Bola Tinubu, the Nigerian President; Chairman of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Saad Abubakar, Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, along with twelve other Nigerian Muslims, have earned a place among the 500 most prominent Muslims globally.
Despite previously making the list consistently, the former Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, does not appear this year. Meanwhile, the Sultan of Sokoto has moved up to rank among the top 50 in the publication.
Sheikh Abdur-Rahman Ahmad, National Missionary and Chief Imam of Ansar Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria who has been a prominent figure in the list since joining in 2016, also earned a mention.
Dar al-Mustafa’s director in Yemen, Shaykh Habib ‘Umar bin Muhammad bin Salim bin Hafiz, is noted as the most influential Muslim leader while Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, King of Saudi Arabia, ranks second. Grand Ayatollah Hajj Sayyid Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, is the third most influential.
The publication also stated the global Muslim population to be 2,074,718,394.
Persons are selected based on their influence as Muslims and contributions to society, ranging from Islamic communities and beyond.
Excluding the Sultan and HE Ibrahim Saleh Al-Hussaini, who respectively emerged 18th and 45th among the top 50, the remaining 450 were classified under Scientific; Management of religious matters; Preachers and spiritual guides; Social affairs; Business and philanthropy, humanitarian and development work, and so on.
Tinubu, a newcomer to Nigeria, is recognized under the Political Leaders category. Meanwhile, the sole Nigerian in the Business category, President of Dangote Group of Companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, is ranked as the 162nd most influential Muslim leader.
Other Nigerians featured in the publication include the 14th Emir of Kano and the Grand Caliph of the Tijaniyah, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; NSCIA Secretary General and Joint Administration and Matriculation Board Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Olanrewaju Oloyede and Ado Bayero and Sheikh Ahmad who were noted under the administration of religious affairs category.
Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, was classified under the scientific category.
Others named include Sheikh Tahir Usman Bauchi; Imam Mohammed Ashafa; HE Ibrahim Saleh Al-Hussaini; Sheikh Yakubu Musa Katsina and Sheikh Professor Ibrahim Ahmad Maqari.
The late Prince Ajibola Bola, an ex-International Court of Justice judge at The Hague who died on April 9, 2023, was honored in the obituaries category.
NEW: Click “HERE” to join our WhatsApp Channel and receive News updates directly on WhatsApp!
NEW: Click “HERE” to join our Telegram Channel and receive News updates directly on Telegram!
