Prominent Pakistani personalities have once again earned global recognition in the 2026 edition of The Muslim 500: The World’s 500 Most Influential Muslims, published by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre (RISSC) in Amman, Jordan. Leading the Pakistani contingent is renowned Islamic scholar Mufti Taqi Usmani, who has been ranked second overall, marking him as one of the world’s most influential figures in the Muslim community. While, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, former Prime Minister Imran Khan also made the list.
The annual publication, now in its 17th year, celebrates individuals shaping Muslim societies across politics, religion, culture, science, and social development. Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani tops the 2026 list, followed closely by Mufti Taqi Usmani.
Among the top 50 global influencers are other notable Pakistani scholars such as Maulana Tariq Jameel, Maulana Nazar-ur-Rehman of Tablighi Jamaat, and Maulana Ilyas Qadri of Dawat-e-Islami.
On the international front, political heavyweights such as Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Burkina Faso’s President Captain Ibrahim Traoré, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev also feature prominently.
Published annually in Amman, The Muslim 500 remains a key reference for understanding how Muslim thought leaders, policymakers, and influencers continue to shape global discourse — with Pakistan once again making a powerful mark on the world stage.
