The list is published by the Amman-based The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre (RISSSC) in Jordan. Since 2009, the organization has annually released The Muslim 500: The World’s Most Influential Muslims, featuring influential figures in politics, religion, social service, culture, economics, and media.
This year, the top spot is held by Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the Emir of Qatar. Pakistani Islamic scholar Sheikh Muhammad Taqi Usmani ranks second, and Yemeni Sufi scholar Sheikh Habib Umar bin Hafiz is third.
Other figures in the top ten include Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, King Abdullah II of Jordan, Grand Sheikh Dr. Ahmed Muhammad Al-Tayeb of Al-Azhar University, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Saudi King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz, UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Dr. Yunus was born on June 28, 1940. He has made a significant contribution to promoting financial inclusion through the establishment of Grameen Bank, for which he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006. In August 2025, following former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s departure to India, he took office as the chief of the caretaker government.
He had also been honored on this prestigious list last year.