Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim took the helm as Malaysia’s 10th Prime Minister in November 2022, steering a Unity Government consisting of many political parties and coalitions.
His journey to the top was no straight road, marked by years of political ups and downs, including imprisonment, exile, and time as opposition leader, with many seeing his rise as one of the most remarkable comebacks in Malaysian politics, according to Jordan’s Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre (RISSC).
Anwar Ibrahim
Anwar named the world’s 10th most influential Muslim
Anwar’s accomplishments have earned him the 10th spot in the 2026 edition of The World’s 500 Most Influential Muslims, published by RISSC.
Last year, he ranked 15th, and his climb to 10th place this year reflects growing international recognition of his leadership while further elevating Malaysia’s profile on the global stage.
RISSC also noted that Anwar rose to 7th place (from 9th last year) in the “Rulers and Politicians” category, placing him ahead of Indonesian President Prabowo, who ranked 10th, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who came in 13th.
“He has been a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause”
The brief profile on Anwar highlighted his efforts to ease border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia, along with his strong support for the Palestinian people in the face of Israeli aggression.
“Anwar helped build trust between Bangkok and Phnom Penh, strengthening Malaysia’s image as a constructive peace broker in Southeast Asia. At the same time, he has been a vocal advocate for the Palestinian struggle against occupation.”
The rankings assess each individual’s influence, focusing on their ability to bring meaningful change within the Muslim world through culture, ideology, finance, or politics.
Here are the top 10 most influential Muslims according to RISSC:
- Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani
- Mufti and Leading Scholar, Pakistan, Justice Sheikh Muhammad Taqi Usmani
- Scholar and Founder of Dar Al-Mustafa, Tarim, Yemen, Sheikh Al-Habib Umar bin Hafiz
- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Grand Ayatollah Hajj Sayyid Ali Khamenei
- King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Custodian of the Holy Sites in Jerusalem, Abdullah II Ibn Al-Hussein
- Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar University, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Mosque, Egypt, Sheikh Dr Ahmad Muhammad Al-Tayyeb
- President of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
- King of Saudi Arabia and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud
- President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan
- Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim
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