Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir have been placed among five leaders who jointly hold the top position in the 2027 edition of The Muslim 500, an annual ranking of the world’s most influential Muslims. The publication is compiled by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre, a research body based in Amman, Jordan.
The other three leaders sharing the honour are Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. It is the first time the publication has given several names a shared No. 1 recognition.
Defence pact cited as basis for joint ranking
The publication links the honour to the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, which Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye signed on August 7, 2026. It describes the deal as a notable step forward in collective security cooperation among the three countries.
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In a dedicated section headed “Joint No. 1”, the report says the pact combines Saudi financial resources, Turkiye’s technological and manufacturing strength, and Pakistan’s military power. Under the principle of “one for all, all for one”, an armed attack on any one of the three states would be treated as an attack on all of them.
The agreement was signed at Al-Safa Palace in Makkah during a summit attended by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, President Erdogan and Prime Minister Shehbaz. According to the report, its aim is to reinforce collective deterrence and widen defence ties among the three nations.
How the report profiles Shehbaz Sharif and Asim Munir
In its profile of Prime Minister Shehbaz, the report credits his administration with approving the political frameworks needed for Pakistan to join the agreement. It describes Field Marshal Munir as Pakistan’s first Chief of Defence Forces and also as Chief of Army Staff.
The publication says Munir directs the military capabilities that underpin the alliance, including troop deployment, air defence systems and strategic infrastructure.
Other Pakistani figures in the Top 50
Besides the prime minister and the field marshal, four other Pakistanis appear in the publication’s Top 50:
- Religious scholar Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani, ranked seventh
- Preacher Maulana Tariq Jamil, ranked 32nd
- Maulana Nazar-ur-Rehman, associated with the Tablighi Jamaat, ranked 41st
- Dawat-e-Islami founder Maulana Muhammad Ilyas Attar Qadiri, ranked 44th
Former prime minister Imran Khan is listed among the honourable mentions in the politics category. The publication assesses influence across political, religious, economic, social and cultural fields. Only the Top 50 receive individual rankings, while the remaining 450 personalities are grouped by category, including business leaders, scientists, artists and sports figures.
The 2027 edition also features special coverage of Gaza and the occupied West Bank, along with reviews of major developments across the Muslim world.
