Latest news with #NizariIsmailis
Express Tribune
06-02-2025
- General
- Express Tribune
Prince Karim Aga Khan's funeral to be held in Lisbon on Saturday
Listen to article The funeral of Aga Khan IV, the spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, will take place privately in Lisbon on Saturday, according to a representative of the Ismaili community. Prince Karim al-Husseini, aged 88, passed away on Tuesday, marking the end of his long tenure as the 49th Imam of the Nizari Ismailis, a branch of Shia Islam with millions of followers across Central and South Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The funeral ceremony will be held at the Ismaili community center in central Lisbon, attended by several hundred guests. Naguib Kheraj, a senior adviser to the Ismaili community, confirmed that it would be a private and dignified event. "This is a private event, not a big public event… It will be short and dignified," Kheraj told reporters at a press conference on Thursday. Aga Khan IV established the global headquarters of the Ismaili community in Lisbon in 2015, making the city an important center for the community. Prince Karim's eldest son, 53-year-old Rahim al-Husseini, will succeed him as the new Aga Khan V. The official ceremony to mark the accession of the new imam will take place on Tuesday morning at the Ismaili community headquarters in Lisbon. This, too, will be a private ceremony to honor the succession of the new spiritual leader.
Shafaq News
05-02-2025
- General
- Shafaq News
Aga Khan IV, spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims, dies at 88
Shafaq News/ Aga Khan IV, Prince Shah Karim Al Hussaini, the spiritual leader of approximately 15 million Nizari Ismaili Muslims worldwide, passed away in Lisbon at the age of 88, his development network said on Tuesday. "His Highness Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, Aga Khan IV, 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims and direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), passed away peacefully in Lisbon on 4 February 2025, aged 88, surrounded by his family," the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) said in a statement on X. The network added that "The announcement of his designated successor will follow." Aga Khan IV led the AKDN, a global development organization he founded, which currently employs approximately 96,000 people worldwide. The late leader held British and Portuguese citizenship and was granted honorary Canadian citizenship, a rare distinction recognizing his contributions to global development and the promotion of tolerance. His Highness Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, Aga Khan IV, 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims and direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), passed away peacefully in Lisbon on 4 February 2025, aged 88, surrounded by his family. Prince Karim Aga Khan… — Aga Khan Development Network (@akdn) February 4, 2025 A Historical Legacy The Nizari Ismailis, a branch of Shia Islam, trace their origins to the 11th century when Hassan-i Sabbah established the sect. They recognize Nizar ibn al-Mustansir Billah as the rightful Imam following his father's death. Historically, the Nizari Ismailis controlled fortresses in Persia and the Levant, gaining a reputation for their strategic mountain strongholds. Their state in Persia fell to the Mongols in the 13th century, while their Levantine presence was dismantled by the Mamluks. Despite these upheavals, the Nizari Ismailis persisted, maintaining a continuous line of spiritual leadership, culminating in Aga Khan IV.
