We begin this post by wishing Prince Sinan a very happy 9th birthday and extend our congratulations to his father, Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, our beloved 50th Imam, his older brother, Prince Irfan, and to Mawlana Hazar Imam’s entire family.
On October 7, 2016, Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV (d. February 4, 2025), the 49th Hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, informed his Ismaili community (Jamat) around the world that his oldest son, Prince Rahim, who succeeded Mawlana Shah Karim as the 50th Imam, and Princess Salwa were expecting their second child. The first son, Prince Irfan, was born on April 15, 2015. His written message, read in Ismaili Jamatkhanas (places of worship), said:
“It gives me the greatest happiness to announce that Prince Rahim and Princess Salwa are expecting their second child. This wonderful news, which I am delighted to share with you, brings immense joy and happiness to all our family and to the Ismaili community worldwide.”
There was a deep sense of pride and unity among the Ismailis as we celebrated this important news. The Ismailis then celebrated the 80th birthday of Mawlana Shah Karim on December 13, 2016, recognizing him as the oldest living Imam in Ismaili history. A few short weeks later, the community rejoiced upon learning that Prince Rahim and Princess Salwa’s second child was born on January 2, 2017. Mawlana Shah Karim shared his heartfelt message with the Jamat:
“Prince Sinan’s birth has brought immense joy to our family. We are most touched by your kind thoughts and prayers over the period leading to Sinan’s birth.”
When the news of the birth of Prince Sinan reached the Jamat, Nairobi’s Shariffa Keshavjee spontaneously penned the following beautiful poem, titled ” A Child,” in the Prince’s honour.
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.
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The Meaning of Sinan
With Sinan chosen as the name for the newborn Prince, readers will realize that Shariffa’s poem is suffused with references to the revered Rashid al-din Sinan, one of the most outstanding and most valiant Syrian Isma’ili leaders of the 12th century.
Farhad Daftary notes in his book, The Ismaili Imams — A Biographical History, that “….in Syria the Ismailis attained the peak of their power and glory in the second half of the 12th century under their eminent dai Rashid al-Din Sinan (d. 1193), who successfully led them for three decades.” (p. 10).
Sinan is an Arabic name for boys meaning spearhead. It 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.
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prince sinan aga khan PHOTO ALBUM
Prince Sinan: 2017
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Prince Sinan: 2018
The Ismaili community’s first physical encounter with Prince Sinan occurred during the Diamond Jubilee of Mawlana Shah Karim in Lisbon in July 2018, when the Prince was only 18 months old. He and his older brother, Prince Irfan, who will turn 11 on April 11, 2026, stole the hearts of everyone during their appearances with Prince Rahim and Princess Salwa at various Jubilee events.
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Prince Sinan: 2023
In February 2023, Prince Sinan visited the Royal Treasure Museum at the Ajuda National Palace in Lisbon in the company of his father. A month later, in March, the Ismaili published a touching photograph of Mawlana Hazar Imam with Princes Sinan and Irfan.
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Prince Sinan 2024
On July 11, 2024, we saw Prince Sinan in a photograph released when Mawlana Shah Karim was presented with a Monumental Basin on his 67th Imamat Day.
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Prince Sinan 2025
(1) February 4, 2025: Mawlana Shah Karim passes away
Turning to the mournful events surrounding the passing of Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, on February 4, 2025, this was a moment of deep and profound sadness for his youngest grandchildren, Prince Sinan and his older brother, Prince Irfan, as well as for members of his family and the global Ismaili Jamat. The grief on the faces of Prince Sinan and Prince Irfan, mourning the loss of their beloved grandfather, was evident. However, both children showed immense maturity at the funeral ceremony in Lisbon and the burial in Aswan, as they accompanied their father, our new Imam, Mawlana Shah Rahim Hazar Imam, in a procession through the streets of Aswan.
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(2) February 8, 2025: Prince Sinan Aga Khan at the Funeral Ceremony of Mawlana Shah Karim at the Ismaili Centre, Lisbon
On February 8, 2025, the funeral of Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, our beloved 49th Imam, took place at the Ismaili Centre in Lisbon, Portugal. Mawlana Shah Rahim al-Hussaini Hazar Imam, his children, Prince Irfan and Prince Sinan, and Mawlana Shah Karim’s family members attended the ceremony. Please watch the official slideshow of the funeral ceremony.
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(3) February 9, 2025: Prince sinan Aga Khan at the Burial Procession as Mawlana Shah Karim is laid to rest in Aswan
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(4) February 11, 2025: Prince Sinan Aga Khan at the Takht-nishini of Mawlana Hazar Imam, at the Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat, Lisbon
On February 11, 2025, Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, graciously accepted pledges of allegiance from the Global Jamat during his Takht-nishini at the Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat in Lisbon. Members of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s family, including his two sons, Princes Irfan and Sinan, were present and can be seen in the following YouTube slideshow of official photographs published by the Ismaili.
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As sad as Mawlana Shah Karim’s passing was, and as much as Princes Sinan and Irfan will miss his loving and comforting presence, their father, Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan V, made a heartfelt promise on the occasion of his Takht-nishini Farman on February 11, 2025, a week after succeeding as the 50th Imam.
While Mawlana Hazar Imam dedicated his life to the well-being, spiritual and material progress, and the safety and security of his millions of spiritual children worldwide, he also pledged to provide his two sons with a nurturing, loving environment in which to grow. This promise, along with his emphasis on their education and life experiences, testifies to his love and ensures they are prepared for the future. With these reassuring words for his spiritual children and his two loving sons, we can all look forward to our future with hope and optimism.
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5. Prince Sinan Aga Khan and Prince Irfan accompany Mawlana Hazar Imam to Paris for didar
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, bestowed his first-ever Didar (lit. a glimpse) as the new Imam upon his Ismaili Jamat of France and those under its jurisdiction, who gathered on July 12, 2025, at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. Mawlana Hazar Imam conveyed guidance and blessings for the worldwide Jamat. He was accompanied by his two sons, Prince Irfan and Prince Sinan.
Date posted: January 2, 2026.
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