Jabal Mashhad in Salamiyya, Syria, is thought to hold the tomb of the 8th Ismaili Imam Wafi Ahmed. Photo: Henna Budhwani

Visitors looking into one of the tunnels in the Maqam al Imam in Syria. The Maqam is thought to hold the tombs of Imams Taqi Muhammad, Radi Abdullah, and, some also say, Imam Ismail.On occasions when soldiers threatened, the Imams were whisked up via underground tunnels. There is a famous story of Ismaili fidais claiming to be the Imam and risking arrest in order to confuse and delay the soldiers, giving the Imam time to flee. Photo: Arif Babul, Vancouver. Copyright.

Ruins of Fatimid Fortification, Mahdiya, Tunisia. Photo credit: Glyn Willett, UK. Virtual Tourist. Copyright

The ruins of the Ajdabiyah Fortress Palace. It is believed to have been a place where Imam al-Muizz rested during his journey to Cairo in 972 AC. Photo: http://www.Temehu.com.

Al-Kahf Castle in Syria was Rashid al-Din Sinan’s preferred residence. It was located deep in the forests of Jabal Bahra. The castle was 500 metres long and 40 metres wide and was divided into four self-contained sections. The ruins still show the existence of seven water cisterns and a well-preserved and intricately designed bath-house. The Ismailis held the castle until around July 1273 when it felt to the Mamluks. Photo: Arif Babul, Vancouver. Copyright

A large tree spreads its shadows ouside the mausoleum of Pir Sadr al-Din. Photo: Malik Mirza. Copyright.

Mausoleum of Imam Shah Hasanali Shah, Aga Khan I, in Hasanabad, Mumbai. Photo Credit: Mr. Shaukat Chandani.

August 10, 1921: Sir Sultan Mohamed Shah Aga Khan III, 48th Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, who was granted the rank and status of first class chief with a salute of 11 guns in recognition of loyal service during the First World War is pictured on holiday at Deauville, France. Picture by: PA/PA Archive/Press Association Images. Copyright.

Father and son present themselves humbly and pay their respects to Prince Aly Khan during a Jamati mulaqat in Nagpur. The Prince undertook many missions on behalf of Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah. The Prince’s warmth, affection and care for the murids of Imam-e-Zaman is clearly manifest in this photo. Photo: Samsu Jalali Collection, Atlanta, Georgia.

A portrait of His Highness the Aga Khan. Photo: Jehangir Merchant collection.

A portrait of His Highness the Aga Khan taken in Pakistan in 1976. Photo: Ilm Supplement, 1976

His Highness the Aga Khan being respectfully greeted by Ramzanali Kassam at a public function held in Nairobi, Kenya. The exact date of this photo is not known but it appears to be from the late 1950's or very early 1960's. Nashir Kassam Collection. Copyright.

An interior section of the Kampala Jamatkhana as photographed in 1982. The Imam's chair is poised on a platform of the "My Flag" shield that used to adorn the "taak" (arch) entrance. Photo: Vali Jamal. Copyright.

The emblem of the Aga Khan Health Services. The symbol represents health care and compassion. The crescent is an ancient icon which, when used in red, has become the equivalent of the International Red Cross. The three-crescent design in its simple, poetic form creates an internal space symbolising how institutions and programmes using the symbol surround, attend and care for those in need. Photo: Flickr photostream prondis_in_kenya. Copyright: Isabelle Prondzynski

“The Majestic Horse” by Hamida Madhani. Copyright.

An Ismaili elder in Tashkorgan, China, radiantly displays a photo of His Highness the Aga Khan.

"The closer you come the more you will see him." A pixel sample from His Highness the Aga Khan's digital portrait shown below. Copyright: Akber Kanji.

This digital portrait by Akber Kanji is composed of hundreds of images reflecting the Imamat of His Highness the Aga Khan through his numerous activities and projects. Image: Akbar Kanji. Copyright

Monday June 30, 2008. His Highness the Aga Khan with his daughter Princess Zahra before he was honoured by the National University of Ireland, Maynooth for his work against poverty and in promoting religious understanding. Picture by: Niall Carson/PA Archive/Press Association Images. Copyright.

A halo from the construction site of the new Ismaili Jamatkhana and the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto. Photo: Jim Bowie, Toronto.