AP Ustad, Shabana, Aamir, Owaisi, Premji, AR Rahman among world's 500 influential Muslims

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October 13, 2015

New Delhi, Oct 13: Music composer A R Rahman, Sunni cleric AP Ustad, industrialist Azim Premji, actors Shabana Azmi and Aamir Khan have made it to the list of 500 Most Influential Muslims In The World this year.

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AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi also made it to the list. Other Indians who have made it to the list include religious scholars and spiritual leaders.

Though India has world's second largest Muslim population, only 22 could enter the list of “The Muslim 500: The World’s 500 Most Influential Muslims” this year.

Mufti Muhammad Akhtar Raza Khan Qadiri Al-Azhari and Maulana Mahmood Madani are the only two Indians among the top 50.

The names of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and B S Abdur Rahman have been mentioned under Obituaries. They were in the list of world's 500 most influential Muslims last year.

The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre (RISSC) in Amman, Jordan has named the 500 most influential Muslims in the world.

The report is compiled by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre in Amman, Jordan, in cooperation with Prince Al-Waleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University in the United States.

The list consists of a top 50 section and the remaining 450 are divided into political, scholarly, administration of religious affairs etc.

This year's list is out and here is how the Indian Muslims have fared:

Indians in the Top 50 influential Muslims list:

1) Mufi Muhammad Akhtar Raza Khan Qaadiri Al-Azhari, leader of the Indian Barelwis and considered by his followers as the Grand Mufi of India.

2) Maulana Mahmood Madani, Leader and Executive Member of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind.

Most influential Scholars from India:

1) Allamah Zia Al-Mustafa, Islamic scholar of the Barelwi movement in India.

2) Wahiduddin Khan, co-founder of Goodword, publisher of children's books.

3) Rabey Hasani Nadvi, president of All India Muslim Personal Law Board.

4) Bahauddeen Muhammed Jamaluddeen Nadwi, founding fathers of Darul Huda Islamic University.

Most influential politicians from India:

1) Dr Mohammad Umar Farooq, chairman and founder of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference.

Most influential in terms of Administration of Religious Affairs from India:

1) Sheikh Aboobackar Ahmad, also known as AP Aboobackar Musliyar and AP Ustad, the General Secretary of the All India Muslim Scholars Association.

2) Sayyid Ibrahimul Khaleel Al-Bukhari, founder of Ma'din Islamic Academy.

3) Maulana Shakir Ali Noorie, President of Sunni Dawate Islami (a non-political religious organization).

4) MP Janab Asaduddin Owaisi, President of All India Majlis-eIttehadul Muslimeen.

Most influential preachers & spiritual guides from India:

1) H. Hazrat Allama Maulana Qamaruzzaman Azmi, founder of Al-Jame-atul-Islamia.

2) Arsad Madani, President of the 86-year old Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind.

3) Professor Sayid Ameen Mian Quadri, leader of the Indian Barelwis and a sajjada nashin, or Suf disciple, of the Barkatiya Suf tradition.

4) Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, spiritual leader of 2-5 million people living in 100 countries.

5) Sheikh Dr Taika Shuaib, head of the Arusiyya branch of the Qadiri Suf order.

Most influential in terms of Philanthropy, Charity & Development from India:

1) Azim Premji, Indian business tycoon and philanthropist who is the chairman of Wipro Limited.

2) Maulana Badruddin Ajmal Qasmi, prominent businessman in India who runs the Ajmal Group of Companies

Most influential in terms of Art and Culture from India:

1) Shabana Azmi, winner of the National Film Award for Best Actress five times.

2) Aamir Khan, UNICEF brand ambassador, promoting child nutrition.

3) Allah Rakha Rahman, composer, record producer, and musician.

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News Network
December 2,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 2: Mangaluru International Airport responded to a medical emergency late on Monday night. Air India Express flight IX 522, travelling from Riyadh to Thiruvananthapuram, was diverted to Mangaluru Airport after a passenger in his late 30s experienced a medical emergency on board.

The Airport’s Operations Control Centre received an alert regarding the passenger’s health condition. The airport activated its emergency response protocol, mobilising the airport medical team and coordinating with stakeholders including CISF, immigration, and customs. 

Upon landing, airport medical personnel attended to the passenger, assessed his condition, and arranged to shift him to a local tertiary-care hospital for further treatment. The passenger’s relatives accompanied the passenger, who incidentally received necessary medical care on board, which helped stabilise the situation.

Following the handling of the emergency, the flight departed for Thiruvananthapuram at 2:05 am on Tuesday.

"We appreciate the cooperation of all parties involved, and this incident reaffirms our ongoing commitment to prioritising passenger safety and readiness to respond to unforeseen emergencies with professionalism and care," the Airport spokesperson said. 

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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Air India Express has announced that it will resume direct flight services between Mangaluru and Muscat from March 2026, restoring an important international air link for passengers from the coastal region.

Airport authorities said the service will operate twice a week—on Sundays and Tuesdays—from March 1. The initial flights are scheduled on March 3, 8 and 10, followed by March 15 and 17, with the same operating pattern to continue thereafter. The flight duration is approximately three hours and 25 minutes.

The Mangaluru–Muscat route was earlier operated under the 2025 summer schedule, with services beginning on July 14. At that time, Air India Express had operated four flights a week before suspending the service.

Officials said the summer schedule will come into effect from March 29, after which changes in flight timings and departure schedules from Mangaluru are expected. Passengers have been advised to check the latest schedules while planning their travel.

The resumption of direct flights to Muscat is expected to significantly benefit expatriates, business travellers and others, further strengthening Mangaluru’s air connectivity with the Gulf region.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru police have arrested a 27-year-old NRI on his return from Saudi Arabia in connection with an Instagram post allegedly containing derogatory and provocative remarks about the Hindu religion, officials said on Monday.

The accused, Abdul Khader Nehad, a resident of Ulaibettu in Mangaluru, was working in Saudi Arabia when the post was uploaded, police said.

A suo motu case was registered at the Bajpe police station on October 11 after an allegedly offensive post circulated from the Instagram account ‘team_sdpi_2025’. Police said the content was flagged for being provocative and derogatory in nature.

During the investigation, technical analysis traced the Instagram post to Nehad, who was residing abroad at the time, a senior police officer said. Based on these findings, a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him.

On December 14, Nehad arrived from Saudi Arabia at Calicut International Airport in Kerala, where he was taken into custody on arrival. Police said further investigation is underway.

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