LISBON:The funeral prayers for Prince Karim al-Hussaini Aga Khan IV, the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, were held on Saturday in Lisbon.
Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, aged 88, passed away on Tuesday. As a direct descendant of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), he held a revered position as the spiritual leader of the Ismaili Nizaris.
The private ceremony, held at the Ismaili community center in Lisbon, was attended by over 300 dignitaries, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, and former Spanish King Juan Carlos I.
Aga Khan IV passed away in Lisbon, where he had established the headquarters of the global Ismaili community in 2015. He held British and Portuguese nationalities and was an honorary citizen of Canada, a distinction granted to very few.
Around the world, Ismaili Muslims gathered in Jamatkhanas (places of worship) to watch the funeral proceedings via live broadcast, paying tribute to their leader’s life of service and dedication.
His casket, draped in a white cloth with his personal emblem embroidered in gold, was carried into the ceremonial hall by community volunteers. Prayers and Quranic recitations were offered, followed by attendees filing past the casket to pay their final respects.
Throughout his leadership, Aga Khan IV emphasized Islam’s values of reflection, compassion, and human dignity. Inspired by these principles, he founded the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), a global organization dedicated to improving living conditions and economic opportunities in some of the world’s most disadvantaged regions. His legacy continues with his successor, Prince Rahim al-Hussaini Aga Khan V.
Prince Karim Aga Khan IV will be laid to rest in a private burial ceremony in Aswan, Egypt, on Sunday. His remains will be temporarily interred in the mausoleum of his grandfather, Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan III, until a new mausoleum is built for his final resting place.
His eldest son, 53-year-old Rahim, will assume leadership as Aga Khan V. An official inauguration ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday at the community’s headquarters in central Lisbon.
Born in Geneva on December 13, 1936, Prince Karim Aga Khan IV became the Ismaili Imam in 1957 at the age of 20, succeeding his grandfather. His father, Prince Ali Khan, was excluded from the succession following his widely publicized marriage to Hollywood actress Rita Hayworth.
As the spiritual leader, Aga Khan IV expanded his grandfather’s development initiatives, establishing hospitals, housing projects, and banking cooperatives in underprivileged regions. Through strategic investments, he combined philanthropy with economic development, channeling family resources into projects that uplifted struggling communities.
He established the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), an extensive foundation with approximately 96,000 employees worldwide, focusing on education, healthcare, and infrastructure in Asia and Africa.
In addition to his humanitarian efforts, he had a passion for horse racing, continuing the family’s tradition of breeding thoroughbreds at his stables in France and Ireland. His horses won numerous prestigious races.
Pakistan was represented at the funeral by Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb.
According to a statement from the Finance Ministry, the minister met with Prince Rahim al-Hussaini Aga Khan V and conveyed heartfelt condolences on behalf of Pakistan’s President, Prime Minister, and people. He praised the late Aga Khan’s contributions to human development, economic progress, and cultural preservation, emphasizing his special connection to Pakistan.
The government of Pakistan declared February 8 as a national day of mourning in honor of Prince Karim Aga Khan IV’s funeral. The national flag was flown at half-mast across the country and at Pakistan’s diplomatic missions worldwide as a mark of respect.
