Rahim Aga Khan is the 50th Ismaili Imam simerg

His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan is enthroned as the 50th Ismaili Imam in a beautiful ceremony in Lisbon: Ismailis give the new Imam their oath of allegiance

Aga Khan Robe Barakah textual and visual expressions
The khilat (robe) worn by the three Imams in recent Ismaili history. L to R: Red robe worn by the 48th Imam, Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan III; the khilat then passed to his successor 49th Imam Mawlana Shah Karim Aga Khan IV, who wore it for 50 years before his Golden Jubilee in 2007 when it was replaced with a white robe with golden embroidery; the 50th Imam, Mawlana Shah Rahim, wore his late father’s Khilat for the first time on his Takht-nishini on February 11, 2025. Photo collage: Malik Merchant / Barakah.
Rahim Aga Khan signs the Ismaili Constitution under his name, Barakah dedicated to the Aga Khan
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan, signs the Ismaili Constitution in his name at the Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat, the Headquarters of the Imamat in Lisbon on the historic occasion of his Takht-nishini (ceremonial installation), February 11, 2025. Photograph: Akbar Hakim / The Ismaili.
Rahim Aga Khan signing the Ismaili Constitution under his name
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan, addresses his worldwide followers in a live address on the momentous occasion of his Takht-nishini or ceremonial installation at the Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat. Ismailis gathered in their respective Jamatkhanas and watched the ceremony as their National Council leaders represented them in the presence of the Imam to give their Imam the oath of allegiance; February 11, 2025. Photograph: Akbar Hakim / The Ismaili.

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Barakah: A Dedication to His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan, the 49th Hereditary Spiritual Leader of the Ismaili Muslims

Barakah meaning Barakah.com and Simerg.com
Barakah logo
Yasmin Aga Khan, Ismaili Imam and Manmohan Singh
Princess Yasmin Aga Khan addresses a Gala event to raise funds for Alzheimer’s Association and Late Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (d. December 27, 2024) receives His Highness the Aga Khan in 2013. Please click on image for link to these and other stories on Barakah.com
Aga Khan Garden Edmonton Nurin Merchant simerg news
Aga Khan Garden, University of Alberta Botanic Garden, Parkland County, Alberta. Photograph: Nurin Merchant/Simerg. For stories and photographs about the Garden and other travel narratives, please visit Simergphotos.

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Ismaili Center Centre Houston Simerg
The Ismaili Center Houston is under construction and is scheduled to be completed in late 2025. Image: Imara Houston Inc. /IPL via The Ismaili (the official website of the worldwide Ismaili community

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The Preamble of the New Ismaili Constitution Defines the Principle of Succession and the Authority and Role of the Ismaili Imam

Ismaili Constitution Imamat Aga Khan, Simerg
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, is seen signing a new constitution for the worldwide Ismaili community on his 50th birthday, December 13, 1986. Beside him is the flag of the Ismaili Imamat, bearing his crest in the centre.
Aga Khan III Simerg and Barakah

Aga Khan III: The Imam of the Socio-Economic Revolution – Glimpses from His Life

Aga Khan III Simerg Imam of the Socio Economic Revolution
Cover page of Simerg’s publication The Imam of the Socio-Economic Revolution. Please click on the image to download the PDF file.

Utah’s Andrew Kosorok reflects on the Aga Khan: “Not all heroes wear capes,” and other articles

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Video: Learning about His Highness the Aga Khan and the Ismaili Imamat, where each Imam-of-the-Time is a Guiding Light to his followers

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(I) Social Justice Concerns About the Aga Hall Project in Mumbai; and (II) Sad Observations by a Canadian Ismaili Visitor to India

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Aga Hall Towers
Aga Hall Towers, Mumbai, India, centre of photo.

  • What impact will the seeming turnaround have on the way Ismailis conceptualize some of their fundamental values?
  • How will those who are feeling disaffected with the community’s institutions respond?

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Cover page, Aga Hall brochure.

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Page 26, Aga Hall brochure.

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Institute of Ismaili Studies inaugural alumni award to Karim H Karim
Professor Karim H. Karim delivering his remarks on March 23, 2024, at the Ismaili Centre in London upon being presented the Institute of Ismaili Studies inaugural Alumni Recognition Award. Photograph: Institute of Ismaili Studies/via Karim H. Karim.

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  1. Aga Khan Agency for Habitat. (2023). Aga Khan Agency for Habitat. AKDN.
  2. Aga Hall Estate. (No date). The Aga Hall Estate, Mumbai (brochure). Aga Hall Estate.
  3. AKDN. (May 28, 2014). Aga Hall Estate Redevelopment Project: Design Report. AKDN/Stantec.
  4. American Ismaili Chamber of Commerce. (Nov 11, 2021). The Aga Hall Estate project, Mumbai, India.
  5. Charania, Shahnaz. (April 11, 2018). The Heritage Walk. The Ismaili India.
  6. Das, Basudha (2023, Feb 15). Mumbai leaves Delhi behind, ranks as world’s second-most polluted cityBusiness Today (Noida, India). 
  7. Karim H. Karim. (2022, Nov. 23). Contemporary Nizari Thought’s Pragmatic Turn and the Centrality of Ethics. Ismaili Studies Conference: State of the Field. Institute of Ismaili Studies. London, UK.
  8. Karim H. Karim. (2014). The Aga Khan Development Network: Shia Ismaili Islam. In Stephen M. Cherry and Helen Rose Ebaugh (Eds.), Global Religious Movements Across Borders. London: Ashgate Publishers.
  9. Simerg (2010, August 26). “Bombay…. has very close associations with my family.” Mawlana Hazar Imam Takht Nashini speech.
  10. Edge. (2023). The Aga Hall Estate.
  11. IICanada. (Sept 7, 2023).  Aga Hall Estate Redevelopment Information Sessions
  12. Ini Design Studio. (2023). The Aga Hall Estate Redevelopment Plan.
  13. Institute of Ismaili Studies. (2000). Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN): An Ethical Framework.
  14. The Ismaili. (Feb 14, 2022). Aga Hall Estate: A gift from the past that gives into the future.
  15. The Ismaili. (March 3, 2024). Aga Hall Estate awarded Iconic Residential Project of the Year.
  16. Lakhani, Ali. (2018). Faith and Ethics: The Vision of the Ismaili Imamat, London: I.B. Tauris / IIS
  17. Kurwa, Aziz R. (Sept. 11. 2021). Happy Days in HasanabadSimerg.
  18. Thakkar, Mehul. (Oct 31, 2022). Aga Khan Development Network to Invest Rs. 2,000 Crore on Luxury Development Project in South Mumbai. Money Control. 
  19. Vellani, Shams. (2020.) People of Faith: Essays on a Historical and Contemporary Profile of the Ismailis. London: IB Tauris / IIS.

Ismaili Community Presents Aga Khan with Unique Gift from 18th Century, and Canadian Leaders Honour Him on His 67th Imamat Day

A large audience, including Ismaili leaders and Canadian politicians, stands and applauds in a formal legislative chamber during a significant event recognizing His Highness the Aga Khan on his anniversary as the Ismaili Imam.
His Highness the Aga Khan delivers a historic address to a joint session of the Parliament of Canada on January 27, 2014, at the invitation of the then Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

July 11, 2024: Ismaili Muslims Celebrate 67th Imamat Day of His Highness the Aga Khan

His Highness the Aga Khan, Mawlana Hazar Imam
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, 49th Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, pictured at the Diamond Jubilee Darbar in Kenya. Photo: The Ismaili.
Aga Khan Imamat Day Calligraphy by Karim Ismaili for simerg and barakah
Calligraphy to commemorate the 67th Imamat Day of His Highness the Aga Khan, Mawlana Shah Karim Al Hussaini Hazar Imam. The Quranic verse “Wa Kulla Sha’in Ahsainahu fee Imamim-Mubeen” is in cursive script with the border top and bottom “Shah Karim” in eastern Kufi. Calligraphy and design by Karim Ismail, Toronto, Canada.

Exclusive: A Painting of the 49th Hereditary Ismaili Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, for His 67th Imamat Day

Take Me Away by Shafina Jaffer, Coronation of King Charless III
Take Me Away by Shafina Jaffer. Medium: Oil on canvas. Size: 200 x 80 cm (78.7 x 31.5 in). This painting was projected on the facade of Windsor Castle during the Coronation Concert honouring the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla, on May 7, 2023. Shafina presented the original painting to Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, for the auspicious occasion of Navroz, March 21, 2024. Photograph: Shafina Jaffer collection.
Portrairt painting of the 49th Ismaili Imam, Aga Khan, Barakah, Textual and Visual Expressions.
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, by Shafina Jaffer. Medium: Oil, Gold and Charcoal; Size: 42 x 32 cm.  Original photograph for painting: Gary Otte (cover page and page 121 of Depth of Field: The Aga Khan Beyond the Lens).

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