Prepared and compiled by MALIK MERCHANT
The 49th Ismaili Imam, Mawlana Shah Karim, His Highness the Aga Khan (December 13, 1936 – February 4, 2025), was on Sunday, February 9, 2025, laid to rest at a private burial ceremony in Aswan, Egypt, in the mausoleum of his grandfather, Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah.
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His successor, Mawlana Shah Rahim, the 50th Imam, and his family were present, together with the Ismaili Jamat senior leaders. The burial follows the funeral ceremony on February 8 at the Ismaili Centre Lisbon (see our coverage of the funeral ceremony with my personal reflections HERE.)
Major General Dr Ismail Kamal, the Governor of Aswan, who had welcomed Mawlana Hazar Imam a day earlier, facilitated and participated in a dignified procession through the city to the banks of the River Nile.
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Mawlana Shah Karim’s casket was transferred by boat in a ceremonial crossing to the mausoleum of his predecessor, 48th Imam, Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, who wanted to be buried in Aswan.
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Mawlana Shah Rahim and his family and residents of Aswan participate in a dignified procession through the city of Aswan to the banks of the River Nile, February 9, 2025. Photograph: AKDN.
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Prince Rahim Aga Khan V and his family accompanied by the Governor of Aswan, transferring the casket of the late Prince Karim Aga Khan IV across the River Nile, Aswan, Egypt, February 9, 2025. Photograph: Akbar Hakim / IPL.
The janaza (casket) was carried by hand to the hilltop mausoleum. Mawlana Shah Karim’s body has been laid to rest in the mausoleum next to his grandfather until a new one is constructed as his final resting place on land adjacent to the existing structure.
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The casket of the late Prince Karim Aga Khan IV being carried by hand to the mausoleum of Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan III, visible in the background, Aswan, Egypt, February 9, 2025. Photograph: Akbar Hakim / IPL
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Casket of the late Prince Karim Aga Khan IV entering the mausoleum of his grandfather Aga Khan III where he was interred, Aswan, Egypt, 9 February 2025. Photograph: Akbar Hakim / IPL.
After the ceremony, the leaders present had the opportunity to express condolences to the family, and the Governor of Aswan presented Mawlana Hazar Imam with a symbolic key to the City of Aswan as a mark of respect (see following Tweet).
External coverage: Please click on the following links for more coverage of the burial in Aswan:
- AKDN: Aga Khan IV laid to rest in Aswan
- Associated Press: Aga Khan, the leader of Ismaili Muslims, was laid to rest in Egypt during a private burial ceremony (report, 7 photos and video link at the bottom left on the first photo or watch YouTube video)
- Nation: His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV laid to rest in Aswan, Egypt | Nation
- Lancashire Telegraph: Aga Khan laid to rest in Egypt in private ceremony
- The Ismaili: Mawlana Shah Karim laid to rest (report and 14 photographs)
- AP video/Radwan Abu Al Majd (see below): A burial service for Aga Khan IV, the 49th hereditary imam of the Shiite Ismaili Muslims, was held in the southern Egyptian province of Aswan on Sunday. After a procession through the streets, his body was carried down the Nile in a white boat.
Date posted: February 10, 2025.
Last updated: February 10, 2025 (, 01:35 PM, added Tweet on Key of Aswan granted to Prince Rahim).
Note: A version of this piece has been posted on Simerg’s sister website, Barakah.com.
Correction: A typo in the title of the original version of this post, which mentioned Highness the Aga Khan as the 47th Ismaili Imam, has been corrected. He was the 49th Imam.
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