The burial service for Aga Khan IV, the 49th hereditary imam of the Shiite Ismaili Muslims, took place on Sunday in Aswan, a province in southern Egypt.
Prior to the private burial ceremony in Egypt, a funeral service for Prince Karim Al-Hussaini was conducted in Portugal. Aswan Governor Maj. Gen. Ismail Kamal stated that it was Prince Karim’s desire to be interred in Aswan.
“When his will was read, it revealed that he wished to be laid to rest in Aswan, close to his grandfather, Sultan Muhammad Shah, and his grandmother, Begum Om Habibeh. We received the family yesterday,” Kamal remarked.
The Aga Khan Development Network and the Ismaili religious community announced his passing on Tuesday.
The following day, 53-year-old Rahim Al-Hussaini was appointed as Aga Khan V, the spiritual leader for millions of Ismaili Muslims, in accordance with his father’s wishes.
The Aga Khan is viewed by his followers as a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad and is regarded as a head of state.
In July 1957, Prince Karim was bestowed the title of “His Highness” by Queen Elizabeth, shortly after his grandfather, Aga Khan III, unexpectedly named him heir to the family’s 1,300-year legacy as the leader of the Ismaili Muslim sect.
Over the years, the late Aga Khan became known as a business magnate and philanthropist, seamlessly navigating between spiritual and worldly realms.
As a proponent of Islamic culture and values, he was widely recognized for fostering connections between Muslim communities and the West.
The Aga Khan Development Network primarily addresses issues related to healthcare, housing, education, and rural economic development.
It operates in over 30 countries and manages an annual budget of approximately $1 billion for its nonprofit development initiatives.
Ismailis have resided for generations in Iran, Syria, and South Asia, and have more recently established communities in East Africa, Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe, North America, and Australia.
They consider it their obligation to contribute up to 12.5% of their income to the Aga Khan as a form of stewardship.
