“Imran Khan Included in The Muslim 500 — Listed as ‘Honourable Mention’ in Latest Edition”
Islamabad, November 4, 2025 — Former prime minister Imran Khan has been listed in the latest edition of The Muslim 500: The World’s 500 Most Influential Muslims, the annual survey compiled by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre. However, fact-checkers and the publication’s own format make clear that Khan appears in an “Honourable Mention” section rather than the ranked Top-50 list — a distinction that several viral posts have overlooked.
What the listing actually says
The Muslim 500 publishes a ranked Top-50 followed by 450 additional entries broken into category sections (scholars, political figures, arts & culture, honourable mentions, etc.). Imran Khan appears in the honourable-mentions portion for rulers and politicians — reported at position 24 within that subsection — but the publication makes clear that the order within honourable mentions is not a ranked hierarchy and carries no significance the way the Top-50 ranking does. In short: he is included among notable figures, but he is not a Top-50 ranked entrant.
How the story spread — and why it confused readers
Social media accounts and some posts amplified an inaccurate interpretation, claiming Khan had been placed at No. 24 overall. That claim circulated widely in Pakistan and abroad, but fact-checkers found the claim misleading because it conflated the publication’s internal subsection ordering with the main Top-50 ranking. Local media and fact-check outlets warned that screenshots and summaries shared on platforms omitted the necessary context.
Reaction & context
Observers say inclusion in The Muslim 500 remains notable for a political figure like Khan because the publication aims to catalogue Muslims who exert influence culturally, politically or religiously across the world. Previous editions have highlighted heads of state, religious scholars and public intellectuals; Imran Khan had earlier been named “Man of the Year” in the 2020 edition. Still, analysts caution that honourable-mention status is different from being listed among the top ranked influencers.
Why the distinction matters
Perception vs. ranking: Being named in The Muslim 500 signals recognition, but the publication reserves its highest notice and ranking-weight for the Top-50. Presenting an honourable-mention placement as a numbered top ranking inflates the finding.
Political sensitivity: Given Imran Khan’s polarising status in Pakistan — he remains a major political figure even while incarcerated and facing multiple legal cases — such listings can be weaponised by supporters and opponents to claim symbolic victories. Fact-checking helps prevent misleading claims from shaping the public narrative.
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What the publication itself says
The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre’s The Muslim 500 provides profiles and background on each entrant. Its methodology separates a small, ranked Top-50 from the remaining entries organized by category; the Centre explicitly notes that the order of names in the honourable-mention sections is not meant to indicate rank. Readers and newsrooms are advised to consult the publication directly before drawing ranked comparisons.
