. Campo of the University of California, Santa Barbara
Professor Vincent J. Cornell of University of Arkansas
Professor Frederick M. Denny Chair of Islamic Studies and the History of Religions, University of Colorado
Professor Abdullahi Gallab of Hiram College
Professor Behrooz Ghamari of Georgia State University
Professor Alan Godlas of University of Georgia
Professor Hugh Talat Halman, of University of Arkansas
Professor Pieternella (Nelly) Harder Vandoorn,, of Valparaiso University
Professor Marcia Hermansen of Loyola University, Chicago
Professor Valerie J. Hoffman, of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Professor Qamar ul-Huda, of Boston College
Professor Aaron Hughes of the University of Calgary
Professor Amir Hussain of California State University, Northridge
Professor John Iskander of Georgia State Univeristy
Professor Ahmet Karamustafa of Washington University in St. Louis
Professor Tazim Kassam of Syracuse University
Professor Zayn Kassam of Pomona College
Professor Ruqayya Khan of University of California at Santa Barbara
Professor Kathryn Kueny, of Lawrence College
Professor Jane Dammen McAuliffe, Dean of the College, Georgetown University
Professor Richard C. Martin, Emory University
Professor J.W. Morris, Chair of Islamic Studies at the University of Exeter
Professor Gordon D. Newby, Executive Director, Institute for Comparative and International Studies at Emory University
Professor James Pavlin of Rutgers University
Professor Jack Renard of St. Louis University
Professor Omid Safi of Colgate University
Professor Walid Saleh of Middlebury College
Professor Zeki Saritoprak of Berry College
Professor Michael Sells, Haverford College
Professor Laury Silvers-Alario of Holy Cross University
Professor Alfons Teipen of Furman University

Taken from: http://groups.colgate.edu/aarislam/response.htm#Statements%20from%20Leading%20International%20Academic%20Organizations%20for%20the%20Academic%20Study%20of%20Islam,%20Religion,%20and%20Middle%20East

3. Muslim Voices Against Extremism and Terrorism - Part I - Fatwas (Islamic religious verdicts) at:

http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/muslim_voices_against_extremism_and_terrorism_part_i_fatwas/0012209

Peace and Love.

Answer 8

osamma binladdin.