Malik Merchant, Editor

Flashback: “I would like to be buried in Aswan” – the wish of Aga Khan III, 48th Hereditary Imam of Ismaili Muslims

“He used to say ‘Egypt is the flag of Islam’. And he wanted to be buried here…we looked around and one day while on the Nile in a felucca with the Director, who said: ‘But why do you insist on finding somewhere to be buried? You see that house’? It was absolutely closed and neglected. ‘It is on sale. Why don’t you buy it and enjoy yourself here’? My husband replied: ‘But I agree. Provided I have the permission to build a mausoleum behind’. And we bought it.” — Begum Om Habibeh Aga Khan

Some photographs are clickable for enlargement

Aga Khan Mausoluem Aswan photo b y Sarite Sanders, Simerg and Barakah
The mausoleum of Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, His Highness the Aga Khan, in Aswan overlooking the family’s white villa, Noor al Salaam, and the River Nile. This magnificent mausoleum of the Aga Khan was modelled on the Fatimid tombs in Egypt. Photo: © Sarite Sanders. Published in Simerg and its sister blogs Barakah and Simergphotos under a licensing agreement with Sarite Sanders.

Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, His Highness the Aga Khan (November 2, 1877 – July 11, 1957), the 48th Hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, had expressed a wish to be buried in Aswan in Egypt. The Imam had a special place for Egypt ever since his first visit to the country in 1935. In his Memoirs, the Aga Khan writes:

“On my way home to India I visited Egypt for the first time. Those who have not experienced it, who have not been lucky enough to fall under Egypt’s spell, will find it difficult, I suppose, to realize the sheer magic of the first sight of Egypt. And that my first sight was on a perfect early winter day, and need I say that all my life since then I have had a special corner in my heart for Egypt, and that I have returned there as often as I could.”

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Aga Khan portrait paintings by Ismaili artist Azeez Khanbhai, Barakah exclusive
A painting of Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, His Highness the Aga Khan, by Ismaili artist Azeez Khanbhai. The water colour painting was adapted from the lapis lazzuli work of the 48th Imam by famed Ismaili artist Gulgee of Pakistan. Photo: Azeez Khanbhai Collection.
Mata Salamat Om Habibeh Aga Khan Barakah textual and visual expressions
Mata Salamat Om Habibeh Aga Khan stands in front of large portrait of Mawlana Sultan Mohamed Shah, His Highness the Aga Khan, at Villa Yakiamour, Cannes, in this specially signed photo, dated 13 December, 1992, for Vancouver’s Nizar Harji. Photograph: Nizar Harji Family Collection.

In an interview with the Al-Ahram Weekly dated 23-29 April, 1992, the Begum Om Habibeh Aga Khan, lovingly addressed Mata Salamat by the Ismailis, explained the choice of Aswan:

“We had been coming here since 1935, when the place was not a touristic location at all but a health retreat and resort. We used to come for one or two months and stay at the Cataract Hotel and have lovely promenades on the Nile. We did not come to be cured of asthma or such things, it was just to enjoy the good weather and good air of Aswan.

“During these visits to the hotel, one day my husband said: ‘I would like to be buried in Aswan’.”

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Aga Khan mausoleum Aswan, River Nile, Sarite Sanders, Simerg and Barakah
High up on the west bank of the Nile in Aswan stands the tomb of Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, His Highness the Aga Khan, the 48th Hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslima. He died on July 11, 1957 after a reign of 71 years. He was permanently buried in the mausoleum on February 19, 1959. His wife, the Begum On Habibeh Aga Khan, who died July 1, 2000, is buried next to him. Photograph: © Sarite Sanders. Published in Simerg and its sister blogs Barakah and Simergphotos under a licensing agreement with Sarite Sanders.

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Noor al Salaam, Aga Khan Aswan, Simerg and Barakah
The Aga Khan family’s villa, Noor al Salaam, where the body of the 48th Imam lay temporarily buried after his death on July 11, 1957, before it was moved to its final resting place in the mausoleum on February 19, 1959. © Photo: Motani Gamily collection, Ottawa, Canada.

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The mausoleum of Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, His Highness the Aga Khan, in Aswan on the west bank of the Nile. In the foreground is the Aga Khan family's villa Noor al Salaam. © Photo: Motani Family Collection, Ottawa, Canada.
The mausoleum of Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, His Highness the Aga Khan, in Aswan on the west bank of the Nile. In the foreground is the Aga Khan family’s villa Noor al Salaam. © Photo: Motani Family collection, Ottawa, Canada.

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“He used to say ‘Egypt is the flag of Islam’. And he wanted to be buried here. Then we looked around and one day while on the Nile in a felucca with the Director, who said: ‘But why do you insist on finding somewhere to be buried? You see that house’? It was absolutely closed and neglected. ‘It is on sale. Why don’t you buy it and enjoy yourself here’? My husband replied: ‘But I agree. Provided I have the permission to build a mausoleum behind’. And we bought it. The villa was named Noor al Salaam.“

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Aga Khan carrying body of his grandfather to the final resting place, Barakah and Simerg
Mawlana Shah Karim al Hussaini, His Highness the Aga Khan, who succeeded as the 49th Hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims, seen carrying the body of his grandfather from the temporary burial place, Noor al Salaam, to its final resting place in the mausoleum. Photograph: © Motani Collection, Ottawa, Canada.

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Aga Khan III Aswan burial, Simerg
The 49th Hereditary Ismaili Imam, Mawlana Sha Karim al Hussaini, His Highness the Aga Khan, left, his uncle Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, right, and his younger brotehr Prince Amyn Aga Khan at the back, carrying the shrouded body of the 48th Ismaili Imam, Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, from its temporary resting place to the mausoleum. Photograph: Jehangir Merchant collection.

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Aga Khan III Mausoleum Aswan, burial, Simerg and Barakah
Mourners watch as the body of the 48th Ismaili Imam, Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, His Highness the Aga Khan, is carried into the mausoleum, February 19, 1959. Photograph: Jehangir Merchant collection.

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The marble sarcophagus of Aga Khan III
The marble sarcophagus of the 48th Hereditary Ismaili Imam, Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, His Highness the Aga Khan, under the granite dome of his mausoleum in Aswan . Photograph: Jehangir Merchant collection.

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Sarite Sanders Aga Khan Mausoleum Aswan, Barakah.com
Another view of the mausoleum of Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, His Highness the Aga Khan, in Aswan on the west bank of the Nile. The mausoleum is near the Monastery of St. Simeons. Photograph: © Sarite Sanders. Published in Simerg and its sister blogs Barakah and Simergphotos under a licensing agreement with Sarite Sanders.

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Mawlana Shah Karim al Hussaini Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, on his grandfather, the 48th Ismaili Imam

“Today, I am speaking to you in a city and in a country which have a particular meaning to my family and myself. On 2nd November, 1877 my beloved grandfather was born here in Karachi. Through 72 years of Imamat, he guided his spiritual children to happiness and prosperity” — Karachi, August 4, 1957.

“Many many memories come to our minds as we think of him. He achieved in his life, for our community that which could only have been accomplished normally in a period of many generations. The tributes that the world has paid him bear honest testimony to his great life and work” — Takhtnashini, ceremonial installation, Karachi, Pakistan, January 23, 1958.

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Aga Khan portrait with grandfather, Simerg and Barakah
A portrait of the 49th Hereditary Ismaili Imam, Mawlana Shah Karim al Hussaini, His Highness the Aga Khan, taken shortly after he succeeded his late grandfather to the throne of Imamat on July 11, 1957 at the age of twenty. A framed portrait of the late 48th Imam who reigned the Ismailis for 71 years from August 17, 1885 to July 11, 1957 is seen in the background. Photo © Philippe Le Tellier/Paris Match via Getty Images.

“My grandfather was a most gifted person, and amongst his many qualities, one of them had always particularly impressed me. While the past was a book he had read and re-read many times, the future was just one more literary work of art into which he used to pour himself with deep thought and concentration. Innumerable people since his death have told me how he used to read in the future, and this certainly was one of his very great strengths. As a child I used to listen to him for many hours on end and I think, in fact I am convinced, that it was his inspiration which has created in me such a strong interest in the future, while at the same time, guiding me to learn from the teaching books of the past” — Karachi, May 12, 1964.

Date posted: February 20, 2023.

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One comment

  1. Thank you for this very memorable article with the photos related to the burial of our beloved Imam, and Matasalamat’s involvement. Reading through this reminded us the readers the treasure Of our Imamat carried through centuries from the creation of Al Azhar university during the Fatimid Period to this day with Cairo’s Al Azhar — both in Egypt — as well as other projects around the world. Those who have been lucky and had the opportunity to visit this part of Aswan are very lucky to have participated in a historical time. I hope that one day a trip could be organised by the community so that we could also visit the mausoleum both inside as well as outside.

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