Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir have secured the top position in the latest ranking of the world’s 500 most influential Muslims, sharing the honour with the leadership of Saudi Arabia and Turkiye.
The annual list, published by the Amman-based Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre (RISSC) since 2009, has made history this year by placing multiple entries jointly at number one for the first time.
The top ranking includes five individuals grouped into three entries: Pakistan’s PM and COAS, Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
According to the report, the joint recognition reflects the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye. The centre described the agreement as a collective security arrangement based on the principle of “one for all, all for one.”
Assessing Pakistan’s international standing, the publication highlighted Islamabad’s close strategic ties with Riyadh, continued engagement with Tehran and efforts to maintain balanced relations with major global powers.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei ranked fourth, followed by Jordan’s King Abdullah II in fifth place and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani in sixth. Pakistani religious scholar Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani secured seventh position.
Other prominent figures on the list included UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at 12th, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi at 22nd and Pakistani preacher Maulana Tariq Jamil at 32nd.
Footballer Mohamed Salah was ranked 39th, while Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Syria’s interim President Ahmed Al-Sharaa occupied the 45th and 46th positions, respectively. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani ranked 49th.
Former Pakistani PM Imran Khan was included among the honourable mentions in the politics category. Other figures recognised in the category included Hamas leader Khalil Al-Hayya, London Mayor Sadiq Khan and US senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed.
The publication named Palestinian paediatrician Dr Hussam Abu Safiya its Man of the Year, recognising his decision to remain with his patients despite the risks.
Fatemeh Zahra Sheikhabadi, a survivor of US strikes on her school in Minab, was named Woman of the Year.
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