Aboobacker Musliyar is renowned Grand Mufti of India.
Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad, aka Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar.
Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad, officially known as the Grand Mufti of India, is a prominent Islamic scholar and influential religious leader based in Kerala, the home state of Nimisha Priya. His intervention in Nimisha Priya’s case, urging Yemen’s authorities to halt her execution, has drawn national attention. His religious stature and diplomatic approach have made him a significant figure in humanitarian and interfaith matters.
In a moment of deep crisis for the family of Nimisha Priya, a 37-year-old Indian nurse facing execution in Yemen, a powerful voice of compassion and religious diplomacy stepped forward from Kerala — that of 94-year-old Islamic scholar Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar, known more widely as Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad, the Grand Mufti of India.
Though the title of “Grand Mufti” is not officially sanctioned by the Indian government, Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad is widely respected across the Muslim world as a leading voice of Sunni Islam in South Asia. He is the 10th person to hold the title in a centuries-old tradition, with his religious headquarters based in Kozhikode, Kerala — the same state where Nimisha Priya hails from.
As legal and diplomatic channels continued to press for a resolution, it was Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad’s quiet, strategic intervention with Yemen’s religious scholars that brought a moment of relief. This will help facilitate the ongoing discussions.”
The Grand Mufti also informed the Indian government about the update and shared that he had formally written to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), underscoring the seriousness and urgency of the matter.
A spiritual and academic leader, he is deeply involved in state and national scholars’ councils, and he frequently travels to the Gulf and Southeast Asia for lectures and interfaith dialogues. His international standing helped bridge a conversation between Yemeni authorities and Indian stakeholders in a way that few others could.
The Mufti also serves as the chairman of Markaz Knowledge City, an ambitious integrated township project in Kozhikode that includes medical and law colleges, a cultural center, and educational institutions. The project reflects his belief that faith must coexist with modern knowledge and progress. Under his leadership, Markaz has grown into a center of learning that blends tradition and innovation.
But Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad is not without controversy. In the past, he made headlines for statements that sparked debates — particularly when he urged women not to participate in street protests during the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) demonstrations in 2019–2020. Yet even in that moment, he opposed the CAA itself, registering his disapproval in his own way. This duality — conservative yet compassionate, principled yet pragmatic — defines much of his public life.
In the case of Nimisha Priya, his role has been nothing short of vital. By leveraging his standing among Islamic scholars and using the language of mercy — deeply valued in Islamic jurisprudence — the Grand Mufti was able to open doors that had been closed for months. His involvement underscores the importance of religious diplomacy in cases where legal and political channels may not always suffice.
Nimisha’s story is both tragic and complex. A trained nurse, she moved to Yemen in search of better opportunities. Reports suggest the act was committed under circumstances that included abuse and personal trauma. While courts ruled against her, many in India see her less as a criminal and more as a victim of systemic injustice, cultural misunderstanding, and personal desperation.
Over the years, efforts to save her life have intensified. Indian government officials, human rights organizations, and citizen groups have been actively working behind the scenes. Now, thanks to the Grand Mufti’s influence, there is renewed hope.
For the deeply religious and tightly-knit community that surrounds Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad, this act of intervention is more than political — it is spiritual. It is an act of rahma (mercy), a cornerstone of Islamic values. And for the thousands who look up to him, it reinforces his legacy as a man who used his position not for power, but for peace.
As the fate of Nimisha Priya continues to hang in the balance, the temporary stay on her execution offers a crucial window for negotiations. While the ultimate outcome remains uncertain, one thing is clear: the timely intervention of a 94-year-old cleric from Kerala has, quite possibly, saved a life — at least for now.
And for Nimisha’s grieving mother waiting in Yemen, and for many Indians watching anxiously, that sliver of hope means everything.