Aga Khan IV

The Aga Khan Recives the Order of Canada from Governor General Adrienne Clarkson in a ceremony performed at Rideau Hall in 2005. He is referred to by members of his flock as Hazar Imam , or "present Imam". At the age of 20 he succeeded his grandfather, Sultan Mahommed Shah , as Imam. He is a supposed descendant of the Prophet Muhammad through the Prophet's daughter, Fatima , and her husband, Ali , the first Shia Imam . Aga Khan IV is the son of Prince Ali Solomon Khan , ( November 17 , 1911 - May 12 , 1960 ), and his first wife, Hon. Joan Yarde-Buller, daughter of the 3rd Baron Churston , renamed Princess Tadjudowlah, (b. 1908). He was born in Geneva . He spent his early childhood in Nairobi, Kenya , and then attended the Institute Le Rosey in Switzerland . He graduated from Harvard University in 1959 with a BA Honors Degree in Islamic history . Early education included private tutoring, with Prince Sadruddin , by Mustafa Kamil , a scholar from Aligarh Muslim University engaged by his grandfather, Aga Khan III . He married his first wife, former model Sarah Frances (Sally) Crocker-Poole, titled HH Begum Salima , on 22 October 1969 . The marriage, which ended in divorce after 25 years, produced three children. Gabriele zu Leiningen (born in Frankfurt-am-Main on 1 April , 1963 ), in Aiglemont on 30 May , 1998 . From then on, his wife took on the name Begum Inaara . On 8 October , 2004 , an announcement was made that the Aga Khan and she were to seek a divorce. Founded and guided by His Highness the Aga Khan, the Aga Khan Development Network ( AKDN ) brings together a number of development agencies, institutions, and programmes that work primarily in the poorest parts of Asia and Africa. AKDN is a contemporary endeavour of the Ismaili Imamat to realise the social conscience of Islam through institutional action. AKDN agencies conduct their programmes without regard to the faith, origin or gender. The Aga Khan is reported to be among the wealthiest people in the world with a net worth in excess of US$6 billion. Among other interests, he is known for his equestrian pursuits and for success in race horse breeding particularly after acquiring the bulk of the breeding stock from the estate of Marcel Boussac in 1980. He was made an Honorary Companion of the Order of Canada in 2005 . Also, Aga Khan schools are widely known in third world countries such as Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.

Prince Shah Karim Al Hussaini Aga Khan (IV) ( ) ( ) ( Aga Khan is also transliterated as Aqa Khan and Agha Khan ), NPk , NI , KBE , CC , GCC , GCIH , GCM was born on 13 December 1936, in Geneva, Switzerland. He is a British business magnate, racehorse owner and breeder, as well as being the 49th and current Imam of Nizari Ismailism , a denomination of Ismailism within Shia Islam consisting of an estimated 20-30 million adherents (about 20 % of the world's Shia Muslim population). He has held this position of Imam, under the title of Aga Khan IV, since 11 July 1957, when, at the age of 20, he succeeded his grandfather, Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah Aga Khan III . The Aga Khan claims to be a direct descendant of the Islamic prophet Muhammad through Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, Ali , considered the first Imam in Shia Islam, and Ali's wife Fatima az-Zahra , Muhammad’s daughter from his first marriage. In 1986 the Aga Khan ordained the current version of the Ismailia Constitution – an ecclesiastical decree affirming to Nizari Ismailis his "sole right to interpret the Qur'an and provide authoritative guidance on [all] matters of faith" and formalising his sole discretion, power and authority for the governance of Nizari Ismaili jamats (places of worship) and institutions. Forbes describes the Aga Khan as one of the world's ten richest royals with an estimated net worth of US$800 million (2010). Additionally he is unique among the richest royals as he does not rule over a geographic territory. He owns hundreds of racehorses, valuable stud farms, an exclusive yacht club on Sardinia, a private island in the Bahamas , two Bombardier jets, a £100 million high speed yacht named after his prize racehorse, and several estates around the world, with his primary residence at Aiglemont estate in the town of Gouvieux, France, north of Paris. In 2008, the then French President Nicolas Sarkozy pledged that the Aga Khan, a British citizen, would be let off all 'direct taxes, stamp duty, and wealth tax' by the country of France - saving the Aga Khan an amount estimated to be in the billions of Euros. The Aga Khan's philanthropic institutions spend about US$600 million per year – mainly in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Among the goals the Aga Khan has said he works toward are the elimination of global poverty; the promotion and implementation of secular pluralism; the advancement of the status of women; and the honouring of Islamic art and architecture. He is the founder and chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network , one of the largest private development networks in the world. The organisation has said it works toward improvement of the environment, health, education, architecture, culture, microfinance, rural development, disaster reduction, the promotion of private-sector enterprise and the revitalisation of historic cities. Since his ascension to the Imamate of Nizari Ismailis in 1957, the Aga Khan has been involved in complex political and economic changes which have affected his Nizari Ismaili followers, including the independence of African countries from colonial rule, expulsion of Asians from Uganda , the independence of Central Asian countries such as Tajikistan from the former Soviet Union and the continuous turmoil in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Aga Khan IV became the first faith leader to address the Joint Session of the Canadian Parliament on 27 February 2014. The Ismailis: Their History and Doctrines (2nd edition) . The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life . Attention: This template ( ) is deprecated. To cite the publication identified by jstor: 3628938, please use with | jstor = 3628938 instead. Attention: This template ( ) is deprecated. The Wall Street Journal . "Daily Mail - Sarkozy 'exonerated' billionaire Aga Khan from paying tax, corruption inquiry hears" . (23 November 2008) Aga Khan holds up Canada as model for the world .

Prince Shāh Karim al-Husayni , known as His Highness the Aga Khan outside Ismaili Muslim communities, and by the religious title Mawlana Hazar Imam to Ismaili communities, KBE , CC ( ; ; ; Aga Khan is also transliterated as Aqa Khan and Agha Khan ; born 13 December 1936) is the 49th and current Imam of Nizari Ismailism , a denomination of Isma'ilism within Shia Islam with an estimated 15 million adherents (10–12% of the world's Shia Muslim population). The Aga Khan is a business magnate with British and Portuguese citizenship , as well as a racehorse owner and breeder. He has held this position of Imam, under the title of Aga Khan IV, since 11 July 1957, when, at the age of 20, he succeeded his grandfather, Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah Aga Khan III . It is believed that the Aga Khan is a direct lineal descendant of the Islamic prophet Muhammad through Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, Ali , considered the first Imam in Shia Islam, and Ali's wife Fatima az-Zahra , Muhammad's daughter from his first marriage. Aga Khan's net worth has been estimated to be at $13 billion. Forbes describes the Aga Khan as one of the world's fifteen richest royals. Additionally he is unique among the richest royals as he does not rule over a geographic territory. Among the goals the Aga Khan has said he works toward are the elimination of global poverty; the promotion and implementation of religious pluralism; the advancement of the status of women; and the honoring of Islamic art and architecture . He is the founder and chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network , one of the largest private development networks in the world. The organisation works toward improvement of the environment, health, education, architecture, culture, microfinance , rural development, disaster reduction, the promotion of private-sector enterprise and the revitalisation of historic cities. Since his ascension to the Imamate of the Nizari Ismailis in 1957, the Aga Khan has been involved in complex political and economic changes which have affected his followers, including the independence of African countries from colonial rule, the expulsion of Asians from Uganda , the independence of Central Asian countries such as Tajikistan from the former Soviet Union and the continuous turmoil in Afghanistan and Pakistan . Aga Khan IV became the first faith leader to address the Joint Session of the Parliament of Canada on 27 February 2014. "1957 Aga Khan IV Ceremonial Installation: Presentation of "Sword of Justice" Signified Ismaili Imam's Role as "Defender of Faith" " . The Ismailis: Their History and Doctrines (2nd edition) . The New York Times . The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life .

49th Imam of the Ismaili (born 1936) Shah Karim al-Husayni ( ; born 13 December 1936), known by the religious title Mawlānā Hazar Imam by his Ismaili followers and elsewhere as Aga Khan IV , is the 49th and current Imam of Nizari Ismailis . He has held the position of imam and the title of Aga Khan since 11 July 1957, when, at the age of 20, he succeeded his grandfather, Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah Aga Khan III . The Aga Khan claims direct lineal descent from the Islamic prophet Muhammad through Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, Ali , who is considered an imam by Nizari Ismailis , and Ali's wife Fatima , Muhammad's daughter from his first marriage. His grandfather, Aga Khan III, states in his memoirs that the Shias had a "need (for) Divine guidance" after the Prophet of Islam's death, this need being fulfilled by the Imamate. According to the Aga Khan III as mentioned in his memoirs, he has actual "Divine power, guidance, and leadership (authority)." The Institution of Imamate has continued to present day with the Aga Khan IV as the 49th Imam of the Ismaili Community. The Aga Khan is a business magnate with British and Portuguese citizenship , as well as a racehorse owner and breeder. Aga Khan's net worth has been estimated at $13.3 billion. Forbes describes the Aga Khan as one of the world's fifteen richest royals. He is the founder and chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network , one of the largest private development networks in the world. Since his ascension to the Imamate of the Nizari Ismailis in 1957, the Aga Khan has been involved in complex political and economic changes which have affected his followers, including the independence of African countries from colonial rule, the expulsion of Asians from Uganda , the independence of Central Asian countries such as Tajikistan from the former Soviet Union and the continuous turmoil in Afghanistan and Pakistan . Aga Khan IV became the first faith leader to address the Joint Session of the Parliament of Canada on 27 February 2014. "1957 Aga Khan IV Ceremonial Installation: Presentation of "Sword of Justice" Signified Ismaili Imam's Role as "Defender of Faith" " .

49th Imam of Nizari Isma'ilism from 1957 to 2025 Prince Karim al-Husseini (13 December 1936 – 4 February 2025), known as the Aga Khan IV , was the 49th imam of Nizari Isma'ilism from 1957 until his death in 2025. He inherited the Nizari imamate and the title of Aga Khan at the age of 20 upon the death of his grandfather, the Aga Khan III . During his imamate, he was also known by the religious title Mawlānā Hazar Imam by his Isma'ili followers. Al-Husseini's net worth was estimated at over US$13.3 billion by Vanity Fair in 2013. Forbes included al-Husseini in its list of the world’s fifteen richest royals, though he held no political sovereignty or territorial authority. The designation referred to his hereditary role as Imam of the Nizari Ismailis, not to any formal royal or monarchical status. He was the founder and chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network , one of the largest private development networks in the world. Al-Husseini was a business magnate with citizenship of the UK, France, Switzerland, Portugal and Canada (honorary) as well as a racehorse owner and breeder. "1957 Aga Khan IV Ceremonial Installation: Presentation of "Sword of Justice" Signified Ismaili Imam's Role as "Defender of Faith" " . His Highness the Aga Khan's interview with Henri Weill; translated from La Cohorte 2019-01-29 – website of the First Ismaili Electronic Library and Database Meeting with Aga Khan IV, Prince Karim al-Husseini, 10:15AM – website of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum Who is Prince Karim Al Husseini Aga Khan? – website of ABC News Canada's Trudeau broke ethics rules with visit to Aga Khan island – website of Reuters "His Highness the Aga Khan" . The New York Times . There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or templates on this page, but the references will not show without a template or template (see the help page ).