Millionaire preachers raise no eyebrows

Dubai: Prominent Arab and Islamic figures are questioning a list of 2007's top-earning Islamic scholars, saying the list won't benefit anyone.

The list, which appears in the March 2008 issue of Forbes Arabia, is called "Da'awa Stars" or stars of preaching. Egyptian preacher Amr Khalid is at the top with $2.5 million (Dh9 million) net income, followed by Kuwaiti preacher Tariq Swidan with $1 million (Dh3.6 million), while Saudi Arabia's Ayed Al Qurani - author of Don't Be Sad - earned $533,000 (Dh1.9 million). Amr Abdul Kafi and Salman Aouda earned $373,000 (Dh1.3 million) and $267,000 (Dh979,000) respectively. Much of the money comes from royalties and TV shows.

"I don't see the point of establishing such a list," said Ahmad Al Kubasi, a prominent Islamic scholar. "Yes, Islamic preachers make money from some of their lectures and there is nothing wrong with that. Who said that a preacher should be poor?" he said.

The Islamic world faces more pressing issues, said Al Kubasi, as "many people in the media want to undermine the image of Islam".

An Islamic scholar and professor in the UAE, who asked to remain anonymous, said Islamic preaching is strategically organised.

"These figures, if they were correct, are not that much. I would expect higher figures from their efforts. These preachers have to address additional issues rather than merely Islamic morals and ethics," he said.