Afghan Voice Agency (AVA): The Aga Khan Development Network announced the death of the founder of the foundation, saying that he passed away on February 4 in Lisbon, Portugal.
The Aga Khan Development Network, founded by Karim Aga Khan, announced in its statement that his successor will be announced soon.
The organization also expressed its condolences to the Aga Khan family and the Ismaili community worldwide, emphasizing: “We honor the legacy of Prince Karim Aga Khan and will continue to strive to improve the quality of life of individuals and communities around the world, regardless of religion or ethnicity.”
The Aga Khan IV was appointed as the Ismaili leader in 1957 at the age of 20.
Biography
Shah Karim Al-Husseini (December 13, 1936 – February 4, 2025), known as Karim Aga Khan, known to his Ismaili followers by the religious title Maulana Hazir Imam, was the 49th Imam of the Ismaili Shia. According to the Nizaris, he succeeded his grandfather Aga Khan III at the age of 20 on July 11, 1957.
He was a Harvard graduate in Islamic history.
Despite avoiding media controversy, he was the spiritual leader of an estimated 12 million Nizari Ismaili followers.
The largest groups of them live in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Syria, as well as in Iran, East Africa, the United Arab Emirates, North America, the United Kingdom, and several European countries.
The late Imam of the Nizari Ismailis – in fact their 49th Imam – was the Aga Khan IV, who founded the Institute of Ismaili Studies in 1977, the largest Islamic studies faculty in any academic institution in the UK.
He also combined his development work with private businesses. In Uganda, for example, he owned a pharmaceutical company, a bank and a fishing net factory.
Karim Aga Khan held dual British and Portuguese citizenship.
A man of the world and often aloof from the media, the Aga Khan rejected the idea that his growing personal wealth might conflict with his philanthropic work, according to the New York Times. The Aga Khan said his ability to achieve financial success complemented his duty to improve the lives of Ismailis.
“An imam is not expected to withdraw from daily life,” he told his followers. On the contrary, he is expected to protect his community and work to improve their quality of life. So the concept of separating faith from the world is alien to Islam.”
In 1967, the Aga Khan founded the Aga Khan Development Network. This organization is made up of several international development agencies that, with 80,000 employees, work to build schools and hospitals and provide electricity to millions of people in the poorest parts of Africa and Asia.
He was the founder of the Aga Khan Charitable Foundation, and his name is given to institutions such as the University of Karachi and the Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
The Aga Khan Foundation for Culture played a key role in the restoration of the Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi. There is also an annual award, the Aga Khan Award for Architecture.
He also founded the Nation Media Group, which is now the largest independent media organization in East and Central Africa.
He became one of the most important racehorse owners and breeders in Britain, France, and Ireland, and bred a horse named Shergar, who was once the most famous and valuable racehorse in the world.