By MALIK MERCHANT

Introduction

In Part 1 of this two-part series on Mawlana Shah Karim Shah, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, we aimed to provide a comprehensive pictorial overview of his leadership from 1957 to 1999. We relied extensively on pictorial coverage in Ismaili magazines, family archives, and photo pieces we have received over the years from families and individuals worldwide. Notable projects among others included the development of educational, religious, and cultural institutions and programs; health initiatives; community and Imamat development infrastructure; and the alignment of Ismaili institutions worldwide under a new Ismaili constitution, all of which illustrate Mawlana Shah Karim’s multifaceted leadership.

With the advent of the internet, information about Mawlana Shah Karim’s projects and travels around the world became more accessible and faster. However, the amount of material is substantial and overwhelming, and publishing electronically means you are constantly tempted to keep adding more and more material to your story. The breadth and scope of Mawlana Shah Karim’s travels to oversee his Jamats’ material and spiritual well-being, to establish new connections with his Jamat, and to implement new projects and agreements with governmental and private organizations while managing earlier initiatives, as illustrated in Part 1, could fill volumes upon volumes of books.

We now invite readers to explore Part 2, which builds on Part 1 and offers rich insights into Mawlana Shah Karim’s exceptional leadership and influence in the 21st century, between 2000 and his death on February 4, 2025. Again, the focus will be on similar themes we covered previously. Still, the world lived through the COVID-19 pandemic, and he was there to guide us through the crisis by remaining engaged with the community with timely guidance and inspirational blessings. His phenomenal accomplishments through his broad and impactful projects should inspire admiration and respect, showing how his efforts uplifted communities and created lasting institutions for future generations. Recognizing his many projects — a goal of the series — can inspire a deeper appreciation for his dedication and vision, and encourage us to delve into them and learn more about his inspiring life.

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The Imamat is a timeless institution, as noted by Mawlana Hazar Imam Shah Rahim al Hussaini Aga Khan in Paris: “There is always an Imam to guide the Jamat.” This underscores how each Imam builds on the achievements of their predecessors, fostering respect and admiration for the historical development of this Divine Institution. This idea of the timeless hereditary institution — or the everlasting Rope of Imamat — is supported by the Holy Qur’an, the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad, Ismaili history, and the teachings of the Imams since Hazrat Ali. Each Imam builds on the achievements of their predecessors, illustrating ongoing progress.

For example, Mawlana Shah Karim oversaw the completion of the Platinum Jubilee Hospital in Nairobi, a project still under development when he became Imam in 1957, fulfilling a vision of his predecessor, Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah. This highlights the enduring legacy that continues to inspire us. Similarly, his successor, Mawlana Shah Rahim Hazar Imam, completed and inaugurated the Ismaili Center in Houston on November 6. During his visit to Paris in July, he mentioned fulfilling Mawlana Shah Karim’s wish for an Ismaili Centre in the city, reinforcing a shared purpose and legacy he had inherited.

Part 2 begins with the joyful birth of Prince Aly Muhammad. This moment filled our hearts with happiness. A few months later, however, the passing of Mata Salamat deeply touched the Jamat and many others, especially in Egypt. Another death in the family occurred in 2003, when Mawlana Shah Karim’s uncle Prince Sadruddin passed away.

We have highlighted in chronological order, year by year, the accomplishments and events related to Mawlana Shah Karim’s life, culminating in his passing, funeral, and burial, which symbolize a vital transition in our history, marked by the succession of his son, Prince Rahim Aga Khan, as the 50th Imam, and thus Mawlana Hazar Imam.

We finish the piece with Mawlana Hazar Imam’s recent visit to Houston, a milestone that fulfilled his father’s vision of creating an iconic Ismaili Center for the Jamat of Texas, the USA, and all Ismailis who will cherish this landmark in the years to come. The Center also encourages all Houstonians — and visitors to Houston — to participate in its cultural and educational programs, verandas, and outdoor spaces, nurturing community pride and a shared sense of belonging across all communities.

Both Parts 1 and 2 on Mawlana Shah Karim will remain works in progress. We will also strive to prepare an excellent, well-formatted downloadable PDF combining the two parts in the near future.

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2000

FRANCE
Birth of Prince Aly Muhammad: Official photo

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FRANCE
Passing: Begum Mata Salamat

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MONTREAL
Aga Khan IV at funeral of Pierre Trudeau

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WASHINGTON D.C.
Aga Khan IV at White House Conference on Culture

More reading: Please read our comprehensive report and watch the conference video HERE.

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2001

WASHINGTON D.C.
Aga Khan IV addresses the Association of American Universities

“It is an honour to be invited to address such a distinguished assemblage of educators. If IQ could be converted into kilowatts, I have no doubt that the quantum massed here tonight would meet the world’s energy requirements for at least a decade….By a quirk of nature, although I was born right-handed, I had the good fortune to come into this world left-footed. Soccer players who could kick with their left foot were very rare in the United States in those days. This meant that I was able to make the Freshman Soccer Team as the left wing…” — His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, April 22, 2001. Read this delightful and insightful speech HERE.

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TANZANIA
Aga Khan IV signs Agreement of Co-operation

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ALEPPO, SYRIA
Aga Khan IV attends Aga Khan Award for Architecture Ceremony

“A bustan whose glory would stem from the value and legitimacy of the pluralism of the infinite manifestations of culture in the human community.” Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, used the metaphor of an orchard to symbolize the intellectual space that offers hope and optimism in the face of “the many issues and pressures facing Islamic countries and communities” as he presided over the 8th cycle of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture ceremony in Aleppo, Syria. Read the report HERE.

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2002

OTTAWA
Aga Khan IV meets Prime Minister Chretien

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UGANDA
Aga Khan IV and President Museveni discuss AKDN progress

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Aga Khan IV visits Uganda Aga Khan Schools Campus

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WASHINGTON D.C.
Aga Khan IV at the Smithsonian Folklife Silk Roads Festival

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Read Barakah’s report and Mawlana Shah Karim’s remarks HERE.

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BOSTON
Aga Khan IV launches Online Resource, Archnet

His Highness the Aga Khan, MIT President Charles M. Vest and Harvard University President Lawrence H. Summers jointly launched the world’s largest online resource on architecture, urbanism and landscape design in a ceremony at MIT on Sept. 27, 2002.

ArchNet provides users anywhere in the world with free access to a vast online library of images focusing on the history and culture of design in the Muslim world. The site lets people interested in Islamic design initiate discussions, share research, and exchange perspectives on the built environment. It also allows users to share locally based resources and knowledge across borders and cultures.

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HOUSTON
Aga Khan IV inaugurates Houston Jamatkhana

“Some years ago, Professor Samuel Huntington warned of an impending “clash of civilisations” between the West and the Islamic world as the next great confrontation following the end of the Cold War. My position is somewhat different. It is based on my perspective as the leader of a Muslim community that now lives in the West as well as in the Islamic world, and from an engagement in international dialogue, development and cross-cultural education for more than forty years. What we are now witnessing is a clash of ignorance, an ignorance that is mutual, longstanding, and to which the West and the Islamic world have been blind for decades at their great peril.” — His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, June 23, 2002. Read the complete speech HERE

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2003

BOSTON
Passing: Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan

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TAJIKISTAN
Aga Khan IV at the foundation ceremony of the Ismaili Centre, Dushanbe

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Aga Khan IV addresses Fresh Water Forum

From a global perspective, it is here, in Central Asia, that one of the most unusual water situations exists. I am referring to Lake Sarez. It is some 60 kilometres in length, containing some 17 cubic kilometres of water, is at 3200 meters altitude and has a natural dam of 550 meters, the highest of any dam in the world. For years it has been seen as a major hazard to millions of lives in this country and in Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. It is clear that if the rock dam, caused by an enormous landslide following an earthquake in 1911, were to break as a result of another such event; or if another earthquake were to cause landslides to fall into the lake, raising the level of the water and causing a massive spill across the top of the dam, the consequence would be a major catastrophe. It is estimated that 5 million lives could be at risk — His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, Dushanbe Fresh Water Forum, August 30, 2003. Read the complete speech HERE.

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CHITRAL, PAKISTAN
Aga Khan IV visits Gharam Chashma and Booni

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DUBAI
Aga Khan IV at the Foundation Ceremony of the Ismaili Centre, Dubai

“The congregational space incorporated within the Ismaili Centre belongs to the historic category of jamatkhana, an institutional category that also serves a number of sister Sunni and Shia communities, in their respective contexts, in many parts of the world. Here, it will be space reserved for traditions and practices specific to the Shia Ismaili tariqah of Islam” — His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, Dubai, December 13, 2003. Read the complete speech HERE.

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KENYA
Aga Khan IV opens Apparel Plant

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Aga Khan IV opens Mombasa Aga Khan Academy

“In the long history of the Ismaili Imamat’s engagement with education, covering well over a 1000 years and numerous countries past and present, few days can have been as important as this one….Everyone who joins in the establishment of a new school participates in an act of joyful hope and faith. A new school looks to a better world, for it exists to help students develop the character, intellect and mental resilience that will enable them to prosper in circumstances that we can only imagine. If it becomes a great school, it will educate its students not merely to be personally successful but also to use their gifts to build their communities and enhance the common good to levels beyond our dreams” — His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, December 20, 2003. Read the complete speech HERE.

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2004

UNITED KINGDOM
Aga Khan IV gets Knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II

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GATINEAU / OTTAWA
Aga Khan IV addresses Leadership Conference

“It is a joy and a privilege to address the young leaders of Canada who represent different walks of national life, as well as its social, cultural and regional diversity. I am particularly happy at this opportunity as you have been jointly exploring a critical aspect of the role of leadership: How the leadership—political and civil—can help sustain the moral and dynamic coherence in public life that Canada has so successfully constructed, predicated on the ethic of respect for human dignity” — His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, May 19, 2004. Read the complete speech HERE.

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Aga Khan IV meets the Governor General of Canada, Adrienne Clarkson

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Aga Khan IV meets Prime Minister Paul Martin

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MOZAMBIQUE
Aga Khan IV attends the Foundation Ceremony of Aga Khan Academy

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NEW DELHI
Aga Khan IV attends Aga Khan Award for Architecture Ceremony

The recognition we are giving tonight carries the name Award for Architecture. But it represents much more. The Award recognises the efforts of architects and their clients, builders – large and small, governments, planners, international organisations, granting agencies, village organisations and individuals. All of them are collectively responsible for the creation of a humane and socially-supportive built environment that is so important to our quality of life — His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, New Delhi, November 27, 2004. Read the complete speech HERE.

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2005

WASHINGTON, D.C.
Aga Khan IV receives Vincent Scully Prize

“….It is the extraordinary sense of humanity that he has. The great depth of real feeling for real people wherever they find themselves in society. He is a holy man. He is the leader of his faith. He’s a man who represents the very best in Islam.” — James Wolfensohn, Vincent Scully Award Ceremony, January 25, 2004. Read more HERE.

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Aga Khan IV actively engages in an architecture panel discussion

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GENEVA
Aga Khan IV announces launch of Microfinance Agency

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CAIRO
Aga Khan IV inaugurates Al-Azhar Park

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“Twenty-one years ago we had a vision that launched us on a journey of inquiry, exploration and discovery that took us through some 1,000 years of history of this extraordinary city…. Like some of the great Muslim explorers such as Al-Idrisi, Al-Baruni or Ibn Batuta, our journey of discovery was an act of faith. We did not know what lay ahead, other than excitement and unpredictability. And we knew that it could be enthralling but would require patience, determination and tenacity. The path we followed has led us finally to this evening” — His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, March 25, 2005. Read the complete speech HERE.

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TANZANIA
Aga Khan IV at foundation ceremony for Aga Khan Hospital expansion

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OTTAWA
Aga Khan IV invested with the Honorary Companion of the Order of Canada

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BEIRUT
Aga Khan IV Delivers Acceptance Speech, American University of Beirut

“Although I have never therefore been an enrolled student here, this great university has always been part of my academic horizon, where some 40 years ago, I supported the introduction of studies in Muslim civilisations and cultures through an Aga Khan Chair in that discipline. This long relationship has been further strengthened by the valued support which AUB’s faculty of architecture has given the Aga Khan Award for Architecture” — June 26, 2005. Read the complete speech HERE

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BERLIN
Aga Khan IV is honoured with Die Quadriga Prize

While bringing people together, His Highness is striving not to diminish or remove cultural and religious differences, but to promote their acceptance and to work for a harmonious diversity, It is this belief in an inclusive world that makes him an inspirational leader of our time…May many others be inspired to walk your path and make the world a more humane place for generations to come — Hamid Karzai, Die Quadriga Prize, October 3, 2005.

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EDINBURGH
Aga Khan IV is honoured with Carnegie Medal

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KABUL
Aga Khan IV visits Babur Garden

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2006

TOLEDO, SPAIN
Aga Khan IV receives Toledo Award from King Juan Carlos

“Indeed, the revelation of Islam — my faith — looks upon freedom from hunger, provision of appropriate shelter and clothing, security against fear for one’s safety, good health, learning and wisdom, and generation of wealth as a blessing to strive for, and to share in the creation of an equitable order of peace and harmony. This explains my own role, as the hereditary Imam — the spiritual leader — of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, in development activities through the agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network.” — His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, March 2, 2006. Read the complete speech HERE.

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CAIRO
Aga Khan IV welcomes Prince Charles to Al-Azhar Park

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GERMANY
Aga Khan IV is honoured with Tolerance Award

“We are honouring an exceptional man. We are honouring a great friend of humanity, a courageous visionary, a builder of bridges between religions and society. We are honouring a man whom, through our conversations, I have discovered to be exceptionally intelligent, knowledgeable and pleasant to talk to. A citizen of the world who intrepidly fights day after day against resentment and backwardness on almost every continent. A man who shows us a face of Islam that many of us do not know” — Dr Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Germany’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, May 20, 2006. Read the complete remarks HERE.

Since I became Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, I have watched my world — or should I say the entire world? — oscillate between promise and disappointment. In many cases, the disappointments can be attributed to the absence of a culture of tolerance. Of course my experience includes the religious faith in which I have been nurtured. I was born into a Muslim family, educated as a Muslim and spent many years studying the history of the faith and its civilisations. My commitment to the principle of tolerance also grows out of that commitment.” — His Late Highness Aga Khan IV. Read the complete remarks HERE.

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GENEVA
Aga Khan IV announces merger of Bellerive and Aga Khan Foundations

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CAIRO
Aga Khan IV gives Commencement Address at American University

“From the very beginnings of Islam, the search for knowledge has been central to our cultures. I think of the words of Hazrat Ali ibn Abi Talib, the first hereditary Imam of the Shia Muslims, and the last of the four rightly-guided Caliphs after the passing away of the Prophet (may peace be upon Him). In his teachings, Hazrat Ali emphasized that “No honour is like knowledge.” And then he added that “No belief is like modesty and patience, no attainment is like humility, no power is like forbearance, and no support is more reliable than consultation.” — His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, June 15, 2006. Read the complete speech HERE.

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GILGIT-BALTISTAN
Aga Khan IV welcomes Prince Charles to the Northern Areas of Pakistan

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2007

THE GOLDEN JUBILEE OF HIS LATE HIGHNESS AGA KHAN IV
(July 11, 2007 to December 13, 2018)

AIGLEMONT, FRANCE
Aga Khan IV’s Golden Jubilee is inaugurated with a Homage Ceremony

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LONDON
Aga Khan IV welcomes Prince Charles to the Ismaili Centre at the launch of the Spirit and Life Exhibition

“Certainly one of the lessons we have learned in recent years is that the world of Islam and the Western world need to work together much more effectively at building mutual understanding – especially as these cultures interact and intermingle more actively. We hope that this exhibition – and the museum which it anticipates – will contribute to a better Western understanding of the peoples of Islam: in all of their religious, ethnic, linguistic and social diversity.” — His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, July 12, 2007. Read the complete speech HERE.

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KENYA
Aga Khan IV receives Kenya’s Highest Medal of Honour from President Kibaki

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TANZANIA
Aga Khan IV attends State Dinner hosted by President Kikwete

“I am always heartened, as I return to a place I have known so well, to hear from local friends about the progress which has been made since my last visit. I suppose there are times when enthusiastic friends might even exaggerate their stories – but usually, by the time I leave, I have a pretty clear fix on how things are going!” — His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, August 19, 2007. Read the complete speech HERE

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UGANDA
Aga Khan IV at Bujagali Dam Foundation ceremony

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MALAYSIA
Aga Khan IV attends Aga Khan Award for Architecture Ceremony

“I doubt that even the most imaginative among us could have envisioned fifty years ago what Kuala Lumpur would look like today. Surely the transformation of the built environment in this city is among the distinctive and exciting urban transformations in our lifetimes. More than that, the dramatic remaking of this city, so powerfully evidenced in the architectural realm, is all the more compelling because it expresses a profound transformation in the social and economic realms as well.” — His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, Kuala Lumpur, September 4, 2007. Read the complete speech HERE

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2008

DUBAI
Aga Khan IV inaugurates Ismaili Centre, Dubai

We honour today a great architectural accomplishment…and the remarkable people who have made all of this possible. Those extraordinary people include, of course, His Highness Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, who has so generously given the land for this Centre. Let me express once again, on behalf of the Ismaili community, our profound appreciation to His Highness and his family — His Late Highness Aga Khan IB, Inauguration of The Ismaili Centre Dubai, Wednesday, March 26, 2008 — Read the complete speech HERE.

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CANADA
Aga Khan IV authors “Where Hope Takes Root”

A compelling argument for reading his thirteen speeches and the interview is made by Adrienne Clarkson, the former Governor-General of Canada, in the introduction: “In these remarkable speeches collected in Where Hope Takes Root, the Aga Khan explains the principles that inform his profound belief that civil society, democracy and mutual understanding must be encouraged and strengthened in order for the world to be a better place.” — Nizar Motani. Read his book review HERE.

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MALI
Aga Khan IV receives Grand Cross Medal from President of Mali, Toumani Toure

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Aga Khan IV is honoured as Citizen of the Region of Timbuktu

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Aga Khan IV receives an Honorary Doctorate from Sankoré Univesrity

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BOSTON
Aga Khan IV receives Honorary Doctorate Degree from Harvard

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PARIS
Aga Khan IV attends the International Conference on Afghanistan

We are convinced for many years now that Afghanistan must be viewed in its regional context. We have systematically invested in the strengthening of regionalisation: four new bridges over the Pyanj linking from now on Tajik Badakhshan to Afghan Badakhshan. National programmes between Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, in the sectors of telecommunications, microcredit, health and education including the new regional university, “the University of Central Asia” bring together Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan and neighbouring countries who wish to unite around the development of high mountain societies; all are or could be regionalised. Read the complete statement HERE.

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Aga Khan IV is honoured with Foreign Membership of Académie des Beaux Arts

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IRELAND
Aga Khan IV receive honours from the National University of Ireland

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LONDON
Aga Khan IV hosts Golden Jubilee Banquet at the Ismaili Centre, London

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Aga Khan IV is presented with an Illustrated History of the Ismailis by the IIS

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Aga Khan IV is hosted by Queen Elizabeth II for his Golden Jubilee at Buckingham Palace

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LISBON
Aga Khan IV signs an International Cooperation Agreement with Portugal

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Aga Khan IV signs MOU with Catholic University of Portugal

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FRANCE
Aga Khan IV meets Pope Benedict

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OTTAWA
Aga Khan IV arrives in Canada for his Golden Jubilee

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VANCOUVER
Aga Khan IV signs his book “Where Hope Takes Root” for BC Premier

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TAJIKISTAN
Aga Khan IV arrives to celebrate his Golden Jubilee, gives Darbar and sees institutional activities

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See a gallery of photos from Mawlana Shah Karim’s visit to Tajikistan HERE .

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OTTAWA
Aga Khan IV inaugurates the stunning Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat building

“When I invited Professor Maki, a master of form and light, to design this building, I made a suggestion to him — one that I hoped would help connect this place symbolically to the Faith of Islam. The suggestion I made focused on creating a certain mystique, centred around the beautiful mysteries of rock crystal. Why rock crystal? Because of its translucency, its multiple planes, and the fascination of its colours — all of which present themselves differently as light moves around them. It is because of these qualities that rock crystal seems to be such an appropriate symbol of the profound beauty and the ever-unfolding mystery of Creation itself — and the Creator. As the Holy Quran so powerfully affirms, “Allah is the Creator and the Master of the heavens and the earth.” And then it continues: “Everything in the heavens and on earth, and everything between them, and everything beneath the soil, belongs to Him.” — His Late Highness Aga Khan IV. Read the complete speech HERE.

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DECEMBER 13, 2008: THE AGA KHAN’S INSPIRING MESSAGE AT THE END OF HIS GOLDEN JUBILEE YEAR

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2009

WASHINGTON D.C.
Aga Khan IV speaks at the Global Philanthropy Forum

“Building an effective nation state, today as in earlier centuries, requires that the quality of rural life must be a daily concern of government. Ideally, national progress should be as effective, as equitable, and as visible, over similar time-frames, in rural areas as in urban ones…. If we are to succeed we will need, first, to readjust our orientation by focusing on the immense size and diversity of rural populations whether they are in peri-urban or rural environments…For no-one can dispute, I think, that a large number of the world’s recent problems have been born in the countrysides of the poorest continents…Finally, we will need to address these problems with a much stronger sense of urgency. What we may have been content to achieve in 25 years, we must now aim to do in 10 years. A mighty challenge, no doubt” — His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, April 23, 2009. Read the complete speech HERE

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FRANCE
Aga Khan IV is honoured with titles Grand Mécène Grand Donateur

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LISBON
Aga Khan IV receives recognition by the Prestigious Academy of Science

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EDMONTON
Aga Khan IV is conferred with Honorary Degree of Law by University of Alberta

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“I read recently about a graduation ceremony like this one which was marred, perhaps, by an excess of confidence. The editors of the class yearbook were great believers in technology and entrusted the final proofreading to the computer program called spell-check, something which you undoubtedly know a thing or two about! Unfortunately, as The Week magazine reported, it was “a bad week for spell check,” as the automatic program changed the names of several students. For example, Alessandra Ippolito was listed as Alexandria Impolite, while Max Zupanovic was rechristened Max Supernova…”

“My third theme today is ethics. Neither the political nor the civil sector can accomplish anything of value unless those who steer those institutions are motivated and directed by demanding moral standards. When we talk about the ethical realm, when we attack corruption, we are inclined to think primarily about government and politics. I am one, however, who believes that corruption is just as acute, and perhaps even more damaging, when the ethics of the civil and private sectors deteriorate. We know from recent headlines about scoundrels from the American financial scene to the halls of European parliaments – and we can certainly do without either. But the problem extends into every area of human enterprise” — His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, June 9, 2009. Read the complete speech HERE.

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TAJIKISTAN
Aga Khan IV inaugurates Ismaili Centre, Dushanbe

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“The passage of a millennium has not diminished Nasir Khusraw’s relevance nor dulled the lustre of his poetry. It continues to uplift and inspire, reminding us that we are the authors of our own destiny. As he has said, we can be like a poplar tree which chooses to remain barren, or we can let our path be lit by the candle of wisdom, for only ‘with intellect, we can seek out all the hows and whys. Without it, we are but trees without fruit’.” – His Late Highness Aga Khan IV. Read the complete speech HERE.

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OTTAWA
Aga Khan IV signs funding agreement with the Government of Canada for the Global Centre for Pluralism

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2010

KENYA
Aga Khan IV attends the 50th anniversary of Nation Media Group

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OTTAWA
Aga Khan IV is bestowed with Honorary Canadian Citizenship

Statement by the Prime Minister of Canada

On June 19, 2009, our House of Commons voted unanimously to bestow Honorary Canadian citizenship on His Highness, the Aga Khan. The motion introduced by our government and supported by all parties recognized,

“And I quote, that:

‘…the Aga Khan, leader of the worldwide Ismaili Muslim community, is a beacon of humanitarianism, pluralism and tolerance throughout the world; …the Aga Khan is also actively involved in humanitarian and development projects throughout Asia and Africa; …[and] Canadians are grateful for the Aga Khan’s efforts in Afghanistan where today the Aga Khan Development Network is a vital partner in our efforts to secure and improve the lives of Afghan citizens.’

“To which I would only add, that the motion also recognizes the exquisite symmetry between your values and Canadian values, and our deep appreciation for the extraordinary contributions you are making to Canada and the world through the delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, the global centre for pluralism and the Aga Khan Museum.

“It is therefore my great honour and pleasure, on behalf of the Government and people of Canada, to formally present you today with that honorary Canadian citizenship.

“Welcome to our home and native land, your Highness. It is now and forever your home as well.”

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WINNIPEG
Aga Khan IV’s lifesize image at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights

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OTTAWA
Aga Khan IV is received by Governor General David Johnston at Rideau Hall

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Aga Khan IV attends the inaugural meeting of the Global Centre for Pluralism

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QATAR
Aga Khan IV attends the Aga Khan Award for Architecture Ceremony

“When I think of the diversified players in the architectural community, I am reminded of the impatient client who wrote to his architect: “Awaiting plans. If good — cheque will follow.” To which the wise architect, of course, replied: “Awaiting cheque! If good — plans will follow!” Indeed, it takes a wonderful mix of patience and impatience to achieve architectural success.” — His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, Doha, Qatar, November 24, 2010. Read full speech HERE.

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FRANCE
Aga Khan IV and his brother Prince Amyn are honoured by France

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LONDON
Aga Khan IV welcomes Prince Charles to the Ismaili Centre for its 25th anniversary

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LUXOR
Aga Khan IV delivers remarks on ending Human trafficking

“I am convinced that, over time, the most effective weapon to combat human trafficking will be civil society’s rejection of these vile activities” — His Late Highness Aga Khan IV.

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2011

TORONTO
Aga Khan IV’s Imamat is depicted by Ismaili artist

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2012

OTTAWA
Aga Khan IV is conferred Honorary Degree of Laws by University of Ottawa

“In my experience, a country’s standing in our contemporary world is no longer recognized by what it can achieve for itself, but by what it can do for others. In this context, Canada has truly become a great, world power” — His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, January 13, 2012.

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FRANCE
Aga Khan IV visits Chantilly Castle to see renovations

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EDMONTON, ALBERTA
Aga Khan IV signs Cooperation Agreement with the Government of Alberta

“My community has lived, obviously, for centuries in a large number of countries and therefore we have a permanent presence in these countries. That’s very different from being an occasional visitor. People live in these countries and they live in good and less good circumstances, they think, they analyse, they live in hope, but also they live in sadness and in difficulty, and the last few years have not been happy in many of the countries we’re working in. So our duty is to try to convert these countries into countries of opportunity. We can’t do that alone. But we can do it with Canada and we can do with the Province of Alberta. So in that sense today is a day of magnificent opportunity and I thank you so much” — Remarks by His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, Edmonton, October 24, 2012.

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2013

LISBON
Aga Khan IV attends the Aga Khan Award for Architecture Ceremony

“Our ceremony tonight is only the second one we have held in predominantly Christian countries. I mention this point because it speaks to an essential dimension of the Award. While its roots lie deep in our concern for the state of Islamic architecture, the Award is also committed to a spirit of pluralism and a respect for diversity, a set of values which are deeply embedded in Portuguese history” — His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, Lisbon, September 6, 2013. Read the complete speech HERE.

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INDIA
Aga Khan IV visits India on an official tour

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Aga Khan IV tours Aga Khan Academy in Hyderabad

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Aga Khan IV inaugurates Humayun Tomb in New Delhi

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Aga Khan IV meets with his community in India

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OTTAWA
Aga Khan IV receives Gold Medal from RAIC

“In recognizing His Highness, we cite his remarkable accomplishments in various aspects in the field of architecture as part of his broader social and economic development work, particularly the specialized cultural programming undertaken through the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. The selection of His Highness the Aga Khan as recipient of RAICS’s highest honour – its Gold Medal – marks the first time in more than 30 years that a non-architect has been chosen and recognizes the Aga Khan’s extraordinary achievements” — excerpt from the ceremony program. Please click HERE for a report and thematic excerpts from the speech delivered by His Late Highness Aga Khan IV.

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KARACHI
Aga Khan IV attends AKU Convocation

“My grandfather, Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan, was deeply aware of Islam’s rich intellectual heritage….He had engaged personally in developing educational opportunities for Muslims in pre-partition India – and was largely responsible for creating Aligarh University. He saw that effort as fulfilling a tradition going back one thousand years, to the role of his predecessors, the Fatimids, in founding the Azhar University and the Dar ul-Ilm in Cairo, known through the ages as the House of Knowledge…. the most brilliant periods in Islamic history were marked by an expansive quest for intellectual excellence. It was this tradition that I inherited from my grandfather – and it was not a static tradition, but one that was built around the power of new knowledge and the great adventure of learning how to go on learning” — His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, Karachi, AKU Convocation, December 2013.

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2014

OTTAWA
Aga Khan IV addresses both the Houses of the Canadian Parliament

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“The Ismaili Imamat is a supra-national entity, representing the succession of Imams since the time of the Prophet. But let me clarify something more about the history of that role, in both the Sunni and Shia interpretations of the Muslim faith. The Sunni position is that the Prophet nominated no successor, and that spiritual-moral authority belongs to those who are learned in matters of religious law. As a result, there are many Sunni imams in a given time and place. But others believed that the Prophet had designated his cousin and son-in-law, Ali, as his successor. From that early division, a host of further distinctions grew up — but the question of rightful leadership remains central. In time, the Shia were also sub-divided over this question, so that today the Ismailis are the only Shia community who, throughout history, have been led by a living, hereditary Imam in direct descent from the Prophet” — His Late Highness Aga Khan IV. Read full speech HERE. Also read the English translation of the remarks made in French HERE.

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PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND
Aga Khan IV delivers the Ogden lecture at Brown University

“I have long felt a close sense of belonging at Brown; my eldest son was a member of the Brown Class of 1995, and I treasure the fact that I received an honorary degree from Brown, and was privileged at that time to give the Baccalaureate Address” — His Late Highness Aga Khan IV.

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“More information at our fingertips can mean more knowledge and understanding. But it can also mean more fleeting attention-spans, more impulsive judgments, and more dependence on superficial snapshots of events. Communicating more often and more easily can bring people closer together, but it can also tempt us to live more of our lives inside smaller information bubbles, in more intense but often more isolated groupings” –His Late Highness Aga Khan IV — Read the complete speech HERE.

“Down through many centuries, great Muslim cultures were built on the principle of inclusiveness. Some of the best minds and creative spirits from every corner of the world, independent of ethnic or religious identities, were brought together at great Muslim centres of learning. My own ancestors, the Fatimids, founded one of the world’s oldest universities, Al-Azhar in Cairo, over a thousand years ago. In fields of learning from mathematics to astronomy, from philosophy to medicine Muslim scholars sharpened the cutting edge of human knowledge. They were the equivalents of thinkers like Plato and Aristotle, Galileo and Newton. Yet their names are scarcely known in the West today. How many would recognise the name al-Khwarizmi – the Persian mathematician who developed some 1,200 years ago the algorithm, which is the foundation of search engine technology?” — His Late Highness Aga Khan IV.

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OTTAWA
Aga Khan IV attends annual Global Pluralism Lecture

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TORONTO
Aga Khan IV addresses Child Summit

“Like you, I am here today because of my conviction that improving maternal, neonatal and child health should be one of the highest priorities on the global development agenda. I can think of no other field in which a well-directed effort can make as great or as rapid an impact” — His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, read more remarks HERE

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PARIS
Aga Khan IV meets US Secretary of State John Kerry

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LISBON
Aga Khan IV receives North-South Prize in the Parliament Building

“As I observe the world, I am struck by the insufficiency of well-informed debate, of richer dialogue, of deeper education in our quest to avoid human conflict. That insufficiency often plagues relations between the North and the South– and increasingly between the North and the Islamic world. Some have called this a clash of civilizations — I think it is, essentially, a clash of ignorances. What it means, in any case, is that institutions such as the North-South Centre have never been more important. A related problem is the failure of so many to recognize that pluralism is not only a growing fact of life but also a blessing for their communities — an opportunity to be welcomed rather than a threat to be feared. Since ancient times, great cultures have thrived because of their openness to diversity, and not because of their exclusivity” — His Late Highness Aga Khan IV

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TORONTO
Aga Khan IV inaugurates the Ismaili Centre and Aga Khan Museum

When our planning for the Toronto Ismaili Centre started in 1996, we decided to ask the younger generation of Ismailis about their vision for this building. What did they want it to represent? How did they see it functioning? In response, young people from the ages of 18 to 27 generously shared their aspirations with us. They told us that they wanted a building that would be forward looking, while also being anchored in traditional community values. They also wanted a building in which they could strengthen their personal relationships -– a place where they could not only unite in prayer, but could also develop new life-shaping associations — amongst themselves and with other Canadians — His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, Toronto, September 12, 2014. Read the complete speech HERE

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And soaring above it all is the great crystalline dome that you have observed, through which light from the prayer hall will provide a glowing beacon, symbolising the spirit of enlightenment that will always be at the heart of the Centre’s life.

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KYRGYZSTAN
Aga Khan IV reviews progress of the new UCA Campus

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LONDON
Aga Khan IV attends the London December 2014 Conference on Afghanistan

“An effective enabling environment for civil society should seek to foster meritocracy, ethics and mutual accountability….For the Ismaili Imamat and its Aga Khan Development Network, or AKDN as it is known, it is fundamental that the construction of civil society has been chosen as a national development priority in the Government’s reform agenda….. We have established long-term institutions in the region, including schools and hospitals, banking institutions, leisure facilities, and telecommunications. We are pleased to announce further innovations, including in cross-border hydropower, mobile banking, tele-medicine, and support to small and medium enterprises to serve even the most marginalised populations” — His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, London, December 4, 2014.

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2015

TANZANIA
Aga Khan IV attends AKU Convocation

“Like each of you, personally, the University also remembers its heritage on a day like this. That heritage is rooted in the rich history of Islamic intellectual accomplishment — including the work of my own ancestors in ancient Cairo 1000 years ago, when they founded the Azhar University and the Dar-ul-ilm – the House of Knowledge. This story continued over several centuries, as Muslim centers of scholarship and culture involved and inspired people of many traditions and faith communities. A respect for diversity — a welcoming, cosmopolitan ethic — has been a hallmark of this heritage — an increasingly relevant legacy in the emerging “borderless” world. It was this heritage that inspired my grandfather, as Imam of the Ismaili Muslim community, to make education a top priority. In fact, he started the first Aga Khan School in Africa over 110 years ago in Bagamoyo, here in Tanzania. And that same legacy was in our minds when we began planning for this new Aga Khan University. Our most important accomplishments are not measured by quantity but by quality. It’s not so much that twelve thousand people were educated at AKU, but rather that one person was educated here – and that this individual life-transforming story has happened — now — some twelve thousand times — His Late Highness Aga Khan IV.

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Aga Khan IV receives University Charter from President Kikwete

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INDIA
Aga Khan IV is decorated with Civilian Award

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Aga Khan IV visits Aga Khan Academy in Hyderabad

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Aga Khan IV lays the foundation for a new museum at the Humayun Tomb complex

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EGYPT
Aga Khan IV attends inauguration of the restoration of the Blue Mosque

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FRANCE
Aga Khan IV mourns the death of Ismailis in Karachi terror attack

Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, in an official press release issued on the website of the Aga Khan Development Network, expressed shock and sadness in the wake of an attack on a bus carrying Ismaili members of his community in Karachi, Pakistan, that left 43 people dead on May 13, 2015. There were 16 women and 27 men among those killed. Other external reports suggest that the death toll was 45.

“This attack represents a senseless act of violence against a peaceful community. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and the families of those killed and wounded in the attack,” Mawlana Shah Karim said. He noted that the Ismailis are a peaceful global community living in harmony with other religious and ethnic groups in many countries across the world, including in the Muslim world.

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WASHINGTON D.C.
US Secretary of State John Kerry sends condolence message to Aga Khan IV for the loss of Ismaili lives

John Kerry, at the time Secretary of State, issued the following statement on May 14, from Washington DC:

“I strongly condemn the heinous May 13 attack on a bus in Karachi, which resulted in the deaths of dozens of members of the Ismaili community.

“The American people stand in solidarity with the people of Pakistan, and with the global Ismaili community on this tragic day. Make no mistake: There is more strength by far in the respect and solidarity that we feel towards one another than there could ever be in any terrorist attack.

“I extend my personal condolences to the families of the victims, and to my dear, esteemed friend His Highness the Aga Khan, who has led the Ismaili community in investing in so many important development and education projects not only in Pakistan, but around the world. We will support efforts to bring all those responsible to justice and stand ready to provide assistance to the investigation of this tragic attack.”

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TORONTO
Aga Khan IV inaugurates the Aga Khan Park

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PORTUGAL
Aga Khan IV signs a historic agreement to establish the Seat of Imamat in Lisbon

“Today is a unique and important occasion, where for the first time in our history we will have the opportunity to work with a partner with whom we share so many values, so many hopes and so many desires.” — His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, June 3, 2015, read text of Agreement HERE

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ATHENS, GREECE
Aga Khan IV addresses Democracy Forum

“I believe that the progress of democracy in our world is fundamentally linked to improving the quality of human life. The promise of democracy is that the people themselves best know how to achieve such progress. But if that promise is disappointed, then democracy is endangered” — His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, read more speech excerpts HERE

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LONDON
Aga Khan IV addresses the ICOMO 50th anniversary conference

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GENEVA
Aga Khan IV meets UNHCR chief

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BOSTON
Aga Khan IV delivers the Jodidi Lecture at Harvard

“What does it mean to become an Imam in the Ismaili tradition?…. it is an inherited role of spiritual leadership. As you may know, the Ismailis are the only Muslim community that has been led by a living, hereditary Imam in direct descent from Prophet Muhammad. That spiritual role, however, does not imply a separation from practical responsibilities. In fact for Muslims the opposite is true: the spiritual and material worlds are inextricably connected. Leadership in the spiritual realm — for all Imams, whether they are Sunni or Shia — implies responsibility in worldly affairs; a calling to improve the quality of human life — His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, read thematic excerpts HERE.

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2016

LONDON
Aga Khan IV attends supporting Syria Conference

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EGYPT
Aga Khan IV addresses the Africa 2016 World Forum

The problem of fragmentation has often afflicted Africa, separating tribe from tribe, country from country, the private sector from the public sector, those who hold political power from those who are in opposition. In such cases, the fact of being different is often seen as a burden, or a threat, a source of fear and suspicion. But there is another way to look at our differences. What a wonderful, liberating thing it would be if more of us, more of the time, could see diversity not as a burden but as a blessing; not as a threat, but as an opportunity — His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, February 20, 2016. Read full speech HERE

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KENYA
Aga Khan IV launches Nation Media printing press

“This is a great day for the Nation Media Group and for the media community in Kenya, as we take a major step forward in our efforts to serve this country and this region ever more effectively. What does a new printing press mean? Several things. It means more attractive newspapers. It means faster printing and earlier delivery. It means fewer delays and quicker responses when breaking news develops. It means better quality for our advertisers – more colour for example, for readers and advertisers alike. And, its construction has also meant more investment in the local economy.” — His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, March 17, 2016. Read the complete speech HERE.

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LISBON
Aga Khan IV introduces his top Imamat officials to the Portuguese President

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OTTAWA
Aga Khan IV meets Prime Minister Trudeau at Parliament Hill

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TORONTO
Aga Khan IV receives Honorary Degree from Pontifical Institute

“Allow me a personal observation on His Highness as a builder of bridges and a connector of people. While serving in Beijing, I was interested to read one of His Highness’s speeches in which he remarked on the size and vitality of the Ismaili community in the far west of China. So, I travelled to the city of Tashkurgan to meet them for myself. It was a deeply moving experience, and one that resonated with me as a Catholic. I met people of faith and hope and tremendous goodwill. They readily acknowledged the sorrow of being physically separated from their Ismaili brothers and sisters and from His Highness. But they displayed a profound and confident spiritual connection to their global community. They possess a faith that refuses to be hemmed in or isolated by man-made barriers, a conviction that owes much to their very real and justified sense of being in communion with their spiritual leader — Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies citation for Mawlana Shah Karim, May 20, 2016. Read full citation by Mr. David Mulroney HERE

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Aga Khan IV receives inaugural Global Citizenship Award

“He is the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims. He is a direct descendant of the Prophet Mohammed, peace be upon him, through the Prophet’s cousin and son-in-law Ali, the first Imam and his wife Fatima, the Prophet’s daughter…Through his words, through his actions, and through the results obtained by the institutions that he has pioneered, he is a beacon of light in much of the world’s conflicting darkness.” — The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, 26th Governor General of Canada

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BRUSSELS
Aga Khan IV attends Conference on Afghanistan

Like his predecessor, Hillary Clinton, who served as secretary of state under President Obama’s first term, John Kerry joined Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, and other world leaders at a major conference on Afghanistan in Brussels on October 5, 2016.

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KYRGYZSTAN
Aga Khan IV inaugurates UCA’s Naryn Campus

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DUBAI
Aga Khan IV attends Aga Khan Award for Architecture Ceremony

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“As you may suspect, I have the privilege of attending many wonderful ceremonies as I carry out my responsibilities. But this Architectural Award Ceremony is one of those that I look forward to with a special sense of anticipation. Perhaps that is partly because it happens only once every three years – there is more time for the anticipation to build up! But there is a much more important reason: Architecture is the only art form which has a direct, daily impact on the quality of human life.” — His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, Dubai, November 6, 2016. Read the complete speech HERE

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PARIS
Aga Khan IV attends French Ceremony Honouring US Secretary of State, John Kerry, with Grand Officer Award

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AIGLEMONT, FRANCE
Aga Khan IV Celebrates 80th Birthday

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Aga Khan IV tribute song from Moscow for his 80th birthday

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2017

OTTAWA
Aga Khan IV inaugurates the Global Centre for Pluralism

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NEW YORK
Aga Khan IV is awarded the President’s Medal by the Architectural League of New York,

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GLIMPSES FROM THE DIAMOND JUBILEE YEAR OF HIS LATE HIGHNESS AGA KHAN IV (July 11, 2017 — jULY 11, 2018)

DIAMOND JUBILEE IN 2017

AIGLEMONT, FRANCE
(Inauguration of the Aga Khan’s Diamond Jubilee)

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PORTUGAL
Aga Khan IV receives Grand Cross of the Order of Liberty

“I reiterate my profound appreciation for our own partnership, and for honouring me and by extension the Ismaili Imamat and the AKDN, especially as this honour comes during my Diamond Jubilee year, marking 60 years as the 49th Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims worldwide. Our commitment to Portugal reflects our deep respect for this country and our deep affection for its people.” — His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, Lisbon, July 20, 2017.

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Aga Khan IV receives Honorary Doctorate from Universidade NOVA de Lisboa

“I have always felt at home in Portugal, and now ever more so since the signing in 2015 of an historic Agreement between the Ismaili Imamat and Portuguese Republic to establish the Seat of the Ismaili Imamat in this country — an important milestone in the 1,400-year history of the Ismaili Imamat. It marks the culmination of our long and deep relationship here and one that will now deepen further. While we work in 30 countries, we hold an enduring affinity for Portugal and its institutions, its history and its people. And the historic Palacete Henrique Mendonca will become the most fitting host for the Seat.” — His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, July 20, 2017.

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UGANDA
Aga Khan IV is conferred the Most Excellent Order of the Pearl of Africa by President Museveni

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TANZANIA
Aga Khan IV is received at the State House by President Magufuli

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Aga Khan IV Grants Darbar to Ismailis in Dar es Salaam

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Aga Khan IV is honoured by the Tanzania Postal Service with Diamond Jubilee Stamps and FDCs

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NEW YORK
Aga Khan IV receives the Champion for Global Change Award

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OTTAWA
Aga Khan IV attends inaugural Global Centre for Pluralism Award

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ISLAMABAD
Aga Khan IV arrives in Pakistan for his Diamond Jubilee visit

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Aga Khan IV visits Chitral

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Aga Khan IV visit Gilgit-Baltistan

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2018: the Diamond Jubilee of his late highness aga khan iv
(continued from 2017)

UAE
Aga Khan IV meets with the UAE royalty and his community

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INDIA
Aga Khan visits India for his Diamond Jubilee

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Aga Khan IV meets Indian Prime Minister Modi

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Aga Khan IV grants Darbar to his community

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UNITED KINGDOM
Aga Khan IV is hosted by Queen Elizabeth II for his Diamond Jubilee at Windsor Castle

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USA
Aga Khan IV receives Diamond Jubilee proclamations from the US leaders

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“The driving force behind each of the Aga Khan’s endeavors is his desire to foster progress and peace through hope. For hope, he says, is the most powerful source of human motivation” — Congresswoman Eddie Johnson.

Please read the Congressional remarks made by Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson and Congressman Pete Olson in the US House of Representatives HERE.

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KENYA
Aga Khan IV welcomed to the State House by Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta

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Aga Khan IV grants Darbar to his community

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CANADA
Aga Khan IV is hosted by the Governor General of Canada at Rideau Hall

“Your Highness, we know, everybody in this crowd knows, that you lead by example, that the work that you’ve done tirelessly for six decades has been groundbreaking. We know that you are trying very hard to improve the quality of life of people in less fortunate places in the world, and that you promote tolerance and education above all.” — Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, Rideau Hall, Ottawa, May 2, 2018.

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Aga Khan IV is welcomed to Calgary by Ismaili Mayor Naheed Nenshi

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IMPORTANT NOTE: Our coverage of Mawlana Shah Karim’s Diamond Jubilee visit to Canada in May 2018 is extensive, and we invite you to click HERE for the complete coverage.

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PARIS
Aga Khan IV grants Darbar to his community in France

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THE UNITED KINGDOM
Aga Khan IV inaugurates Aga Khan Centre with Prince Charles

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Aga Khan IV meets Prime Minister Theresa May

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PORTUGAL
Aga Khan IV completes his Diamond Jubilee Year in Portugal

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Aga Khan IV Diamond Jubilee stamps and FDC’s are issued by Portugal Postal Service

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Aga Khan IV addresses Portugal Parliament

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Aga Khan IV grants Darbar to his worldwide community

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Aga Khan IV invites Portugal’s President to attend Darbar

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Aga Khan IV designates the Seat of Imamat as the Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat

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2018 (Post Diamond Jubilee)

FRANCE
Aga Khan IV is awarded the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour

“You are Sir, a man true to your commitments, a man of his word and a man of peace. And for all that you have accomplished in your life for our country, and for the stability of the world, France wishes tonight to warmly express its gratitude by elevating you to the dignity of the Grand Cross in the order of the Legion of Honour. Sir, on behalf of the President of the Republic, and by virtue of the powers conferred upon me, we bestow you the dignity of the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour” — Jean-Yves Le Drian, France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs

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EDMONTON
Aga Khan IV inaugurates Aga Khan Garden

The garden of Islamic tradition is also a place where the flow of refreshing water reminds us of divine blessing. It is a place for meditation, and quiet renewal. But I would likewise emphasise that the garden, through history, has also been seen as a social space – a place for learning, for sharing, for romance, for diplomacy, for reflection on the destiny of the human race. And even as we share the garden experience with one another, we can feel a connection with those who walked through similar gardens in the past — His Late Highness Aga Khan IV. Read the complete speech HERE

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CALGARY
Aga Khan IV is conferred Honorary Doctor of Laws by the University of Calgary

“In the great chain of thinkers, those who encapsulate the poetry and vision of human reason, His Highness has fostered social justice as a dream that all yearn to achieve. He stands as a living legend, a model for every conscience” — excerpt from citation honouring His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, October 18, 2018. Please read the full citation by Dr. Elizabeth HERE.

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VANCOUVER
Aga Khan IV is conferred Honorary Degrees by the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University in a joint ceremony

“I am deeply honoured today, with my esteemed colleague, SFU President Andrew Petter, to welcome and present His Highness the Aga Khan IV, Imam of the world’s Shia Ismaili Muslims. We are gathered today to confer honour upon His Highness. Specifically – and for the first time in our two institutions’ history – we are here to confer honorary degrees from both of our universities. The honorary degree is the highest honour that a university can bestow, one that recognizes the accomplishments and contributions of an exceptional individual. In honouring a candidate of eminence and excellence, we also offer a public illustration of our own values and ambitions. We do so to inspire our graduates and our community. To this end, I can think of no candidate who so deserves this unprecedented joint recognition than His Highness the Aga Khan.” — Click Old UBC and SFU Aga Khan IV Citation.pdf for the complete citations.

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PARIS
Aga Khan IV attends Paris Peace Forum

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2019

LONDON
Aga Khan IV welcomes the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to the Aga Khan Centre

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PORTO, PORTUGAL
Honorary Degrees receives Key of the City

“I also want to thank you for the keys of this magnificent city. This is an old, historic tradition that has existed in many countries in many parts of the world, but I am going to use these keys to open as many doors as possible. Doors to happiness, doors to peace, doors to unity, doors to human progress. So I thank you, and I treasure those keys very much indeed. And I will not make copies of them.” — His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, Porto, May 2, 2019.

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KAZAN, TATARSTAN
Aga Khan IV attends an outstanding Aga Khan Award for Architecture Ceremony

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“On my visits in Kazan, and in Bolgar, I have seen how committed people can honour the power both of cultural identity and cultural pluralism. It is striking to see how churches and mosques, for example, have been built and preserved right next to one another as powerful symbols of a profound intercultural Dialogue. I would hope that we all can help point the rest of the world to the powerful pluralistic model of places like Kazan and Bolgar. The world is in need of such examples. Human challenges seem to intensify at an accelerating pace these days — climate change, economic and technological inequalities, epidemics, political polarisation, population displacements and the daunting task of helping one another to live together in dignity” — His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, September 13, 2019. Read thematic excerpts HERE.

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Read Barakah’s extended coverage of Mawlana Shah Karim’s visit to Kazan HERE. It includes thematic excerpts from his speech made at the Award Ceremony.

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LISBON
Aga Khan IV visits his son Prince Hussain’s Living Sea Exhibition

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PARIS
Aga Khan IV attends Paris Peace Forum

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Aga Khan IV meets President Rahmon of Tajikistan in Paris

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OTTAWA
Aga Khan IV attends the second Global Pluralism Award

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WORLDWIDE
Aga Khan IV’s Farman books are published

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2020

WORLDWIDE
Aga Khan IV sends Talika Mubarak — a Holy written message — to his community around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic

• March 2020: Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, showers his paternal and maternal blessings on his spiritual children around the world in light of the present crisis
• March 2020: Mawlana Hazar Imam sends talika on the occasion of Navroz with special blessings for mushkil asan, and prayers for the Jamat’s health and well-being
• April 2020: Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, sends message to his spiritual children around the world on Covid-19, with blessings for their protection from difficulty; text in 10 languages
• May 2020: Mawlana Hazar Imam’s loving and inspiring Talika on the occasion of Eid ul-Fitr shows his concern for his spiritual children in all facets of their lives
• July 2020: Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, sends Talika Mubarak to Ismailis around the world on the occasion of his 63rd Imamat Day
• November 2020: Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, in his message on November 2, 2020, tells his spiritual children “there is no room for complacency” over the risks posed by the coronavirus “for sometime to come” and send his blessings for mushkil-asan
• December 2020: In Talika Mubarak on the occasion of his 84th birthday, Mawlana Hazar Imam asks us to draw comfort from the practice of our faith, appreciates the excellent work of volunteers, and conveys his loving paternal maternal blessings to the world wide Jamat

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2021

WORLDWIDE
Aga Khan IV sends Talika Mubarak — a Holy written message — to his community around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic

• March 2021: In Navroz Talika, Mawlana Hazar Imam tells Jamats that he has been vaccinated against Covid-19, recommends that Jamats do the same without giving credence to comparisons between officially sanctioned vaccines, and gives blessings for barakah in our spiritual and material lives with prayers that Navroz will herald a new beginning
• July 2021: In a Wide Ranging Imamat Day Talika, Mawlana Hazar Imam Sends Blessings for the Souls of His Deceased Spiritual Children, the Jamats Around the World as Well as Everyone Involved in Combatting Covid-19; Tells Jamats Not to Hesitate in Getting Vaccinated and Expresses Happiness At Two Recent Events in Universities That He Has Built
• October 2021: A Rejuvenating Thanksgiving Weekend! Historical Photos from the Kanji Collection and Talika Mubarak
• December 2021: Holy Birthday Message of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan: Sends Blessings to Ismailis and Deceased Ismailis, Admires Pandemic Response, Calls for Commitment to Faith, Directs Institutions for Support in Conflict Areas, Family Members Assume Additional Responsibilities in His Work, and Appreciates Beautiful Salgirah Gift (see photo, below)
  

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NAIROBI
Aga Khan IV accepts new AKU Charter via video

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FRANCE
Aga Khan IV meets French Prime Minister

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NOTE: For the remainder of the news, please note that members of Mawlana Shah Karim’s family represented him at various events worldwide. Please click 2021- 2022 NEWS.

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2022

TAJIKISTAN
Aga Khan IV sends Talika Mubarak — a Holy written message — to his community in Tajikistan during the COVID-19 pandemic

• January 2022: Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Talika to the Jamat in Tajikistan Emphasizes Calm, Unity, and the Ismaili Tradition of Respecting Law of the Land, As Well As Rejecting Violence, Disorder and Illegal Activity
• May 2022: Unrest in Gorno-Badakhshan: In His Second Talika in 4 Months, Mawlana Hazar Imam Calls On Youth in Particular to Maintain Peace, be Law-Abiding and Contribute Actively to the Progress of Tajikistan; Makes Farman to Jamat to Reject Any Form of Action that May Endanger its Safety

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UNITED KINGDOM
Aga Khan IV’s fascinating pictorial biography is published under the editorship of Gary Otte, his official photographer for many decades

“Depth of Field: The Aga Khan Beyond the Lens” is a collection of photographs and a treasure trove of knowledge about Mawlana Shah Karim’s life. It is not just a valuable collection, but a responsibility to pass down to future generations. It ensures that Mawlana Shah Karim’s inspiring legacy is preserved and celebrated” — Nizar Motani

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Aga Khan IV celebrates 65th Imamat Day with family

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Aga Khan IV receives a unique Imamat Day Gift from his worldwide community

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TORONTO
Aga Khan IV receives Key to the City

NOTE: For the remainder of the news, please note that members of Mawlana Shah Karim’s family represented him at various events worldwide. Please click 2021- 2022 NEWS.

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2023

LISBON
Aga Khan IV has a photo taken with Princes Irfan and Sinan, shared worldwide on Navroz, March 21, 2023

NOTE: Members of Mawlana Shah Karim’s family represented him at various events worldwide. Please click 2023 NEWS.

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2024

LISBON
Aga Khan IV receives a gift for his 67th Imamat Day

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Aga Khan IV is honoured with the Mostar Peace Connection Award

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NOTE: For the remainder of the news about Mawlana Shah Karim, aside from Prince Rahim accepting the Mostar Award on his behalf, please click 2024 Part 1 January to July, and 2024 Part 2 August to December.

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2025

PASSING: MAWLANA HAZAR IMAM, HIS HIGHNESS THE AGA KHAN, PASSES AWAY AT AGE 88 AFTER A REIGN OF 67 YEARS AS 49TH HEREDITARY ISMAILI IMAM

The 12 million-strong Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims worldwide learnt with deep sadness that their beloved 49th Imam, Mawlana Shah Karim Al Hussaini, His Highness the Aga Khan, whom they had called Mawlana Hazar Imam for 67.5 years passed peacefully to Almighty Allah’s grace on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, in Lisbon, Portugal, surrounded by his family, who were with him in his final moments. At age 88 (December 13, 1936 to February 4, 2025), Mawlana Shah Karim was the longest-lived Imam in Ismaili history.

His yet-to-be-announced successor, as the 50th Shia Imami Ismaili Imam, was designated in his will but had not yet been announced in conformity with the historical Shia Imami Ismaili tradition and practice of Nass. Thereafter, the Jamat was to be notified of the declared Mawlana Hazar Imam in whom the Nur (the Light of Imamat) already exists in unbroken hereditary succession from the first Imam, Mawlana Ali (peace be upon him). 

As the Jamat worldwide awaited the announcement of the 50th Imam, each of us honoured, cherished, and offered gratitude for Mawlana Shah Karim’s life and legacy. We remained secure under the permanent love and protection of the eternal Rope of Imamat and the Manifest Nur (Light) in the 50th Imam-of-the-Time. In a birthday message in 1964, Mawlana Shah Karim eloquently spoke about the notion of continuous and uninterrupted Divine Guidance. He said:

“For hundreds of years my spiritual children have been guided by the Rope of Imamat; you have looked to the Imam of the Age for advice and help in all matters and through your Imam’s immense love and affection for his spiritual children, his Noor has indicated to you where and in which direction you must turn to obtain spiritual and worldly satisfaction” — Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV (Salgirah Darbar, Karachi, December 13, 1964).

Ismailis had nothing to be apprehensive or fearful about. Their answer about the designated 50th Imam would soon follow!

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PRINCE RAHIM AGA KHAN IS ANNOUNCED IN THE WILL OF MAWLANA SHAH KARIM AS THE 50TH HEREDITARY IMAM OF THE SHIA IMAMI ISMAILI MUSLIMS

The following day, February 5, 2025, Ismailis worldwide rejoiced with immense happiness that Mawlana Shah Karim designated, through the Nass, Prince Rahim Al Hussaini Aga Khan V, as the beloved 50th Imam. A press release (PDF format) dated February 5, 2025, issued in Lisbon by the Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat said:

“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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FUNERAL OF MAWLANA SHAH KARIM, HIS LATE HIGHNESS AGA KHAN IV, IS HELD AT THE ISMAILI CENTRE IN LISBON

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BURIAL OF MAWLANA SHAH KARIM, HIS LATE HIGHNESS AGA KHAN IV, IS HELD IN ASWAN

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FEBRUARY 11, 2025: MAWLANA HAZAR IMAM, HIS HIGHNESS PRINCE RAHIM AGA KHAN, IS CEREMONIALLY ENTHRONED AS THE 50TH IMAM OF THE SHIA IMAMI ISMAILI MUSLIMS

The Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat in Lisbon was the setting for a crucial and historic day for the Ismaili Muslims — the ceremonial enthronement of Mawlana Shah Rahim as the 50th Hereditary Imam, in direct succession from Hazrat Ali, the first Shia Imam. The ceremony was broadcast live worldwide. Each Ismaili Council President, 22 in all, representing their countries in turn, submitted bayʿah (oath of allegiance) to Mawlana Hazar Imam on behalf of their jurisdiction’s Jamats. Hazar Imam then signed a constitutional instrument ordained on December 13, 1986, on Mawlana Shah Karim’s 50th birthday.

A hush fell upon the room as the Imam stepped forward to address his Jamat for the first time. Mawlana Hazar Imam graciously delivered a Farman Mubarak (edict or guidance) to assembled leaders and the Jamat worldwide. He accepted the Jamat’s pledges, paid tribute to his late father, thanked his family for their presence and support, and spoke of his priorities for the Jamat. He earnestly offered prayers for mushkil-asan (protection from difficulties), a comforting reminder of his unwavering care, and reassured his spiritual children that they were always with him. He pledged to dedicate his life to caring for the Ismaili Jamat’s spiritual and material well-being. He spoke of the principles of the Ismaili Muslim faith, the importance of balancing worldly and spiritual matters, and the regular practice of the faith. His Farman focused on universal concepts of peace, tolerance, inclusion and support for those in need. He said he wants his Jamat to be loyal and active citizens of the countries they live in and urged us to lead by example in matters related to climate change, reminding us of the global impact of our actions. Leaders of the Jamat then humbly submitted a gift on behalf of the global Jamat to commemorate the historic moment of Mawlana Shah Rahim al-Hussaini Hazar Imam’s Takht-nishini.

The gift is a manuscript titled Munajat Hazrat Ali Amir al-Mu’minin, comprising a selection of silent or whispered prayers of our first Imam, Hazrat Ali (peace be upon him). The manuscript reflects the profound significance of prayer and supplication at the heart of the Alid tradition. Its floral and animal motifs also suggest the importance of stewardship of our earthly environment and living in harmony with the natural world. It also highlights the connection between Mawlana Hazar Imam and his ancestor, Hazrat Ali, from whom he inherited the Nur (Light) of Imamat. 

As the ceremony came to a close, each Ismaili Muslim watching felt a sense of connection. They knew that their new Imam, like his father, would guide them with grace, wisdom, and a resolute dedication to the spiritual and material progress of the worldwide Jamat. They felt reassured that their Imam was always with his spiritual children.

Sad as it was a few days earlier when the Ismaili world learned about the death of their beloved 49th Imam, Mawlana Shah Karim Al-Hussaini, the Takht-nishini of his successor, Mawlana Shah Rahim, as the 50th Imam, was one of the most inspirational and significant days in the life of the Ismaili community in modern history.

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november 6: MAWLANA HARZAR IMAM, HIS HIGHNESS THE AGA KHAN SEES THE COMPLETION OF HIS FATHER’S ICONIC PROJECT, tHE ISMAILI CENTER, HOUSTON

Reflecting on the journey from conception to inauguration, we are inspired by the unwavering dedication of Mawlana Shah Karim and Mawlana Shah Rahim Al Hussaini to completing iconic projects that exemplify their commitment to community development and spiritual leadership. Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, inaugurated the Platinum Jubilee Hospital in Nairobi, a landmark achievement in healthcare, which was under development when he became the 49th Hereditary Imam. The hospital was the vision of his grandfather, Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, whom he succeeded on July 11, 1957, at the age of twenty, as the 49th Imam.

Decades later, the incomplete Ismail and Center in Houston, begun in the early 2020s during Mawlana Shah Karim’s reign, was completed and inaugurated by his successor, our beloved 50th Imam, Mawlana Shah Rahim Al Hussaini.

Mawlana Hazar Imam travelled to Houston and, with Houston’s Mayor, John Whitmire, inaugurated the beautiful Centre. We offer our humble shukrana to Mawlana Hazar Imam for seeing the completion of the project and for designating the Jamatkhana in the Center as the Darkhana of the USA.

“My late father chose Houston to be the location of the first Ismaili Center in the United States. It was a very natural choice; because this city has been, for decades, home to a significant Ismaili community, and the headquarters of our Ismaili institutions in the US. It is also a global city, one that welcomes and offers friendship to people from all over the world, enabling them to flourish in whatever their fields of endeavour…..The Ismaili Center Houston is the seventh in a family of buildings spanning Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and North America. They serve many purposes. “

“While daily congregational prayer is a primary focus, they also seek to enable a vibrant exchange of ideas, and to nurture understanding amongst peoples of diverse communities and faiths.This is why this Center includes a theatre, exhibition spaces, a sports court, play areas for children, conference rooms, classrooms, and landscaped gardens for everyone to enjoy. We very much hope that the facilities and activities offered here will bring not just joy, but learning and new opportunities.” — His Highness the Aga Khan, Houston, November 6, 2025. Read the complete speech HERE.

The opening day of the Houston Ismaili Center was a historic event that instilled pride and unity in the Jamat of Texas and the wider USA. The Center is designed to be a hub that brings together people from all walks of life in an atmosphere of peace, happiness, and friendship. It will foster connections and learning among Houston’s diverse communities and faiths. A key goal of Mawlana Shah Karim during his Imamat was to promote a strong and vibrant pluralistic society, which Mawlana Hazar Imam emphasized during all of his mulaqats with the Jamat and reiterated on the opening day of the Center in Houston.

The Ismaili Jamat today can look to the future with hope and confidence as they celebrate the Divine Authority bestowed on them from Allah through a living and manifest Imam, Mawlana Hazar Imam. We offer our humble shukhrana to Mawlana Hazar Imam for the immense love he has shown his murids and for his beautiful Farmans, full of clarity and wisdom. May every Murid around the world rally behind Hazar Imam and seek to fulfill the hopes and aspirations he has articulated in his Farmans to us with such clarity. We beseech him through the following sacred words of supplication by Pir Hasan Kabirdin:

Eji, Aash Karine Ya Ali hun tere dar ubhi,
Kar jodine em mangu Ya Shah;
Dejo didar tusi mahavar datar Shah,
Hama tere charane lagu.

Translation

With hope I stand at Thy door,
O Ali! And sincerely beg of Thee;
Bless me with Thy Holy Didar,
O Great Lord and Benefactor!
At Thy Feet I fall to prostrate

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“There is always an Imam to guide the Jamat” — Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, July 12, 2025

“My late father — our 49th Imam….was a visionary and inspiring leader. His contributions to the world will be felt and remembered for generations to come. My boys and I miss him — and I am sure you do too. These emotions generated by the passing of a loved one are a normal reaction. They serve to remind us that human existence is transitory and the only part of the individual which is eternal is the soul.

“But remember there is always an Imam to guide the Jamat. And as the Imam-of-the-Time I will continue to build on the legacy of my father and the Imams who came before us.” — Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, Paris, July 12, 2025.

Date posted: December 17, 2025.

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Related and informative links:

• AKDN: Awards and Honours to His Late Highness Aga Khan IV
• His Late Highness Aga Khan IV in Pictures: Part 1, 1936 to 1999

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