The Ismaili Muslim leader, His Highness the Aga Khan IV, passes away at the age of 88

The Ismaili Shia community’s spiritual head was well-known worldwide for his work in development.

The Aga Khan, the Ismaili Shia Muslim community’s spiritual head and well-known for his global development efforts, passed away in Lisbon at the age of 88.

Karim al-Husseini, as he was called, will soon have a replacement announced, according to the Aga Khan Development Network.

In accordance with Ismaili custom, a successor will be selected among the Aga Khan’s male offspring.

The Aga Khan spent a considerable amount of time in France and had recently been residing in Portugal. Switzerland is home to his foundation and development network. In Lisbon, he will be laid to rest. Three sons, a daughter, and several grandkids survive him.

He was born in Geneva on December 13, 1936, and grew up in Nairobi, Kenya. After returning to Switzerland, he attended the prestigious Le Rosey School before traveling to the US to attend Harvard University to study Islamic history.

At the age of 20, he was appointed imam of the Ismaili Muslims, a subset of Shia Islam, following the death of his grandfather, Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan, in 1957.

Aga Khan, which means “commanding chief” in Turkish and Persian, was considered by Ismailis to be a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad through Ali, the prophet’s son-in-law and cousin, and his wife Fatima, the prophet’s daughter.

Despite his hesitancy to become involved in politics, the Aga Khan was a champion of Islamic culture and values and was generally seen as a bridge builder between Muslim cultures and the West.

The multimillionaire also had an extravagant lifestyle that included an own island in the Bahamas, superyachts, and private aircraft. He was a citizen of Portugal, France, Switzerland, and Britain.

His primary charitable organization, the Aga Khan Development Network, focuses primarily on rural economic development, housing, healthcare, and education.

It employs 96,000 people, operates in more than 30 countries, and allocates over $1 billion a year for development initiatives. In the most impoverished regions of Asia and Africa, it aids in the construction of hospitals and schools.