Islamic religious leaders

Islamic religious leaders have traditionally been people who, as part of the clerisy, mosque, or government, have performed a prominent role within their community or nation. However, in the modern context 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 informal shapes.

Compared to other Abrahamic faiths, Islam 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", nor do they have "process of ordination" or "sacramental functions", but instead serve as "exemplars, teachers, judges, and community leaders," providing religious rules to the pious on "even the most minor and private" matters.