Introduced, compiled and prepared by MALIK MERCHANT
Publisher-Editor, Barakah, Simerg and Simergphotos

In the spring of 2021, Barakah began celebrating the birthdays of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s family members by publishing photos and narratives reflecting their hard work, passion and commitment to making this world a better place to live, and their incredible dedication to the work of the Imamat. We commenced our tribute with Prince Hussain (b. April 10, 1974) as he celebrated his 47th birthday, and followed that with pieces on Prince Amyn (b. September 12, 1937) Princess Zahra (b. September 18, 1970), Prince Rahim (b. October 12, 1971) and Princess Yasmin (b. December 28, 1949).

This special post on Prince Aly Muhammad was first published on the auspicious occasion of his 22nd birthday on March 7, 2022.  We are now updating it with Imamat related events that Prince Aly Muhammad participated in between then and March 7, 2023.

We offer convey our sincerest and heartfelt birthday greetings to Prince Aly Muhammad on his 23rd birthday, and wish him success and happiness in all his endeavours. The editor had been away and regrets the delay in updating this post until his return.

March 7, 2000: Birth of Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan

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April 2015: Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan Visits the Aga Khan Academy in Hyderabad, and Heritage Sites

Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, visited the Aga Khan Academy in Hyderabad on April 10, 2015 on a working visit to review progress of the school. Mawlana Hazar Imam was accompanied by his son Prince Aly Muhammad, his daughter Princess Zahra and her children Sara and Iliyan. The visit allowed Mawlana Hazar Imam to assess first-hand the progress made since his last visit in September 2013 when the school was formally inaugurated. While at the Academy, Mawlana Hazar Imam toured the campus including the Athletics Centre, the Junior and Senior Schools, as well as the student residences. Together with members of his family, he met and interacted with teachers, staff and students.

Mawlana Hazar Imam, accompanied by member of his family, also toured the Qutb Shahi Heritage Park park, reviewing photographs, restoration plans and the progress of work to date. They also toured Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi.

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July 2017: Inauguration of the Diamond Jubilee of Mawlana Hazar Imam

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October 2017: Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan Visits Pakistan

Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan arrived in Pakistan on October 9, 2017 to visit projects of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in the north of the country. The trip enhanced his understanding of issues related to the built environment, natural hazard mitigation, health, education, culture, and rural development — all areas in which the AKDN with its partners are actively engaged to improve the quality of life. During his weeklong visit, Prince Aly Muhammad met with numerous families whose quality of life has been enhanced by the Network. From this trip, the Prince then wrote, directed and narrated a documentary Close to Home which was screened at the International Film Festival at Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in Lisbon July 2018.

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March 2018: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Hosts His Highness the Aga Khan at Windsor Castle

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on March 7, 2018 hosted a dinner at Windsor Castle to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Mawlana Hazar Imam.

Mawlana Hazar Imam was accompanied by Prince Amyn, Princess Zahra, Prince Rahim, Princess Salwa, Prince Hussain and Prince Aly Muhammad.

The event acknowledged historic linkages between the Ismaili Imamat and the British Monarchy; and longstanding connections between the Ismaili Community, the institutions of the Aga Khan Development Network, and the United Kingdom. Mawlana Hazar Imam was bestowed the title ‘His Highness’ by Her Majesty the Queen in 1957 upon his accession as the 49th Imam of the Ismaili Muslims.

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June 2018: Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan at World Partnership Walk Toronto

On June 17, 2018, Prince Aly Muhammad gave an opening speech at Pecaut Square, Toronto for the 34th annual, World Partnership Walk, organized by the Aga Khan Foundation, which raised over Can$ 6 million. Prince Aly Muhammad’s presence energized the crowd of walkers and volunteers. The walkers were delighted to see him walking the route, engaging in conversation along the way and acknowledging the contribution of all those in attendance to improve the lives in marginalized communities around the world. Prince Aly Muhammad spoke eloquently about the work of the Aga Khan Development Network, and his trip to Pakistan that had taken place in October 2017, after which he produced a documentary Close to Home on the impact of climate change on the region’s vulnerable communities.

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July 2018: Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan at the Diamond Jubilee Celebration in Lisbon

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November 2018: Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan Visits the Naryn Campus of the University of Central Asia

Prince Aly Muhammad made a five day visit to the Kyrgyz Republic, during which he visited the Naryn campus of the University of Central Asia (UCA). Prince Aly Muhammad spent time with students in Naryn to understand more about their backgrounds and aspirations. “I was deeply inspired by the students and faculty I had the opportunity to meet during this trip. Getting to know so many talented students and learning more about the UCA’s mission has been exciting and deeply rewarding,” explained Prince Aly.

As part of his ongoing work, Prince Aly Muhammad also plans to build on his first film, Close to Home. “I was touched by the enthusiastic response to my first project, including at the World Partnership Walk in Toronto and the Jubilee Arts International Film Festival in Lisbon,” he said. “I plan to continue adding to the Close to Home series, in the hope that these films will help shed light on issues that I believe are important to young people today.”

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June 2019: Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan Visits Tajikistan

The website Asiaplus reported that on June 25, 2019 Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan arrived in Khorog, the capital of Tajikistan’s Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) for his first ever visit to Tajikistan. During his visit, Prince Aly Muhammad visited the Khorog Campus of the University of Central Asia (UCA).

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2020: Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan Releases Film Al-Khimyah

In 2020, Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan released the feature length documentary “Al-Khimyah” (see review) which explores the work of the Aga Khan Historic Cities Programme in Cairo. This is part of the Prince’s Close to Home Series and shines a spotlight on the 30-hectare Al-Azhar Park — converted from a mound of rubble — and the stories of local residents of the adjacent al-Darb al-Ahmar neighbourhood.

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May 2021: Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan Attends Virtual Global Convocation of the Aga Khan University

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June 28, 2022: Prince Aly Muhammad IN iMAMAT Delegation to UN Ocean Conference

The official website of the Ismaili Muslim community, the Ismaili reported on June 28, 2022 that an Ismaili Imamat delegation led by Prince Rahim attended the Ocean Conference in Lisbon at the invitation of the United Nations (UN).

Representing the Ismaili Imamat, Prince Rahim was accompanied by Prince Hussain and Prince Aly Muhammad, and senior AKDN leaders.

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July 8, 2022: Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan and family members attend Open Air-Concert at Lisbon’s São Jorge Castle

In its issue dated July 22, 2022, The.Ismaili, the official website of the Ismaili Muslim community, reports that on July 8, Prince Amyn, Prince Hussain, and Prince Aly Muhammad attended a special open-air concert by the Aga Khan Master Musicians at Lisbons’s spectacular São Jorge Castle. The concert came about via a partnership between the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat to Portugal; the Aga Khan Music Programme; and EGEAC, the agency responsible for cultural equipment and programming in Lisbon. The aim was to offer an evening of musical delights to citizens and visitors in Lisbon. The Aga Khan Master Musicians look forward to resuming their regular performance schedule, and playing in unique venues and settings like the one in Lisbon. this one  after a long hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Distinguished guests to the live event, included President of the Portuguese Republic Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Mayor of Lisbon Carlos Moedas, and Minister of Justice Catarina Sarmento e Castro.

Formed in 2016, the Aga Khan Master Musicians contribute to the work of the Aga Khan Music Programme (AKMP) and its mission to reinvigorate cultural pluralism and tolerance. They create music inspired by their own deep roots in the cultures of the Middle East, Mediterranean, South and Central Asia, and China. They were joined at the event by special Portuguese guests Ricardo Parreira, Marco Oliveira, and Vicente Magalhães – respected artists in the genres of classical, jazz, and fado, respectively. The Master Musicians and guest artists combined to present an original body of work – this was the first time their unique combination of instruments appeared on the same stage.

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July 11, 2022: Mawlana Hazar Imam Celebrates Imamat Day with His Family

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December 18, 2022: Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan at Ismaili Centre Lisbon’s Open House as it Celebrates 26th Anniversary of its Founding

On the weekend of December 17, 2022, to mark the 26th anniversary of its founding, the Ismaili Centre invited the public to an Open House to learn more about the aspirations and architectural influences considered during the design phase of the building and its gardens. Prince Aly Muhammad, Mawlana Hazar Imam’s youngest child, the Mayor of Lisbon, Dr Carlos Moedas; and President of the Parish of São Domingos de Benfica, José da Câmara were present at the Open House and were offered a tour of the Centre.

The delegation explored the Ismaili Centre’s main spaces, including the prayer hall. Throughout the tour, they engaged with the urban sketchers, a local group of artists performing live sketches in different areas of the Centre; interacted with the artists whose work was on display in the Exhibition Hall; and watched the Sarkosh family performing traditional Afghan music. Other performances during the weekend included the Ismaili Choir of Portugal, who performed well-known songs from the Portuguese and Indian cultures, and Irina, who presented the visitors with traditional dances from the Pamir region of Central Asia. 

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December 5, 2022: Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan attends 2022 Earthshot Prize Ceremony

In a news release dated December 5, 2022, the AKDN website reports that on Friday, December 2, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales revealed the winners of the 2022 Earthshot Prize at a ceremony in Boston, USA. Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan attended the event on behalf of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), a Founding Partner of the Global Alliance that supports the Prize. The Earthshot Prize was established by Prince William in 2020 in order to change the global discourse about climate and the environment, from one of pessimism and gloom to one of optimism and hope. Five winners from India, Kenya, Australia, the United Kingdom and Oman shared the £1-million prize at the second annual Earthshot Prize awards ceremony. The winners were selected from 15 finalists across five categories representing an accomplished group of entrepreneurs and innovators spearheading ground-breaking solutions to the biggest environmental challenges our planet faces.

Date posted: March 5, 2022.
Last updated: March 14, 2023 (updated to reflect Prince Aly Muhammad’s news to current, as of his 23rd birthday, which fell on March 7, 2023).

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FEEDBACK

Barakah welcomes your feedback. Please complete the LEAVE A REPLY form below or send your comment to the editor, Malik, at mmerchant@barakah.com. Your letter may be edited for length and brevity, and is subject to moderation.

Malik Merchant is the founding publisher and editor of Barakah (2017) as well as its two sister websites Simerg (2009) and Simergphotos (2012). An IT consultant for more than 30 years, he now engages in family related projects. His passion for literature and community publications began in his childhood years through the work of his late parents Jehangir (d. 2017) and Malek Merchant (d. 2021), who devoted their lives to the service of the Ismaili community, its institutions and the Imam-of-the-Time. In the UK, Malik edited Ilm magazine with his father. The internet encouraged him to launch his first website, Simerg, in 2009. A resident of Ontario for almost 4 decades, he recently relocated to Alberta. He has an animal loving daughter Dr. Nurin Merchant; she is a vet and practices in Ontario.

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