Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, Aga Khan IV, the 49th spiritual leader of the Ismaili community, was laid to rest in a private burial ceremony on Sunday in Aswan, Egypt. He was interred next to his grandfather, Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, in a mausoleum that will serve as his temporary resting place until a new one is constructed nearby.
Aga Khan IV, who passed away in Lisbon on Wednesday at the age of 88, was mourned by his community worldwide. Following his death, his son, Prince Rahim al-Hussaini Aga Khan V, was named the 50th spiritual leader of the Ismaili community, as per the will left by his late father.
A funeral ceremony was held on Saturday at the Ismaili Centre in Lisbon, with over 300 guests in attendance, including prominent figures like Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, former Spanish King Juan Carlos I, and Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb. The private event was also attended by leaders from the Ismaili community, family members, and various dignitaries.
The ceremony was broadcast live on Ismaili TV, allowing Ismaili followers worldwide to participate and pay their respects. Community centers and Jamaat Khanas were set up globally, with many Ismailis in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region gathering in places like Gilgit, Hunza, and Ghizer to watch the service together.
The Ismaili community, with around 15 million followers worldwide, has been led by a living hereditary Imam for over 1,400 years.
