ISLAMABAD: Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, Aga Khan IV, the 49th spiritual leader of the Ismaili community, was laid to rest in a private burial ceremony in Aswan, Egypt, on Sunday.
According to a statement from the community, “He will be interred in the mausoleum of his grandfather, Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, until a new mausoleum is constructed on land adjacent to the existing structure as his final resting place.”
Prince Karim Aga Khan passed away in Lisbon on Wednesday at the age of 88.
Earlier, the Egyptian Prime Minister authorized the burial of Aga Khan IV, the 49th imam of the Shiite Ismaili Muslims, in Aswan.
Egypt’s Minister of Civil Aviation, Sameh El-Hefny, directed the necessary measures to ensure the smooth reception of the late Prince Karim Aga Khan IV’s body.
The Aswan International Airport Administration, in coordination with relevant authorities, implemented all required steps to ensure a respectful and organized reception for the funeral delegations.
A private plane from “Global Jet,” arriving from Lisbon, Portugal, landed at Aswan International Airport on the evening of Saturday, February 8, according to a statement from the Ministry of Civil Aviation released on Sunday.
The plane carried 80 passengers, including members of the Aga Khan family and the Ismaili community.
The delegation was received by Major General Dr. Ismail Kamal, Governor of Aswan; Major General Pilot Ahmed El-Baz, Director of Aswan International Airport; Dr. Hanan El-Gendy, Executive Director of the Umm Habiba Foundation; and the airport’s public relations team, who provided logistical support and opened the VIP lounge for the family and delegations.
At exactly 12 AM on February 9, a second private plane, carrying the body of the late Prince, arrived. This plane also carried additional family members and Ismaili community members.
The airport’s public relations team worked closely with the relevant authorities to ensure all procedures were followed smoothly, allowing for the efficient arrival of delegations and completion of the ceremonies as planned.
Following the reading of his father’s will, Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan V was named the 50th spiritual leader of the Ismaili community.
Prince Rahim Aga Khan V is a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) through his daughter, Hazrat Bibi Fatima, and the Prophet’s cousin and son-in-law, Hazrat Ali, the fourth Rightly Guided Caliph of Islam and the first Shia Imam.
On Saturday, a funeral ceremony for Aga Khan IV took place at the Ismaili Centre in Lisbon. The event was attended by over 300 guests, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, former Spanish King Juan Carlos I, and Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.
Other attendees included Ismaili community leaders, family members, Aga Khan University President Sulaiman Shahabuddin, and Sultan Ali Allan, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Habib Bank Limited.
The funeral was a private event, open only to invited guests. Among those present were 22 National Council Presidents representing the global Ismaili community, including from Pakistan. The ceremony was broadcast live on Ismaili TV, allowing followers worldwide to participate. Community centers and Jamaat Khanas were also set up for people to watch the event and pay their respects.
Throughout their 1,400-year history, the Ismaili community has been led by a living, hereditary Imam. With an estimated 15 million followers across Central Asia, the Middle East, South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, and North America, the Ismailis have maintained a close-knit network. In Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region, Ismaili community members gathered in cities like Gilgit, Hunza, and Ghizer to watch the ceremony together.
