President moves up to number 19 on list of World’s most influential Muslim leaders

Muhammadu Buhari is the president of Nigeria but he is way more than that in other circles.

He is also a religious leader, one of the most influential Muslim leaders in the world, according to Daily Trust.

President Buhari joins the Sultan of Sokoto and President of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar as the only Nigerians who made the top 50 list.

The Sultan is at number 16, while Buhari has moved up to number 19 in rankings from 17 last year and 20 in 2016.

According to the “The Muslim 500: The World’s 500 Most Influential Muslims” 2018 edition, the president was chosen on his past military career, anti-corruption credentials, and more.

Other criteria include having a sense of belonging to Muslim community worldwide, and influence.

The publication read, “The first two examples also point to the fact that the lists, and especially the Top 50, are dominated by religious scholars and heads of state.

"Their dominant and lasting influence cannot be denied, especially the rulers, who in many cases also appoint religious scholars to their respective positions.”

Other Nigerians on the list include a renowned Maiduguri based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ibrahim Salih, Dr Ibrahim Datti Ahmed, Prince Bola Ajibola, and Imam Muhammad Ashafa.

Sheikh Tahir Usman Bauchi, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Sheikh Yakubu Musa Katsina, Prof Ishaq Olanrewaju Oloyede, Emir of Kano Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau and Shiite leader Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky also made the list.

Professor Sheikh Ahmad Muhammad Al-Tayyeb the Grand Sheikh of the Al-Azhar University and Grand Imam of the Al-Azhar Mosque remains number one.

The second position goes to King Salman Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia, who moved King Abdullah Al-Hussein of Jordan to the third position.

The Iranian Supreme Leader Grand Ayatollah Hajj Sayyid Ali Khamenei was fourth on the list while the fifth position goes to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The 9th edition of the annual “The Muslim 500: The World’s 500 Most Influential Muslims” 2018 was released on Thursday, November 2, 2017.