Prince Irfan’s remarkable maturity and strength shone through as he comforted, inspired, and tenderly held his beloved father during some emotional moments. His actions inspired us and filled us with pride and hope.

Prepared and compiled by MALIK MERCHANT

We begin this post by wishing Prince Irfan a very happy 11th birthday and extend our congratulations to his father, Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, our beloved 50th Imam; to his younger brother, Prince Sinan; and to the entire family of Mawlana Hazar Imam.

The word Irfan is an indirect Qur’anic name for boys. Irfan means “wisdom,” or Wisdom with a capital W. It refers to all that is good and true in thoughts and deeds. It is derived from the Ain-R-F root (to know, to recognize), which appears in many places in the Holy Qur’an, as in the following verse:

Transliteration:

Wa Jā’a ‘Ikhwatu Yūsufa Fadakhalū `Alayhi Fa`arafahum Wa Hum Lahu Munkirūna — Sura Yusuf, Chapter 12, Verse 58.

Translation:

And the brethren of Joseph came, and entered unto him, and he knew them, but they knew him not — Holy Qur’an, 12:58, translation by A.J. Arberry.

Irfan (gnosis) has many other meanings, such as knowledge, awareness, and learning, and is widely applied in Islamic mysticism. In the mystical context, like another term in the same family, mari’fa, also translated as “gnosis, knowledge is acquired through inner experiences and interior unveilings. 

The Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims share this notion with Muslims who have an esoteric dimension in the practice of their faith. For the Ismailis, inner knowledge and experience are acquired through the Imam-of-the-Time, the bearer of the Noor (Light) of Imamat. The Imam, as heir to the Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him and his progeny), as noted in Clause (F) of the Preamble of the Ismaili Constitution, is concerned with the spiritual advancement as well as the improvement of the quality of life of his followers. The spiritual progress attained by an individual during his or her lifetime paves the path to mari’fa, or divine union with God upon one’s physical departure from this earth.

As we celebrate Prince Irfan’s 11th birthday and reflect on the meaning of his name, we present a selection of photographs from his childhood. Our must-read pictorial stories about Mawlana Hazar Imam and our beloved 49th Imam, Mawlana Shah Karim include photos from their childhood years. Who can ever forget the historic photo of Mawlana Shah Karim reciting the Idd al-Fitr Namaz in Nairobi at the age of seven, and, some thirty-eight years later, in March 1981, holding the hand of Prince Rahim as he walked through the Jamat in Nairobi?

Similarly, for Prince Irfan, some of the photos we are publishing in this special birthday piece, dating back to his birth on April 11, 2015, will be part of future pictorial stories illustrating his life and work, inshallah.

July 11, 2024: Prince Irfan with Mawlana Shah Karim

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February 4 – 11, 2025: Prince Irfan at the funeral of Mawlana Shah Karim

On February 4, 2025, seven months after the above photograph was taken, the Ismaili world would mourn the loss of Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, the longest-lived Ismaili Imam. The grief on the faces of Princes Irfan and Sinan, mourning the loss of their beloved grandfather, was evident. Yet, Prince Irfan’s procession walk in Aswan, leading the group with his brother, Prince Sinan, in a disciplined, dignified, and respectful manner, was truly extraordinary. He exhibited confidence! A day earlier, on February 8, at the funeral ceremony in Lisbon, Prince Irfan’s remarkable maturity and strength shone through as he comforted, inspired, and tenderly held his beloved father, Mawlana Hazar Imam, during some emotional moments. His actions inspired us and filled us with pride and hope.

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February 11, 2025: Mawlana Hazar Imam speaks about his sons, Prince Irfan and Prince Sinan, during his Takht-nishini

On the historic occasion of the Takht-nishini (ceremonial installation) at the Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat in Lisbon on February 11, 2025, Mawlana Hazar Imam graciously accepted pledges of allegiance from the Global Jamat. He said he was dedicating his life to the spiritual and material well-being of the Jamat and to its safety and security. He emphasized that this had been the responsibility of every Imam since the time of Hazrat Ali.

Perhaps no one at the gathering would miss the loving and comforting presence of Mawlana Shah Karim more than Princes Irfan and Sinan. Mawlana Hazar Imam, referring to them, said he was blessed to have them and, as a loving father, would do everything he could to provide them with a nurturing environment in which to grow up. His emphasis on their education and life experiences ensures they are prepared for the future.

With reassuring words for his Jamat and two loving sons, we can all look forward to our future with hope and optimism.

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July 12-13, 2025: Prince Irfan and Prince Sinan accompany Mawlana Hazar Imam for first historic Didar in Paris

Mawlana Hazar Imam’s first visit to the Jamat after becoming the 50th Imam on February 4, 2025, was to France, where he granted Didar to the Jamat, the youth in France, and those living under the jurisdiction of the Ismaili Council for France. On both days of his visit, July 12 and 13, Mawlana Hazar Imam was accompanied to the Didar by Prince Irfan (then 10 years old) and Prince Sinan (then 8 years old). He said he was very happy that his two wonderful boys were with him. He added that they were central to his life, and it was important for them to learn about the Jamat from an early age.

Mawlana Hazar Imam spoke lovingly and emotionally about his father, Mawlana Shah Karim. He reminded the Jamat that human existence is transitory and that the only part of the individual which is eternal is the soul. However, he asked us to remember that “there is always an Imam to guide the Jamat.”

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2015 – 2018: Prince Irfan photo collection

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Date posted: April 10, 2026.

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