Homage: Prince Karim Aga Khan IV
The life and legacy of a world-renowned visionary and global peace champion.
February 4, 2025, was a day of unfathomable grief for the Ismaili community. As the news trickled in in the late afternoon on the east coast of the U.S., the first hint of twilight had not yet penetrated the sky. Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, had passed peacefully in his home in Lisbon, Portugal, surrounded by family, nearly two months after the commemoration of his 88th birthday on December 13.
For Aga Khan’s approximately 12-15 million Ismaili Muslim followers residing on nearly every continent, the news of his demise came as a seismic blow. For many, the almost seven decades of Prince Karim Aga Khan’s spiritual and material guidance were all they’d ever known. But the loss was much more profound than the loss of the physical presence of a religious leader—it was the loss of a luminary, a visionary, a catalyst for global progress, a proponent of pluralism, and a man whose iridescent spirit and tireless work had been a beacon of hope for Ismailis and countless non-Ismailis whose lives had been touched by his efforts.
About Aga Khan IV
Prince Karim Aga Khan, a direct descendant of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny), was born December 13, 1936, the firstborn of Prince Aly Khan and Joan Yarde-Buller (Princess Taj-ud-dawlah Aga Khan). His birth year was also the year of the first televised Olympics— which would prove to be a harbinger of future achievements—namely, his participation as an accomplished skier during the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria.
Prince Karim Aga Khan’s paternal grandfather, Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah, also known as Aga Khan III, reigned as Imam for seventy-two years until 1957, when he passed peacefully at age 79. At the time, Aga Khan IV was twenty years old and studying Islamic History at Harvard University. As the world would soon learn in the brief hours following his grandfather’s death, he was now also the designated Imam–heir to a 1,400-year lineage responsible for the spiritual wellbeing and upliftment of the Ismaili community worldwide. Ismailis uphold the belief in Prophet Muhammad as Allah’s last and final prophet and Islam as Allah’s final message, as revealed in the Holy Quran.
Islam’s principles embrace the interconnectedness of the spiritual and material aspects of life, viewing them as complementary rather than separate. As Imam, Prince Karim Aga Khan would play a pivotal role in guiding his followers, or murids, in both realms—a responsibility he proved to execute with wisdom, humility, and a focus on balance.
[Left] His Highness Aga Khan IV, as a student at Harvard University, U.S.A., 1958. (Photo: AKDN)
[Right Top] His Highness Aga Khan IV meets President John F. Kennedy in the White House, Oval Office, 1961. (Photo: Robert Knudsen)
[Right Bottom] His Highness Aga Khan IV was a racehorse owner and breeder who owned stud farms in France and Ireland that housed some of the world’s most renowned horses, including five Derby winners, four Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winners, and seven Prix de Diane winners. (Photo: Gerry Cranham)
An Indelible Impact
Keeping with the tradition bestowed on his three predecessors by British monarchs, two weeks after his accession, Queen Elizabeth attributed Prince Karim Aga Khan the title “His Highness,” an honorific that from that day onward would be recognized by global leaders and dignitaries, who awarded him respect commensurate with this designation. However, understanding the weight and responsibility behind his titles proved most elusive for many.
In Western media, he was recognized as a racehorse owner and breeder. He owned stud farms in France and Ireland that housed some of the world’s most renowned horses, including five Derby winners, four Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winners, and seven Prix de Diane winners.
[Left] Visiting a microfinance project in Bangladesh, 1993. (Photo: Shehzad Noorani).
Subsequently, some media outlets mistakenly continue distilling his identity as an entrepreneur, humanitarian, or, more commonly, a philanthropist. However, since Islam intertwines spirituality with material life, making charity integral to its identity, “philanthropist” fails to capture the heft and depth of Prince Karim Aga Khan’s role and his profound global impact.
An astute visionary with a fiery devotion to uplifting the less fortunate, Prince Karim Aga Khan devoted his life’s work to the economic, social, and cultural development of underprivileged communities.
Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN)
One of his key initiatives, the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), launched in 1967 when he was just 30, is now one of the world’s largest private international development organizations. Active in over 30 countries, AKDN focuses on improving the quality of life of individuals—regardless of origin, race, gender, or religion—through healthcare, education, poverty alleviation, environmental protection, housing, and gender equality, with a special emphasis on vulnerable populations in Africa and Asia.
Today, after its inception over 50 years ago, the AKDN manages an annual budget of approximately $1 billion, employs 96,000 people, and has marked notable accomplishments:
- Established two universities, 200 schools, and more than 700 health facilities.
- Generated electricity for 10 million people.
- Provided healthcare to five million people.
- Educated two million students.
- Hosted five million visitors at its parks and gardens.
Through the work of AKDN and other such institutions, Prince Karim Aga Khan’s efforts over six decades of Imamat have had a far-reaching impact, transforming the lives of millions across the world.
Champion of Education
Prince Karim Aga Khan was a fierce proponent of quality education, believing in its power to uplift disadvantaged communities. He encouraged the Ismaili community to seek educational excellence and underscored the importance of lifelong learning. What distinguished him was his conviction that the fruits of these efforts would be applied beyond personal materialistic gain to serve humanity.
[Right] With Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi (Photo: PM Office, GOI).
In the developing world, access to quality, gender-equal education was among Prince Karim Aga Khan’s greatest imperatives, as it had been for his grandfather. He enhanced the schools Aga Khan III had established in Africa and Asia, expanding to 200 schools that serve more than 85,000 students.
In 1983, he established the Aga Khan University, Pakistan’s first private, internationally chartered university, home to leading medical, education, and nursing programs. The Aga Khan University now operates in six countries. In 2000, amid sprawling mountains, he introduced the University of Central Asia to improve economic and social development within its rugged regions, where quality educational resources remain scarce. He also partnered with leading universities worldwide, including endowing programs at Harvard, MIT, and Brown.
Quality Healthcare for the Underserved
In the 1970s, under his leadership, the Aga Khan Foundation and Aga Khan Health Services partnered with government agencies to launch maternal and child health programs, providing prenatal care, nutrition education, vaccinations, and community health worker training to serve remote, underserved populations. Over the years, Aga Khan Health Services and Aga Khan University hospitals and clinics have transformed healthcare worldwide, providing affordable primary care and leveraging telemedicine to connect remote patients with specialized medical experts.
Today, the ADKN provides healthcare to 14 million people through 20,000 healthcare professionals at 940 non-profit hospitals, clinics, and primary healthcare centers.
Addressing members of the Ismaili community in the Bartang Valley in Tajikistan 1998. Following the establishment of formal direct contact with the Imam, these remote populations benefited from humanitarian support and the pioneering initiatives of the AKDN. (Photo: Zahur Ramji)
Community Service: A Core Tenet
As a young Imam stepping into leadership, Prince Karim Aga Khan, drawing inspiration from his grandfather, established volunteerism as the bedrock and core tenet of the faith, transforming it into a driving force for serving society at large.
Through Focus Humanitarian Assistance, another of his initiatives, he launched disaster preparedness programs, training thousands of community volunteers to provide emergency relief and recovery aid during earthquakes, floods, and other crises.
The voluntary efforts he encouraged live on today through initiatives like Ismaili CIVIC, where members of the Ismaili community have been recognized by local governments for swift action during disasters like Hurricanes Helene and Beryl, providing disaster management crews and essential supplies to those impacted. Additionally, Ismaili Centers across the Southeast regularly host numerous blood drives in partnership with the American Red Cross.
Promoter of Peace
Perhaps one of the Aga Khan’s most fiercely touted values was promoting peace to enable enduring progress and stability within societies. He advocated peaceful coexistence with diverse cultures and within pluralistic communities, encouraging the use of dialogue as a tool to chisel a path toward understanding and acceptance.
“One of the central challenges that face our world today is the challenge of harmonizing many highly diversified voices within an increasingly globalized world,” said Prince Karim Aga Khan at the opening of the Aga Khan Center London in June 2018. “I use the word ‘harmonizing’ carefully—for our ideal here is not a chorus that sings in unison, but one that blends many distinctive voices into an intelligent, resonant whole. But to do that requires a deep understanding of what makes each voice distinctive.”
In this vein, Prince Karim Aga Khan commenced work with Canada, founding the Global Centre of Pluralism in 2006, which collaborates with policy leaders, educators, and key players from around the world to amplify the acceptance of pluralism as a means to strengthen society.
[Left] With the Late Queen Elizabeth II, 2018 (Photo: Gary Ottet).
Ismaili Centers: Architectural Masterpieces
Fond of quality architecture, he created the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, which awards $1 million in prizes for exceptional architectural projects. The prize money is shared among several winners. It’s understandable then that each of the six Ismaili Centers he approved for construction globally, from Dubai to Vancouver, have stunning architecture, with a seventh underway in Houston, due for completion in 2025. Designed to celebrate pluralism, these ambassadorial centers pave the way for constructive dialogue among people of diverse backgrounds and beliefs, fostering community, cooperation, and understanding to eradicate divisiveness.
Celebrating a Life of Purpose
Prince Karim Aga Khan greatly influenced numerous political leaders over the last seven decades, allowing him to play a crucial role in some historic geopolitical peace discussions and negotiations. One example is his facilitation of diplomatic talks at the landmark Geneva Summit of 1985 between Presidents Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev at the Aga Khan’s chateau, which ultimately led to the end of the Cold War.
In his lifetime, his contributions to the development and improvement of societies earned him countless recognitions, including:
- Distinctions of honor from the United Kingdom, France, Portugal, Canada, Kenya, India, Pakistan, Iran, and Senegal.
- 44 international awards, including honorary Canadian citizenship and the United Nations Champion for Global Change Award.
- 24 honorary degrees from top-tier institutions, including Harvard, Cambridge, and McGill
Agreements of Cooperation between the AKDN and the states of California, Illinois, and Texas to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and cooperative initiatives
As news of Prince Karim Aga Khan’s passing gripped media outlets, global heads of state and leaders conveyed an outpouring of condolences and tributes in honor of his accomplishments and the spirit of servitude he embodied.
Rick Perry, the longest-standing governor of Texas and fast friend of Prince Karim Aga Khan, took to Facebook to pay a special tribute. “Each time I had the good fortune of being with [Prince Karim Aga Khan], I was deeply struck by his breadth of knowledge, humility, humor, spirit of generosity, genuine sense of compassion, and his desire for peace and progress,” he said. “A man of action and few words, he was a champion of pluralism and bridge building in every corner of the world.”
[Right Photos] His Highness Aga Khan IV’s love of architecture is evident in the stunning designs of all seven Ismaili Centers around the world. Seen here are the exterior of the center in Toronto, Canada, and a graphical rendering of the interior of the one in Houston, Texas.
A Continued Legacy
Upon the news of Prince Karim Aga Khan’s demise, the Ismaili community pulled together around the globe in reflection and prayer as his last rites commenced. Aga Khan IV was laid to rest in Aswan, Egypt, next to his grandfather and inspiration, Sir Sultan Mohamed Shah, and will remain there until the completion of a new mausoleum adjacent to the land, which will serve as his final resting place.
He is survived by four children: his successor and the 50th hereditary Imam, His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V; Princess Zahra Aga Khan; Prince Hussain Aga Khan; and Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan.
In every version of himself, whether within the community or outside of it, Prince Karim Aga Khan led with a gentle heart, a congenial smile, a palpable warmth, and a glow that seemed to radiate from within. Every word he spoke was precise, thoughtful, and chosen with care. His hallmark attribute was embodying the Muslim values of compassion, tolerance, and dignity of humankind in his interactions, just as he expected of his followers.
Salina Jivani is a communications professional and freelance writer whose work has been published in Forbes, Business Insider, WIRED, Good Housekeeping, and the Huffington Post.
Prince Rahim Aga Khan V
Upon his death, Prince Karim Aga Khan’s last will and testament was read in the presence of family and religious leaders, in which he designated his eldest son, Prince Rahim Aga Khan V, as his successor and the 50th hereditary Imam. In keeping with tradition, Aga Khan V was granted the title “His Highness” by King Charles on February 10, 2025, a reflection of the enduring trust and respect that’s existed for centuries between the families and a recognition of the leadership and reverence earned by the Imam from his followers.
His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan, a proud father to two sons, is most recognized for his work with the AKDN, especially in the area of environmental sustainability. As the 50th Imam and successor, he will assume the same responsibilities his father did nearly seven decades ago, carrying forward the legacy of Ismaili Imams, dating back to the time of the Prophet Muhammed, in serving communities with ultimate love, devotion, and dignity.
[Top] Mawlana Hazar Imam Shah Rahim Al Hussaini Aga Khan
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