'Muslims Safe In Country': Grand Mufti Of India Meets PM Modi, Says No Concerns Raised

Last Updated:February 16, 2026, 14:24 IST

Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad said he was “very happy” with the meeting and reiterated his commitment to humanitarian causes.

Grand Mufti of India Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad said on Monday that Muslims in India face no obstacles or insecurity and that no concerns were raised during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with CNN-News18, the senior cleric underscored the need for unity, peace and collective efforts for national progress.

“There should be peace and tranquility in India. There is no obstacle or problem for Muslims in this country as everyone is safe," the Grand Mufti said, adding that his discussion with the Prime Minister focused on working together for the betterment of the nation.

“I told the Prime Minister that we should all work collectively for India’s development. I did not raise any concern," he said.

Expressing satisfaction over the interaction, Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad said he was “very happy" with the meeting and reiterated his commitment to humanitarian causes.

“Whatever is necessary for humanity, I will work for it, irrespective of whether one is Hindu or Muslim," he said, calling upon people to live with “love and grace".

Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad, officially known as Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar, currently serves as the tenth Grand Mufti of India.

He was elected to the post in February 2019 by the All India Tanzeem Ulama-e-Islam, a national body of Sunni clerics.

He is also the general secretary of the All India Sunni Jamiyyathul Ulama and the Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama, two influential Sunni Muslim organisations.

The cleric has also drawn national and international attention for his recent role in facilitating the deferment of the execution of Indian nurse Nimisha Priya in Yemen.

Acting through Islamic legal mechanisms such as diyah (blood money), his intervention highlighted a rare instance of religious authority being used for humanitarian mediation within a foreign Sharia court framework.

Born in Kanthapuram in Kerala’s Kozhikode district, Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad has spent decades working in Islamic education, social reform and interfaith dialogue.

His elevation as Grand Mufti was seen as a landmark moment, making him one of the few South Indian scholars to hold the influential, though largely symbolic, position.

Reiterating his message of harmony, the Grand Mufti said India’s strength lies in “unity and mutual respect", urging all communities to contribute positively to the country’s future.

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