KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been ranked the world's 10th most influential Muslim in the 2026 edition of 'The World’s 500 Most Influential Muslims', published by Jordan's Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre (RISSC).
His rise to 10th place, up from 15th in the previous year's listing, signifies growing international recognition of his leadership and enhances Malaysia's standing on the global stage.
The publication features 50 of the world's most influential Muslim individuals. Among them are the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani (1st); the King of Saudi Arabia, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (8th); and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto (15th).
Furthermore, the RISSC noted that Anwar climbed to 7th place in the specific category of the world's most influential Islamic leaders and politicians, advancing from 9th place last year, placing him ahead of President Prabowo (10th) and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi (13th).
The rankings assess a figure's influence, defined as their ability to effect significant change within the Muslim world, whether through cultural, ideological, financial, or political means. The impact is measured by its significance, which can be viewed as either positive or negative depending on perspective.
The publication's brief profile of Anwar highlighted his role in de-escalating border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia and his vocal advocacy for the Palestinian people against Israeli atrocities.
“Anwar helped build trust between Bangkok and Phnom Penh, reinforcing Malaysia’s image as a constructive peace broker in Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, Anwar Ibrahim has been a vocal supporter of the Palestinian right to resist occupation.
“His meetings with Hamas officials (including the assassinated late Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh) have drawn criticism from the USA.
“His social media posts offering condolences after the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh were taken down, prompting him to say: 'Let this serve as a clear and unequivocal message to Meta: cease this display of cowardice and stop acting as instruments of the oppressive Zionist Israeli regime’," it said.
The following are among the 50 most influential Muslim figures in the world:
Qatar: Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani
Pakistan: Mufti and leading scholar Justice Sheikh Muhammad Taqi Usmani
Yemen: Scholar and founder of Dar Al-Mustafa in Tarim Sheikh Al-Habib Umar bin Hafiz
Iran: Supreme Leader Grand Ayatollah Hajj Sayyid Ali Khamenei
Jordan: King King Abdullah II Ibn Al-Hussein
Egypt: Al-Azhar University Grand Sheikh cum the Grand Imam of Masjid Al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmad Muhammad Al-Tayyeb
Turkiye: President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Saudi Arabia: King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud
The United Arab Emirates: President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Malaysia: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim
Iraq: Marja of the Hawza Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Hussein Al-Sistani
Morocco: King Mohammed VI
Saudi Arabia: Scholar and educator Sheikh Salman Al-Ouda
Saudi Arabia: Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud
Indonesia: President Prabowo Subianto
India: Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind leader and president Maulana Mahmood Madani
Nigeria: The Sultan of Sokoto Sheikh As-Sultan Muhammadu Sa’adu Abubakar III
Mauritania: The Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies' president Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah
Indonesia: Nahdlatul Ulama chairman Yahya Cholil Staquf
Turkiye: National Intelligence Organisation director Ibrahim Kalin
