For the first time in its history, The Muslim 500 has collectively honoured the people of Gaza as its “Person of the Year” in the newly released 2026 edition.
The Muslim 500 profiles the most influential Muslims worldwide, spotlighting figures who shape political, religious, cultural, scientific, and social life across the global Muslim community.
Normally, the publication picks one standout man and woman of the year.
But this year, the editors chose to recognise Gaza’s men and women together, citing their resilience, endurance and moral courage in the face of immense humanitarian suffering.
“This year, The Muslim 500’s Man and Woman of the Year are the collective men and women of Gaza who have endured unimaginable horrors, yet continue to live with humanity,” says the publication.
“They pray over and bury their loved ones with dignity, share their meagre resources, risk their lives to treat the wounded, and document the truth for which they are targeted and killed. Their stories are a testament to the strength of the human spirit and its natural and unyielding desire for justice and its legitimate resistance to oppression,” it adds.
The list, devised by the Jordan-based Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre, also ranks the 500 most influential Muslims worldwide.
It categorises influence as “any person who has the power (be it cultural, ideological, financial, political or otherwise) to make a change that will have a significant impact on the Muslim world or Muslims. Note that the impact can be either positive or negative, depending on one’s point of view of course.”
Religious leaders and heads of state dominate rankings
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the Emir of Qatar, is listed as the world’s most influential Muslim, followed by prominent mufti and scholar Justice Sheikh Muhammad Taqi Usmani in second place and Yemeni scholar Sheikh Al-Habib Umar bin Hafiz in third.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei, appears in fourth, while Jordan’s King Abdullah II takes fifth.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan ranks seventh, with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman placed 14th.
Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan — ranked 36th — is the only woman included in the Top 50.
Other notable entries
Amongst preachers and spiritual guides, Hamza Yusuf (25) and Dr Tim Winter (35) make the Top 50, while Dr Ingrid Mattson and Aisha Bewley get honourable mentions.
Liverpool footballer Mohamed Salah ranks 39th, while former Liverpool teammate Sadio Mané and retired UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov receive honourable mentions.
Other honourable mentions include London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, preacher Dr Zakir Naik, singer Sami Yusuf, journalist Mehdi Hasan, and comedian Bassem Youssef.
The top 25
Here are the Top 25, with last year’s rankings in brackets.
1. HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Emir of Qatar (3)
2. HE Justice Sheikh Muhammad Taqi Usmani, Mufti and Leading Scholar, Pakistan (6)
3. HE Sheikh Al-Habib Umar bin Hafiz, Scholar and Founder of Dar Al-Mustafa, Tarim, Yemen (2)
4. HE Grand Ayatollah Hajj Sayyid Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran (4)
5. HM Abdullah II Ibn Al-Hussein, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Custodian of the Holy Sites in Jerusalem (1)
6. HE Sheikh Dr Ahmad Muhammad Al-Tayyeb, Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar University, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Mosque, Egypt (13)
7. HE Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of Türkiye (8)
8. HM Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud, King of Saudi Arabia and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques (5)
9. HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, President of the UAE (7)
10. HE Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia (15)
11. HE Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Hussein Al-Sistani Marja of the Hawza, Najaf, Iraq (9)
12. HM Mohammed VI, King of Morocco (10)
13. Sheikh Salman Al-Ouda, Scholar and Educator, Saudi Arabia (11)
14. HRH Mohammad bin Salman bin AbdulAziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia (12)
15. HE Lt Gen Prabowo Subianto, President of Indonesia (18)
16. Maulana Mahmood Madani, Leader and President of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, India (14)
17. HRE Sheikh As-Sultan Muhammadu Sa’adu Abubakar III, Sultan of Sokoto, Nigeria (16)
18. HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah, President of the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies, Mauritania (17)
19. HE Yahya Cholil Staquf, Chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia (19)
20. Professor Ibrahim Kalin, Director of the National Intelligence Organization, Türkiye (23)
21. Sheikh Abdul-Malik Al-Houthi, Leader of the Houthi, Yemen (27)
22. HE Abdel Fattah Saeed El-Sisi, President of Egypt (20)
23. HE Sheikh Dr Ali Gomaa, Former Grand Mufti, Egypt (21)
24. Sheikh Habib ‘Ali Zain Al Abideen Al-Jifri, Director General of Tabah Foundation, Yemen (22)
25. Sheikh Hamza Yusuf Hanson, Teacher and Co-Founder of Zaytuna College, USA (24)
