By MALIK MERCHANT

For the past 24 hours, Ismaili Muslims worldwide have been united in a profound sense of loss over the death of their 49th beloved Imam, Mawlana Shah Karim Al Hussaini, His Highness the Aga Khan. His passing on February 4, 2025, in Lisbon at the age of 88 has brought the community of twelve million together in collective grief.

During this moment of sadness, the famous tradition (Hadith) of the Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him and his family) and the Qur’anic verses which follow have been comforting factors, while the Ismaili community awaited the announcement of who had been designated to continue the Hereditary Imamat:

“I am leaving behind me two things: the Book and my Progeny. If you hold fast to them, you will never go astray”

and the Quranic verses (3:33-34):

“Verily, God did choose Adam and Noah, the progeny of Abraham, and the progeny of Imran above all the worlds, descendants, one from the other: And God heareth and knoweth all things”

We have learnt with deep happiness that the late 49th Imam, Mawlana Shah Karim, has designated, through the Nass, Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan V, as our beloved 50th Imam. A press release (PDF format) dated February 5 2025 issued in Lisbon by the Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat says:

“Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan V was today named the 50th hereditary Imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, following the unsealing of the Will of his late father, Prince Karim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan IV, who died in Lisbon, Portugal yesterday, aged 88. Prince Rahim Aga Khan V is a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny) through his daughter, Hazrat Bibi Fatima, and the Prophet’s cousin and son-in-law, Hazrat Ali, the fourth Rightly Guided Caliph of Islam and the first Shia Imam.

“Throughout their 1,400 year history, the Ismailis have been led by a living, hereditary Imam. The Ismailis live in over 35 countries and number approximately 12 to 15 million.”

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We congratulate our (new) Hazar Imam, Prince Rahim, on becoming our 50th Imam and pledge our loyalty to him, as we had to Mawlana Shah Karim during his 67 glorious years of Imamat. We also congratulate his entire family on this historic news.

We congratulate Ismailis worldwide on Prince Rahim’s appointment as our 50th Imam. We are now under his loving care and protection, as we were in Mawlana Shah Karim’s throughout his Imamat.

The Diwan has issued a brief biography (PDF format) of Prince Rahim.

As readers of Simerg’s sister website, Barakah, know, our birthday tributes to Prince Rahim have provided comprehensive and in-depth coverage of his life. We invite our readers to click on Prince Rahim Aga Khan: Part 1, the First 50 Years (1971-2021) and then proceed to Prince Rahim Aga Khan: Part 2 (2022 – 2024) to further enrich their knowledge about our 50th Imam.

Once again, we express our shukrana to Mawlana Hazar Imam on his appointment as our beloved 50th Imam. We look forward to being his devoted and beloved Spiritual Children and holding firm to the Rope of Imamat.

Date posted: February 5, 2025.

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