Aga Khan, the esteemed leader of the Ismaili Muslim community, recognized throughout Africa, particularly in East Africa, has passed away at the age of 88 in Lisbon, Portugal.
The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) is instrumental in enhancing health, education, media, and economic development in countries like Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The Aga Khan University and the Aga Khan Foundation significantly contribute to the region by managing hospitals, schools, and various community programs.
Moreover, the Aga Khan was highly regarded within the Ismaili Muslim community, which has a substantial presence in numerous African countries. He became the spiritual leader for millions of Ismaili Muslims at the young age of 20 while pursuing his studies at Harvard. His death at 88 marks the end of an era.
He devoted a considerable fortune, derived from tithes, to the establishment of homes, hospitals, and schools in underserved areas.
The Aga Khan Development Network and the Ismaili community announced his passing, confirming that His Highness Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, the Aga Khan IV and 49th hereditary imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, died on Tuesday in Portugal, surrounded by his family.
His will has designated a successor, who will be announced in a ceremony with family and senior religious leaders in Lisbon, although the date for this announcement has not yet been revealed.
The successor will be chosen from his male descendants or other relatives, as specified on the Ismaili community’s website.
Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, viewed by his followers as a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad, was still a student when his grandfather selected him over his father to guide the Shia Ismaili Muslim community. His grandfather believed that a youthful leader, raised in the context of modernity, was crucial for the community’s future.
Throughout the years, the Aga Khan emerged as a significant business leader and philanthropist, skillfully integrating spiritual and secular endeavors. In July 1957, he was recognized as a head of state and bestowed the title “His Highness” by Queen Elizabeth, shortly after his grandfather unexpectedly appointed him as the heir to the family’s 1,300-year legacy as the leader of the Ismaili Muslim sect.
He officially assumed the title of Aga Khan IV on October 19, 1957, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, at the same site where his grandfather had once received gifts from followers that weighed as much as he did in diamonds.
Having left Harvard to care for his ailing grandfather, he returned to his studies 18 months later, driven by a strong sense of responsibility.
A dedicated proponent of Islamic culture and values, he gained widespread recognition as a community builder.
The Aga Khan Development Network, his main philanthropic organization, prioritizes initiatives in healthcare, housing, education, and rural economic development.
This organization operates across more than 30 countries and manages an annual budget of around $1 billion dedicated to its non-profit efforts.
A network of hospitals named in his honor serves areas with insufficient healthcare, including Bangladesh, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan, where he has invested tens of millions to bolster local economies.
Quantifying the full extent of the Aga Khan’s financial assets is challenging, with some estimates suggesting his personal wealth reaches into the billions.
Members of the Ismaili community, which originated in India and has expanded into East Africa, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East, are anticipated to contribute up to 12.5% of their income to him as their leader.
As noted on the Ismaili community’s website, he was born on December 13, 1936, in Creux-de-Genthod, near Geneva, Switzerland, to Joan Yarde-Buller and Aly Khan, and spent part of his early years in Nairobi, Kenya, where a hospital bears his name.
He gained recognition as a horse breeder and owner and represented Iran in skiing at the 1964 Winter Olympics.
His passion for architecture led him to create an architecture prize and establish programs for Islamic Architecture at both MIT and Harvard.
He undertook the restoration of ancient Islamic structures worldwide. The Aga Khan resided in France for many years and had been living in Portugal recently.
His development network and foundation are headquartered in Switzerland, and he is to be buried in Lisbon, with the date yet to be announced. He is survived by three sons, a daughter, and several grandchildren.
