The Muslim 500, a yearly publication of the world's 500 most influential Muslims has listed three Nigerians in its 7th and current edition.
They are President Muhammadu Buhari who weighs in at number 20, Sultan Sa'ad Abubakar III of Sokoto at number 24 and Maiduguri-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ibrahim Saleh at number 38.
According to LEADERSHIP newspaper, "The publication measured influence some Muslims have on other Muslims to include: 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, adding that the impact could be either positive or negative, depending on one’s point of view. It added that the influence could be of a religious scholar directly addressing Muslims and influencing their beliefs, ideas and behaviour, or that it could be a ruler shaping the socio-economic factors within which people live their lives or of artists shaping popular culture."
In its citation on Buhari, the Muslim 500 noted his military career, anti-corruption crusade, fight against terrorism, contributions to economy and infrastructural development. It says :
“President Buhari was the first chairman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and was the mastermind behind the construction of 20 oil depots throughout Nigeria, a project involving over 3200 kilometres of pipelines."
“Both the Warri and Kaduna refineries were built under his leadership. He also established the blueprints for the country’s petro-chemical and liquefied natural gas programmes”
"Buhari is an active environmentalist who has drafted several plans to preserve wildlife in Nigeria. He has also exerted great efforts on the conservation of nature in Nigeria; such as controlling the logging industry whereby he has ensured that double the number of trees felled are replaced by loggers. He has also worked on restricting the Ecological Fund Office so it can deliver on environmental challenges.”
Muslim 500 describes Sultan Abubakar as an important administrative influence in Nigeria’s religious life. It says ;
“Abubakar is the titular ruler of Sokoto in Northern Nigeria and is also the head of the Nigerian National Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs. Leadership of this council means that the Sultan of Sokoto remains the only figure that can legitimately claim to speak on behalf of all Nigerian Muslims.
“This role has become increasingly influential over the years with a rise in interreligious tensions between Nigeria’s Muslim majority north and Christian-majority South.”
The Muslim 500 also credits the Sultan with many initiatives to counter and reduce the influence of Boko Haram, including inviting an international joint Muslim/Christian Delegation to visit Nigeria.
The publication recognizes Sheikh Saleh as a lecturer of renown in the fields of Tafsir Al Qur’an (exegesis) and the Hadith as well as Islamic sciences, jurisprudence and ethics.
“He has over 100 written works. He has held and still heads several significant positions, some of which are, founder and mentor of the Islamic Renaissance Organisation, adviser to the Federal Government on its Islamic Affairs since 1992, Assistant Secretary-general for African Affairs in the World Islamic People’s Leadership 1989 and many more."
Source: LEADERSHIP
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