
This is an update to our original piece published in 2018, shortly after Prince Rahim and Princess Salwa had released their official family photographs following the birth of Prince Sinan.
Prince Sinan, second child of Prince Rahim and Princess Salwa Aga Khan, celebrated his 5th birthday on January 2, 2022. His older brother Prince Irfan will turn seven on April 11, 2022. The two princes stole the hearts of the Jamat during Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Diamond Jubilee in Lisbon in July 2018.

Prince Rahim and Princes Salwa were married in a nikkah ceremony in September 2013. Their first son, Prince Irfan, was born in Geneva on April 11, 2015. Irfan is an indirect Qur’anic name for boys and means “wisdom”. It refers to all that is good and true of thoughts and deeds. It is derived from the Ain-R-F root (to know, to recognize), which is used in many places in the Holy Qur’an.
Prince Sinan was born in London, England, on January 2, 2017. Sinan is an Arabic name for boys meaning spearhead and is derived from the root word S-N-N which is used in the Qur’an. Sinan is pronounced [(SI)mple] + [(NA)p + (N)ew] with emphasis on the second syllable.
In Ismaili history, the name Sinan is associated with the revered personality of Rashid al-din Sinan, one of the greatest and most valiant of the Syrian Isma’ili da’is of the thirteenth century A.C.

Prince Sinan in the arms of his father Prince Rahim, and Princess Salwa carrying his big brother, Prince Irfan. Photo: The Ismaili.
The birth of Prince Sinan was celebrated with great joy throughout the Ismaili world. One of our regular contributor’s Shariffa Keshavjee of Nairobi, penned a special poem on the occasion of Prince Sinan’s birth. It first appeared on Barakah’s sister website Simerg, before we published it on this page along with the beautiful photographs of Prince Sinan that were officially released by Prince Rahim and Princess Salwa.
We convey our warmest birthday wishes to Prince Sinan on the auspicious occasion of his 5th birthday, and we offer our heartiest congratulation to his parents Prince Rahim and Princess Salwa as well as his older brother Prince Irfan on the happy occasion.
A Child

BY SHARIFFA KESHAVJEE
A miracle, a gift today a child that comes to us
Our bending is of gladness in the archers hand to us
He loves the arrow that flies, the bow so stable for us
The archer sees the mark upon the path for us
Bends it with his might, the arrow goes far for us
The name of Sinan brings the memory of
Aleppo and Masyaf to us
His philosophy as dai forever imprinted on us
The balance of the zahir and batin as it come to us
A reciprocal social relationship of balance within us
Weaving a tapestry of din-dunia
In this our Diamond Jubilee year, your birth bring to us
Great tidings of gladness and joy within us
Our many faceted diamond is aglow for us.
Date posted: March 4, 2017.
Last updated: January 2, 2022 (Click here for link to meaning of Irfan).
This website has an excellent array of thoughtful articles and beautiful photos of Mawlana Hazar Imam. Do not leave this website before checking out Barakah’s Table of Contents.
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Photo credits: http://www.theismaili.org, the official website of the Ismaili community.

About the writer: Shariffa Keshavjee is a philanthropist and an entrepreneur with an objective to help women empower themselves. Raised in Kisumu, she considers herself a “pakaa” Kenyan. She is now based in the nation’s capital, Nairobi. Her other interest is in visual arts where she delights in painting on wood, silk and porcelain using water colours, oils and acrylics. She also likes writing, especially for children, and bird watching.
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Happy birthday to Prince Sinan. I am not an Ismaili but a fan of H.H. Karim Aga Khan who is a very wise man like his grandpa. This world needs wise men.
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This is a small selection of comments posted in social media groups where a referral to this Barakah piece on Prince Sinan’s birthday was made – Ed.
Ebtsam B Nasr
عيد ميلاد مبارك لاميرنا المحبوب سنان كل عام وهو بالف خير (A blessed birthday to our beloved prince Sinan, every year and that he is fine)
Salima Dharani
Happy Birthday Prince Sinan Aga Khan 🎂
Shirin Dharani
Happy birthday Prince. Stay blessed always with your family ameen. ❤️
Ismail Shah
Happy Birthday 🎂🎊🎁
Sayedzohour Sayeddulla
Happy birthday 🌹🎂🎂❤🌹
Nazir Nensi
Mubarak Prince Sinan, Happy Birthday
· Reply · 3h
Wais Sakhizada
Happy birthday to our beloved prince sinan ❤️
Jafferali Dhukka
Happy Birthday🎉🎂🎊
Dillawer Ashrafi
یاعلی مدد
الهم صلی علی محمدوعلی آل محمد
Naeem Khan
Happy birthday ❤️
Hira Khan
Happy birthday dearest prince
Nasreen Assar Alidina
Happy Birthday Prince Sinan Aga Khan!🎂
Ismat Kassam
Happy birthday
Prince Baig
Happy birthday little one Sinan
Rojina Charniya
Happy birthday prince Sinan
Naweed Hassan Zada
Happy Birthday 🎈🎊🎂
Nasim Rajan
Happy Birthday 🎂🎁🎊
Minarif Mansouraly
Happy Birthday 🎂🎊🎁
Rishma Dossa
Happy birthday
Rahim Jetha
Happy Birthday
Rozina Virani
Happy birthday little one
Inayat Shivji
Happy Birthday
Naseem Akhtar
MashaAllah congratulations to Prince Rahim,Our Mowla bapa & entire family,best wishes for prince Sinan’s birthday,May he b blessed with happy & healthy long life Aameen Summa Aameen,with lots of love.
🎂👏👏💗💗
Shamim Badrudin
Happy Birthday 🎊🎂🎁
Suli Kanji Asani
Happy Birthday Prince 🎂🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈
Mehajabeen Maredia
Happy birthday prince
Aman Amini
Happy Birthday🎂🎁🎉 prince
Zubeda Lalani
Happy Birthday 🎂🎊🎉 prince
Samina Lalani
Happy Birthday 🎊🎂🎁
Shemina Jiná
Happy Birthday 🎁🎈🎊
Abida Somani
Mashallah
Dillawer Ashrafi
اللهم صلی علی محمد وآل محمد (O Allah, bless Muhammad and his family)
Badruddin Kheraj
Happy Birthday. Many Happy returns of the day. Stay blessed always.
Nassim Merali
Happy Birthday 🎊🎁🎂
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Happy Birthday to Prince Sinan!
Thank you Malik for your passion in profiling and showcasing important occasions/events of the Noorani family.
May you remain blessed!
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Thank you Malik and Shariffa for awesome pictures and poem. Mawla bless you and family.
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A very Happy Birthday to Prince Sinan. Enjoy your Day. Many Happy Returns of the day.
Also Happy New Year to Nurani Family.
Thank you Malik for letting us know the meanings of the names.
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Befitting, beautiful, heart warming and thought provoking poem by Bibi Keshewajee on this auspicious occasion of the Diamond Jubilee—Asante sana sister Shariffa!
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Thank you for sharing both the Princes’ names and meanings.
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