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Prince Aga Khan: Aga Khan, the religious and spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims, has passed away at the age of 88. He was the 49th hereditary Imam of Ismaili Muslims, his family history dates back to Prophet Muhammad. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also expressed grief over the demise of Aga Khan IV.
Aga Khan’s real name was Karim al-Husseini. The Aga Khan Foundation has informed that His Highness Prince Karim al-Husseini passed away on February 4, 2025 at the age of 88. He said goodbye to the world in the presence of his family in Lisbon, Portugal. Aga Khan devoted his life to improving the lives of not only the Ismaili community but also people around the world. His successor has not yet been announced. Let us tell you that Aga Khan has three sons and a daughter.
PM Modi has also paid tribute to the demise of Aga Khan. PM Modi shared pictures with him and said, “Deeply saddened by the demise of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan. He was a visionary who dedicated his life to service and spirituality. His contributions in areas such as health, education, rural development and women’s empowerment will continue to inspire many. I will always cherish my conversations with him. My heartfelt condolences to his family and his millions of followers and fans around the world.”
Let us tell you that Aga Khan IV was given its highest honors by many countries of the world. The Government of India also honored Karim Aga Khan with its second highest civilian award Padma Vibhushan.
Born in Geneva, became Imam at the age of 20
Prince Karim Aga Khan was born on 13 December 1936 in Geneva, Switzerland. He became Imam in the year 1957 at the age of just 20. His grandfather chose him instead of his father Prince Ali Khan. He believed that a youth leader is needed for the modern world. Even though people saw him as a spiritual leader, he never said that he had any divine powers. Instead, he focused on helping his followers with religious teachings and life decisions.
Founded AKDN in 1967
Not only this, Aga Khan was also fond of horse racing and owned the finest horses, including Shergar, which was stolen in 1983 and never found. According to a Times Now report, Aga Khan’s net worth was around $13.3 billion, which came from family inheritance, horse breeding business and various personal investments. Apart from personal property, he founded the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in 1967, a charity focused on improving life in developing countries.
Had close ties with the British royal family
Aga Khan married former British model Sarah Francis Crocker Poole in 1969, with whom he had three children. However, the two separated in 1995. Three years later, he married a German princess, Inara Aga Khan, with whom he had a son. Aga Khan’s strong ties with Britain earned him British citizenship. He later developed close ties with British royalty, including King Charles, Queen Elizabeth, Prince William and Kate Middleton.
His contributions led to the creation of the Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture at both Harvard and MIT. The Aga Khan Award was created to honor talented people for architecture that helps improve the lives of people in Muslim communities around the world.
The horse was stolen and never found
One of Aga Khan’s most famous horses was Shergar, who won the Epsom Derby in 1981. Two years later, it was stolen. IRA members demanded two million euros for its release and said they would get it back. Despite negotiations, the horse was never returned. Despite this loss, Aga Khan continued the horse breeding business.
