Khalifa Karim Aga Khan, Spiritual Leader of the Ismailis, Passes Away at 88 in Lisbon

Karim Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Ismailis, passed away on Tuesday, February 5, at the age of 88 in Lisbon, Portugal, surrounded by his family. The "Aga Khan Development Network" described the passing of Karim Aga Khan IV as "peaceful and in the presence of his family" and noted: "His Highness Prince Karim al-Husseini, Aga Khan IV, the forty-ninth hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Shia Muslims and a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad, passed away at the age of 88 in Lisbon." The "Aga Khan Development Network," founded by Karim Aga Khan, announced in its statement that his successor would be introduced soon. The organization also expressed condolences to the Aga Khan family and the global Ismaili community, emphasizing: "We honor the legacy of Prince Karim Aga Khan and will continue our efforts to improve the quality of life for individuals and communities around the world, regardless of religion or ethnicity." Aga Khan IV was appointed as the Imam of the Ismailis in 1957 at the age of 20. Despite staying away from media controversies, he led approximately 12 million followers of Ismailism. Some of his followers considered him a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. With a fortune exceeding £11 billion, he was a close friend of Queen Elizabeth II, who conferred upon him the title of "Your Highness" upon his appointment as the leader of the Ismailis. In 1967, Aga Khan established the Aga Khan Development Network, which consists of several international development agencies employing 80,000 staff, working on building schools and hospitals and providing electricity for millions in the poorest regions of Africa and Asia. He also integrated his development activities with private businesses; for example, he owned a pharmaceutical company, a bank, and a fishing net factory in Uganda.