Barakah is dedicated to Mawlana Shah Rahim al Hussaini, His Highness the Aga Khan, members of his family and the Ismaili Imamat – a Hereditary Divine Institution from the Time of the Prophet Muhammad and Imam Ali
Rare photographs of Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah and Mawlana Shah Karim Shah, Aga Khan III and Aga Khan IV, from the collection of Alijah Mohamed Kassam of the UK
Front row: Mohamed Kassam, the contributor of photographs for this Barakah post, with Mawlana Shah Karim (right) and Prince Amyn.
Introduced by MALIK MERCHANT Photographs: ALIJAH MOHAMED KASSAM ARCHIVES, UK
Barakah presents a collection of ten rare images from the archives of Alijah Mohamed Kassam of the UK. The only surviving member in his family, Alijah Kassam, now in his 80s, told us that he was only 3 years old when the earliest photo in the set, that of Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, was taken.
Alijah Kassam is a cherished member of the Ismaili community. He has rendered his services as a musician since he was 8 years old and composed many songs for the Silver Jubilee (1982-1983) and Golden Jubilee (2007-2008) of Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV (d. February 4, 2025). He also participated in the Nashid al Imamah during Mawlana Shah Karim’s Diamond Jubilee (2017-2018) at his residence in France.
We express our profound gratitude to Alijah Mohamed Kassam for sharing this rare collection, accompanied by captions, with our readers worldwide, who will surely appreciate seeing some of the photographs for the first time ever.
Alijah Mohamed Kassam Collection, UK.
Mohamed Kassam’s father, Gulamhussein Kassam, 3rd from left, with Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, His Late Highness Aga Khan III, Nairobi, Kenya, mid 1940s. Photograph: Alijah Mohamed Kassam archives, UK.
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Mohamed Kassam’s father, Gulamhussein Kassam (standing, 4th from left), with Prince Aly Khan (seated, centre), Nairobi, Kenya. Photograph: Alijah Mohamed Kassam archives, UK.
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Front row (l to r): Prince Amyn Aga Khan, Mohamed Kassam, Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, then Prince Karim, and Sadrudin Kassam; rear (l to r): Madat Alibhai Shariff, Fatima Kassam, Shirin Kassam (sister of Mohamed Kassam), Sherbanu Kassam (mother of Mohamed Kassam), Abdul Sultan Kassam (brother), Kaderalli Missionary (who tutored Mawlana Shah Karim and Prince Amyn, during their childhood in Nairobi), and Huzurmukhi Gulamhussein Kassam (father of Mohamed Kassam), Nairobi, Kenya, early 1940s. Photograph: Alijah Mohamed Kassam archives, UK.
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Front row (l to r): Prince Amyn Aga Khan, Mohamed Kassam and Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, then Prince Karim; rear (l to r): Fatima Kassam, Sadrudin Kassam, Shirin Kassam (sister of Mohamed Kassam) and Abdul Sultan Kassam (brother of Mohamed Kassam). Photograph: Alijah Mohamed Kassam archives, UK.
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Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, flanked by the Administrator of the Aga Khan Education Board, Mr. Jimmy Verjee, and class teacher Ms. Shireen Kassam (sister of Mohamed Kassam), watches several young artists at work, while the Principal of the school, Mrs. Jean Kirk, looks on from behind, during his visit to the Aga Khan Primary School in the early 1960s. Photograph: Mohamed Kassam Archives, UK. NOTE: The same photograph was submitted to us by Allison Wallace of Australia, daughter of Headmistress Mrs. Jean Kirk. Please visit Jean Kirk’s extraordinary collection by clicking HERE.
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Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, is introduced to the Aga Khan Primary School headmistress, Shirin Kassam, during his visit to the school in October 1966. Shirin (Mohamed Kassam’s sister) first served as the school’s teacher, as shown in the previous photo, and later became the headmistress, a position she held for several years. Photograph: Alijah Mohamed Kassam archives, UK.
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Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, signs the Aga Khan Primary School Nairobi Guestbook as headmistress of the school, Shirin Kassam (Mohamed Kassam’s sister), pictured at right, looks on, October 1966. Photograph: Alijah Mohamed Kassam archives, UK.
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Message by Shirin Kassam (Mohamed Kassam’s sister), who taught and was Headmistress of the Aga Khan Primary School in Nairobi, Kenya, for more than 25 years, published in the second issue of the school’s magazine. Photograph: Alijah Mohamed Kassam archives, UK.
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Message from Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, dated January 18, 1968 in response to the second issue of a school magazine published by the Aga Khan Primary School, Nairobi, Kenya. Photograph: Alijah Mohamed Kassam archives, UK.
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Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, meets with Mohamed Kassam — a lifetime musician — and his group who performed at a reception held at the residence of Vazir Shafik Sachedina, the then President of the Aga Khan Council for the UK, during Mawlana Shah Karim’s visit to the UK, 1994. Photograph: Alijah Mohamed Kassam archives, UK.
Date posted: April 26, 2025.
CORRECTION: In our earlier post, we inadvertently referred to Mawlana Shah Karim as “Prince Rahim” instead of “Prince Karim” in two photo captions related to his childhood years. We apologize for this error.
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FEEDBACK AND Table of Contents
Before you leave, remember that Barakah’s editor, Malik, is here to assist you. If you have any questions or feedback, please scroll down to leave a comment or send an email to mmerchant@barakah.com. Also, don’t miss the opportunity to explore the wealth of content on Barakah’s Home Page or Table of Contents, with over 350 pieces dedicated to Mawlana Hazar Imam, members of his family and the Ismaili Imamat. And don’t forget to visit our sister websites, Simerg and Simergphotos. You can also stay updated by following him @Facebook, @X and @LinkedIn.
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Hello Malik: This is Taj Kothari. I read all your posts. Thank you for the very good information.
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