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By Gabe Whisnant
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The Aga Khan, who assumed the role of spiritual leader for millions of Ismaili Muslims at age 20 while an undergraduate at Harvard, has died at age 88.
He dedicated vast resources, amassed from millions of dollars in tithes, toward the construction of homes, hospitals and schools in developing nations.
The Aga Khan Foundation announced on its website that Karim Al-Hussaini, the 49th hereditary imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, died on Tuesday in Portugal, surrounded by his family.
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On Wednesday, his son Rahim was named the Aga Khan V, the 50th hereditary imam of the Shiite Ismaili Muslims, in accordance with his father's will.
Context
Born in Geneva, Switzerland, in December 1936, Prince Karim Aga Khan IV ascended to the leadership at age 20 while he was a Harvard undergraduate. He succeeded his grandfather, the Aga Khan III, who selected him over his own son, believing the followers needed a leader who had been immersed in the contemporary world. The Aga Khan IV thus began his lifelong journey of intertwining spiritual guidance with material development.
Regarded as a head of state, the Aga Khan was bestowed the title of "His Highness" by Queen Elizabeth in July 1957, just two weeks after he was named heir to the family's 1,300-year-old dynasty.
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Aga Khan's Legacy
The Aga Khan was not only a religious figure but also evolved into a business magnate and philanthropist over the decades. Under his leadership, a considerable portion of the Ismaili community's financial contributions, estimated to be in the billions of dollars, was channeled into philanthropy.
His efforts included the building of homes, hospitals, and schools in various developing countries, with a particular emphasis on health care, housing, education and rural economic development.
His philanthropic organization, the Aga Khan Development Network, played a crucial role in these endeavors. Notably, the network established hospitals in regions lacking adequate health care, such as Bangladesh, Tajikistan and Afghanistan.
The Aga Khan's contributions were not limited to health care. He had a passion for architecture and design, which led him to establish an architecture prize and programs for Islamic Architecture at prestigious institutions like MIT and Harvard. Additionally, he invested significantly in restoring ancient Islamic structures worldwide.
Despite his significant influence, the Aga Khan maintained a non-political stance, focusing instead on building bridges between Muslim societies and the West. This approach fostered mutual understanding and cooperation.
The Aga Khan is survived by his three sons and a daughter.
The Ismaili community's website said the late Aga Khan's burial will be held in the coming days, followed by an homage ceremony.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Update 2/5/25, 12:32 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update 2/4/25, 5:44 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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