Three Nigerians Named Among 50 Most Powerful Muslims Worldwide

President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Saad Abubakar III, and Ibrahim Salih, the president of Nigeria’s Supreme Council for Fatwa and Islamic Affairs, have all been ranked among the world’s most prominent Muslims.

Muslim500, a newspaper, published a list of the world’s most powerful Muslims on Monday night (the 2022 Edition).

Messrs Buhari and Abubakar are the 17th and 18th most influential Muslims in the world, according to a copy reviewed by Peoples Gazette. Mr. Salih is the world’s 47th most powerful Muslim.

Buhari was placed 16th in the previous Muslim500 (he was 17th two years ago); the Sultan was ranked 19th (two years ago, he was the 20th most powerful Muslim).

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari is accused of being a “religious bigot” and a “sectional leader” by his detractors and opponents, accusations he has always denied.

Aliko Dangote, a billionaire businessman who did not make the top 50, is mentioned in the business category of the most powerful Muslims.

Aminu Ado Bayero, the next Emir of Kano, was given an honorable mention.

“Aminu Ado Bayero became the 15th Emir of Kano on 9 March 2020. His father had been the 13th emir (1963-2014) but was succeeded by a nephew, who was subsequently dethroned by the Kano state government in 2020, allowing Bayero to claim the title,” said the publication. “The emir of Kano is historically the second most important Muslim position in Nigeria after the Sultan of Sokoto. The emir of Kano serves as the leader of the Tijani sufi order in Nigeria.”

Regarding Mr Salih, Muslim500 stated, “Sheikh Ibrahim was born in Borno State in north-eastern Nigeria in 1938 and started his quest for knowledge at a very young age by accompanying his father, Sheikh Muhammad Al-Salih bin Yunus Al-Nawwy. He lost his father at the age of seven and so completed his initial studies at the Supreme Islamic Institute in Nigeria and then studied at the hands of renowned scholars in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, India, Pakistan, Senegal, Niger and Sudan.”