On Sunday, Prince Karim al-Hussaini Aga Khan IV, the 49th hereditary Imam of the Ismaili community, was buried in a private ceremony in Aswan, Egypt. His casket was carried through the city in a formal procession, with the Governor of Aswan overseeing the journey to the River Nile.
In a traditional tribute, his casket was transported by boat across the Nile to the mausoleum of Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah. From there, it was carried by hand to the hilltop mausoleum, where he was laid to rest. Prince Rahim Aga Khan, his family and senior members of the community attended the burial.
After the ceremony, leaders expressed condolences. The Governor of Aswan presented Prince Rahim with a symbolic key to the city. It was also announced that a new mausoleum would be built nearby as Prince Karim’s final resting place.
Prince Karim passed away in Lisbon, Portugal, at 88. His funeral was held a day earlier and attended by dignitaries, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Spain’s King Emeritus Juan Carlos.
Read More: Prince Rahim is Named the Next Aga Khan
The Legacy
The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) confirmed that Prince Rahim Aga Khan had succeeded him as the 50th hereditary Imam, as stated in his will, which was read before his family and senior community members.
Prince Karim was born in Switzerland, raised in Nairobi, and studied at Harvard University. He became Imam in 1957 at just 20 years old, following the death of his grandfather, Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan III. Throughout his life, he was known for his humanitarian efforts in Asia and Africa through AKDN.
He received 44 international awards, including honorary Canadian citizenship and the UN Champion for Global Change Award. He also earned 24 honorary degrees from Harvard, Cambridge, and McGill. In Pakistan, he was honoured with the Nishan-i-Imtiaz in 1970 and the Nishan-i-Pakistan in 1983 for contributing to the country’s development.
Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more news and updates