The Aga Khan, spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims, dies aged 88

The Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Ismaili Shia Muslim community and internationally renowned for his development work, passed away in Lisbon at the age of 88.
According to the Aga Khan Development Network, an announcement to designate a successor to Karim al-Husseini, as he was known, will take place soon.
A successor will be chosen from the Aga Khan’s male progeny, according to Ismaili tradition.
The Aga Khan had recently established bases in Portugal and had long-term residences in France. His foundation and development network are based in Switzerland. He will be buried in Lisbon.  , He is survived by three sons and a daughter and several grandchildren.
He was born on December 13, 1936, in Geneva and spent his early childhood in Nairobi, Kenya. After moving to the United States, he studied Islamic history at Harvard and later traveled to Switzerland, enrolling in the prestigious Le Rosey School.
When his grandfather Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah , Aga , Khan , died in 1957, he became the imam of the Ismaili Muslims, a branch of Shia Islam, at the age of 20.
I am deeply saddened by the news that His Highness Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, Aga Khan IV, has passed away. In our troubled world, he was a symbol of harmony, tolerance, and compassion.
I express my deepest condolences to His Highness’s family and the Ismaili community. pic. twitter.com/VvXCrq8zPQ
As Aga Khan – derived from Turkish and Persian words to mean commanding chief – he was believed by Ismailis to be a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad through the prophet’s cousin and son-in-law, Ali, and his wife Fatima, the prophet’s daughter.
Despite his reluctance to engage in politics, the Aga Khan was a champion of Islamic values and culture. He was widely recognized as a bridge builder between Muslim societies and the West.
The multimillionaire also enjoyed a lavish lifestyle with private islands, superyachts, and superyachts. He held British, French, Swiss, and Portuguese citizenship.
The Aga Khan Development Network, his main philanthropic organisation, deals principally with healthcare, housing, education, and rural economic development.
Source: Aljazeera
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