The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center has said that President Muhammadu Buhari is one of the most powerful Muslims in the world.
Other leaders in Nigerians that made the list include, Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, business mogul, Aliko Dangote and detained MNR leader El-Zakzaki.
The center publishes the names of 500 of the world’s most influential Muslims annually. It is an independent research entity affiliated with the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought which is an international Islamic non-governmental, independent institute headquartered in Amman, capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
In its 12th edition, the center stated that Buhari is the 16th most powerful Muslim figure in the world.
Also on the list is Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was rated as the most influential Muslim in the world whilst King Salman of Saudi Arabia came second.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is said to be the third most powerful Muslim in the world, according to the organisation.
The center said the world’s Muslim population is estimated at 1.9 billion which represents 26 percent of the global population.
One of the renowned Tijjaniyya Sufi Movement scholar, Sheikh Ibrahim Saleh is the 48th powerful Muslim in the world.
Also on the list are Tijjaniya prominent cleric, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, alias Shia, Malam Ibrahim Zakzaky and Africa’s richest man Alhaji Aliko Dangote.
The list of the world’s 500 most influential Muslims includes sportspersons, with the center naming Egyptian Mohamed Salah as 42nd influential Muslim in the world.
Other footballers on the list include Sadio Mane of Liverpool and Senegal national team, Paul Pogba of Manchester United and France national team and Zinedine Zidane, immediate manager of Spanish club, Real Madrid.
The center emphasized the fact that selecting these influential persons in the global Muslim community doesn’t connote supporting their creed or beliefs.
