The newly anointed Aga Khan is Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini

A line of Imams is highly revered by the Ismailis, a subset of Shia Islam.

An estimated 15 million Shia Ismaili Muslims worldwide consider Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini to be their spiritual leader, and he has been appointed the new Aga Khan.

In Lisbon, Portugal, the home of the Ismaili Imamat, he takes over for his father, Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, who died on Tuesday at the age of 88.

Confirmed upon the release of Prince Karim’s will, the nomination signifies a major change in leadership within this well-known Shia Muslim community.

The Ismaili Muslims, a group that can trace its ancestry back to the Prophet Muhammad, elect Prince Rahim, now Aga Khan V, as their 50th hereditary Imam.

A succession of Imams, notably the eighth-century Imam Ismail, are highly revered by the Ismailis, a subset of Shia Islam.

With sizeable numbers in Afghanistan, Pakistan (around 500,000), India, and several African countries, as well as diaspora communities in Europe, North America, and other places, they have a considerable global presence.

After taking over as Imamat in 1957 at the tender age of 20, Prince Karim, the late Aga Khan IV, ruled the Ismaili community for an astounding 68 years.

He succeeded Aga Khan III, Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah, his grandfather. With his death, a period of notable growth and modernity within the Ismaili community comes to an end. There will be a funeral service in Lisbon, Portugal.

Prince Karim founded the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), a broad network of nonprofit organizations devoted to raising the standard of living in underdeveloped nations, during his lengthy and significant tenure as head.

The work of the AKDN affects millions of people worldwide and cuts across a number of industries, including health, education, rural development, and culture.

As evidence of the AKDN’s dedication to social advancement, there are hundreds of hospitals, schools, and cultural projects.

Prince Karim was a well-known personality in business in addition to his charitable activities. According to Forbes magazine’s 2008 estimate, his personal wealth was roughly $1 billion (or £801 million at the time), which came from a variety of interests in telecommunications, hotels, and, most famously, the breeding of thoroughbred horses.

A prominent racehorse owner and breeder in the UK, France, and Ireland, he was linked to the renowned Shergar.

Prince Rahim, the current Aga Khan, is the eldest son of Prince Karim and Begum Salimah, who was previously known as Sarah Croker Poole.

Prince Rahim, who was educated in the United States and now resides in Switzerland, has been actively associated with the AKDN for many years. He has served on a number of boards and is presently the chair of the organization’s Environment and Climate Committee.

The AKDN website highlights his areas of interest, which include meeting the needs of the world’s poorest populations, mitigating the effects of climate change, and protecting the environment. This shows that he is still dedicated to the principles and goals set by his father.

Former American fashion model Kendra Spears is the wife of Prince Rahim. The couple has two sons. As the next Aga Khan, he now takes on the enormous responsibility of guiding the Ismaili community worldwide and continuing a tradition of social advancement, spiritual leadership, and global involvement.

The shift signifies not only a change in leadership but also a chance for the Ismaili community to keep moving forward in the twenty-first century.