The Muslim 500, in its 2026 edition, has ranked Sultan Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar as 17th World’s Most Influential Muslims.
The ranking was released by the Jordan-based Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre in collaboration with the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University.
According to the publication, the Sultan moved one place up from his previous 16th position to emerge 17th in the global ranking of Muslim leaders, scholars, heads of state, intellectuals and influencers shaping the Muslim world in 2026.
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The report described the Sultan as a major religious and moral authority in Nigeria and beyond, noting his influence as the spiritual leader of millions of Nigerian Muslims and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs.
The 2026 ranking placed the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in the number one position, followed by Pakistani Islamic scholar Muhammad Taqi Usmani and Yemeni scholar Umar bin Hafiz.
Other prominent figures listed in the top 25 include Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Jordan’s King Abdullah II.
The Muslim 500 is an annual publication first issued in 2009 and is widely regarded as one of the most recognised references on influential Muslim personalities globally. The publication defines influence as the ability to shape ideas, policies, communities and socio-cultural developments within the Muslim world.
