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Aga Khan, spiritual leader of the world’s Muslim Ismaili who have insert billions of dollars into a huge network for the development of business, has died at the age of 88.
“His high prince Karim al-Hussini, Aga Khan IV, 49. The hereditary Imam of Muslims of Shiite Ismaili.. He died peacefully in Lisbon on February 4, 2025, 88 years old, surrounded by his family,” the AGA Development Network states Khan.
The announcement of his appointed successor will follow, it is stated.
Aga Khan is considered a direct descendant of the prophet Mohamed. In July 1957, at the age of 20, he took over from his grandfather as the leader of Ismailis, who are followers of the Shiite Muslim tradition.
He took advantage of his grandfather’s inheritance for the construction of the AGA Khan development network, which chanks $ 1 billion annually into projects in 30 countries, mainly in Africa and Asia. His interests include education, health care and environment.
He was also known for his success as the owner of a racing horse. His most famous horse was Shergar, the winner of both Epsa Derby and Irish derby in 1981, who was abducted from the Irish farm and never saw again.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Aga Khan said he saw his role as a risky capital that specialized in difficult environments, placing the foundations of projects to attract other investors.
“There is no point in going into economies that are rich and have their resources, so we go into really poor. If you try to put social development in front of economic support, it doesn’t work. You have to do both together,” he said.
Born Karim al-Hussaini in Geneva in 1936, was known as Prince Karim. He graduated from Harvard in 1959 with a bachelor’s degree in Islamic history.
The chess of Persia awarded the title of Aga Khan to his family in the 1830s after Shah married his daughter from the great-grandfather of Ag Khan.
