Through his daughter Fatima, Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, the 49th Imam of the Ismaili-Nizariten branch of Shiite Islam, is regarded as the Prophet Muhammad's immediate successor. An progenitor of the Aga Khan IV, Hasan Ali Shah, was given the title of "Aga Khan" in 1830. When Hasan Ali Shah wed the Persian king's daughter, he was elevated to the status of prince. He succeeded as the Ismailis' 46th Hereditary Imam.
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| The Aga Khan in Canada in 2014 |
Agha Khan I was given the title of Prince in 1887 by Lord Dufferin, the Governor-General of British India, in appreciation for his assistance to the British during the Afghan War (1841–1842). The successors were treated like princes in the years that followed. In his youth, Prince Karim rose to become the Ismailis' spiritual head. At the age of 21, he was named Aga Khan IV in 1957 following the passing of the Aga Khan III. He received the title "His Highness" from Queen Elizabeth II in the same year, and Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Persia, gave him the title "Royal Highness" in 1959.
The future Imam of the Ismailis studied in Switzerland at the Institut Le Rosey. He continued his education at Harvard University, where he earned a degree in Islamic history in 1959 and graduated with honors. He highlighted the idea of Islam as a way of thinking, a spiritual belief that promotes tolerance and compassion while upholding human dignity. The Aga Khan stated in Karachi, Pakistan, in 1976 that the ability of the last prophet to devise novel answers to issues that conventional approaches were unable to address was an inspiration to Muslims. He was speaking as the chairman of the international conference "The Prophet Muhammad as a Model (Sirat)". By avoiding the essential ideas of Islam, one might comprehend a really contemporary and dynamic civilization.
The daughter of an Indian army officer, Sarah Crichton-Stuart was an English model who captured the prince's heart in 1968. The same year, they were married. Sarah's married name changed to Begum Salima. Prince Rahim Aga Khan, Prince Hussein Aga Khan, and Princess Zahra Aga Khan were the couple's three children. However, their 25-year marriage came to an end in 1993. Prince Ali Mohammed, the Aga Khan's son, was born to him and Princess Gabriele zu Leiningen, a German-born woman, two years after their divorce. But the marriage was again dissolved six years later.
Princess Zahra is in charge of the social welfare division, which is run by the Aga Khan's children today. Hussein works in environmental preservation, whereas Rahim is the executive director of the Aga Khan Foundation for Economic Development. Zahra Aga Khan, the oldest child, was born in 1970. She earned an honors degree from Harvard in 1994. She attends various events as a representative of her father's organization. Zahra wed British businessman Mark Boyden in 1997. Given that the groom vehemently refused to join Islam, it was an uncommon marriage for which the bride's father received special permission. Although they had a son and a daughter, their marriage failed and they divorced.
Prince Rahim Aga Khan, the Aga Khan IV's oldest son and a 1971 birth, finished his undergraduate studies in the United States and Spain. Kendra Spears, a model who is 24 years old, was introduced to him by Naomi Campbell in 2013. They got married the same year. Kendra changed her name to Princess Salwa after converting to Islam. Prince Hussein, the second son of the Agha Khan, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Williams College. Additionally, he holds a master's in international relations. Hussein wed American Christine White in 2006. Christine became a Muslim as well, receiving the title and name Princess Khalia.
However, in 2011, the couple announced their divorce and Khalia reverted to Christine. The youngest son of the Aga Khan IV, Prince Ali Muhammad, is only 21 years old - he was born on March 7, 2000.
Karim acquired his horse breeding from his father, who passed away in a traffic accident close to Paris. When our father passed away, we (the children) had no idea what to do with our family's hobby—nine sizable thoroughbred horse breeding operations. "Horses have never piqued my curiosity. Due to my ignorance, I stood the risk of damaging this business, which was very tough for me to maintain. Nevertheless, he made the decision to buy out his siblings' interests and work to grow the business. And he was successful! Horses have helped the prince win important races for more than fifty years.
Attending the Prix de Diane in Chantilly is therefore one of the uncommon chances to spot the prince. This award, which was established in 1843, is regarded as one of the most prestigious in France. The Prince's estate at Aiglemont is only a few kilometers away from the event. This honor and Chantilly Racecourse in general certainly wouldn't exist today without the Aga Khan: the Prince has taken over, renovated, and renovated a sizable area of 8,000 hectares. The property is also home to the Château de Chantilly, one of France's most well-known cultural landmarks, in addition to the racetrack.
Karim Aga Khan IV is not affiliated with any political party despite having castles, yachts, private planes, horse farms, a fortune worth billions, and the title of Imam. In his own plane, he spends the most of his time in the air. In 1938, Prince Karim was born in Geneva. He is one of those aristocratic Europeans whose nationality is unclear. He holds a British passport and is partially English. He lists his primary residences as being in Paris and Geneva, specifically his home in the area of Chantilly, which is 40 kilometers north of Paris.
The Aga Khan IV declared that he does not wish to convert anyone to his faith in an interview with La Cohorte magazine."We do not feel that this is necessary. There are certain faiths where conversion is advised. However, we think that everyone has the right to pursue their own interests. "If someone wants to convert to Islam, he may do it in two ways: as a Shia or as an Ismaili, he stated.
On May 25, 1995, Prince Karim Agha Khan IV and his followers in Tajikistan had their first meeting. The Ismaili community's members got the chance to meet the Imam for the first time on that day. Since that time, this day has been observed every year as "Ruzi nur Didor" or "Day of Encounter." The Aga Khan IV is credited with saving the Pamiris in the 1990s. The Aga Khan's humanitarian food assistance during the civil war prevented mass hunger among the residents of Nagorno-Badakhshan.
At the time, an economic embargo was in place in Nagorno-Badakhshan. The sole means of sustenance for the Pamir people was through the food delivery arranged by the Aga Khan IV from Osh, Kyrgyzstan. To every hamlet in Nagorno-Badakhshan, caravans transported tens of thousands of tons of wheat, oil, sugar, powdered milk, rice, and other necessities.
Humanitarian help has been Karim Aga Khan's life's work. His yearly contributions total millions of dollars. The prince's moniker was "The Imam with the Heart of Gold" according to Paris Match magazine. The Aga Khan oversees a vast network of funds and organizations under the Aga Khan Development Network, which collaborates with governments in Asia, Africa, Europe, and North and South America on initiatives in agriculture, health, education, and tourism, among other things.
The Aga Khan Training Centers, Aga Khan Microfinance Agency, Aga Khan Education Services, Aga Khan Foundation for Economic Development, Aga Khan Health, Planning and Construction Services, Aga Khan Trust for Culture, Aga Khan University, and FOCUS Humanitarian Aid are a few of these. This global network of organizations provides humanitarian aid in developing nations during times of crisis. The Aga Khan Foundation member has recently been involved in a number of humanitarian initiatives that have helped millions of people in many nations. No matter a person's race or religion, the foundation will help them. It has offices throughout 18 nations, mostly in Southeast Asia, East and West Africa, Central Asia, and the Middle East.