Aga Khan IV

His Highness
Aga Khan IV
KBE CC PV NI NPk GCC GCIH GCL GCM
آقا خان چهارم‎
Aga Khan in 2014
Born
Prince Karim Al-Husseini[1]
CitizenshipUnited Kingdom
France[citation needed]
Switzerland[citation needed]
Portugal
Canada (Honorary)
Occupation(s)Imam (spiritual leader), philanthropist, businessman
TitleAga Khan IV
49th Imam of Nizari Ismaili
Tenure11 July 1957 – present
Installation19 October 1957[2]
PredecessorAga Khan III
BornShāh Karim al-Husayni
(1936-12-13) 13 December 1936 (age 87)
Geneva, Switzerland
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1969; div. 1995)​
​
​
(m. 1998; div. 2014)​
Issue
HouseFatimid
FatherPrince Aly Khan
MotherPrincess Taj-ud-dawlah
ReligionIsmaili Shia Islam

Prince Karim Al-Husseini[1][3][4][5] (Arabic: شاه كريم الحسيني, romanized: Shāh Karīm al-Ḥusaynī; born 13 December 1936), known as the Aga Khan IV (Persian: آقا خان چهارم, romanized: Āqā Khān Chāram)[6][7] since the death of his grandfather in 1957, is the 49th and current imam of Nizari Isma'ilis. He has held the position of Imam and the title of Aga Khan since 11 July 1957[8] when, at the age of 20, he succeeded his grandfather, Aga Khan III. The Aga Khan claims direct lineal descent from the Islamic prophet Muhammad through Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, Ali,[9][10] who is considered an Imam by Nizari Isma'ilis, and Ali's wife Fatima, Muhammad's daughter from his first marriage. Aga Khan IV is also known by the religious title Mawlānā Hazar Imam by his Isma'ili followers.

Ismailis gave Ali and their Imams a near-divine status.[dubious – discuss] His grandfather, Aga Khan III, states in his memoirs that the Shias had a "need (for) Divine guidance"[11][non-primary source needed] after the Prophet of Islam's death, this need being fulfilled by the Imamate. According to the Aga Khan III as mentioned in his memoirs, he has actual "Divine power, guidance, and leadership (authority)."[12][non-primary source needed] The Institution of Imamate has continued to present day with the Aga Khan IV as the 49th Imam of the Ismaili Community. The Aga Khan is a business magnate with British and Portuguese citizenship,[13][14][15] as well as a racehorse owner and breeder.[15][16]

Aga Khan's net worth has been estimated over $13.3 billion.[17] Forbes describes the Aga Khan as one of the world's fifteen richest royals.[18] He is the founder and chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network, one of the largest private development networks in the world.

Since his ascension to the Imamate of the Nizari Ismailis in 1957, the Aga Khan has been involved in complex political and economic changes which have affected his followers, including the independence of African countries from colonial rule, the expulsion of Asians from Uganda, the independence of Central Asian countries such as Tajikistan from the former Soviet Union and the continuous turmoil in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Aga Khan IV became the first faith leader to address the Joint Session of the Parliament of Canada on 27 February 2014.[19]

  1. ^ a b His Highness the Aga Khan's interview with Henri Weill; translated from La Cohorte 2019-01-29 - website of the First Ismaili Electronic Library and Database
  2. ^ "1957 Aga Khan IV Ceremonial Installation: Presentation of "Sword of Justice" Signified Ismaili Imam's Role as "Defender of Faith"". Simerg. 8 July 2010. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  3. ^ Meeting with Aga Khan IV, Prince Karim al-Husseini, 10:15AM - website of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
  4. ^ Who is Prince Karim Al Husseini Aga Khan? - website of ABC News
  5. ^ Canada's Trudeau broke ethics rules with visit to Aga Khan island - website of Reuters
  6. ^ "His Highness the Aga Khan". Archived from the original on 6 November 2011. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
  7. ^ "Aga Khan IV". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  8. ^ "World View – Aga Khan". Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
  9. ^ Morris, H. S. (1958). "The Divine Kingship of the Aga Khan: A Study of Theocracy in East Africa". Southwestern Journal of Anthropology. 14 (4): 454–472. doi:10.1086/soutjanth.14.4.3628938. JSTOR 3628938. S2CID 160596479.
  10. ^ "The Aga Khan's Direct Descent From Prophet Muhammad: Historical Proof". Ismaili Gnosis Research Team. 9 July 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  11. ^ Maugham Somerset W. (1954). The Memoirs Of Aga Khan (1954). pp. 178 - 2nd Paragraph.
  12. ^ Maugham Somerset W. (1954). The Memoirs Of Aga Khan (1954). pp. 178 - 3rd Paragraph.
  13. ^ "Portugal granted national citizenship to Prince Aga Khan". Observador. 31 March 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  14. ^ Zachary, G. Pascal (9 July 2007). "The Aga Khan, a jet-setter who mixes business and Islam". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 18 August 2017. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  15. ^ a b Minahan, James (1998). Miniature Empires: A Historical Dictionary of the Newly Independent States. Greenwood Press. p. 256. ISBN 978-0313306105.
  16. ^ Wood, Greg (6 October 2008). "port Horse racing Zarkava's triumph brings a new high for Aga Khan". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 30 September 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  17. ^ "How the Fourth Aga Khan Balances Spiritual Muslim Leadership with a Multi-billionaire Lifestyle". Vanity Fair. 14 January 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  18. ^ Serafin, Tatiana (7 July 2010). "World's Richest Royals". Forbes. Archived from the original on 14 April 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
  19. ^ Rizwan Mawani (3 March 2014). "A Relationship of Mutual Respect and Admiration: His Highness the Aga Khan Becomes First Faith Leader to Address Joint Session of Canadian Parliament". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on 15 March 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2014.