Saturday’s funeral ceremony, held at the Ismaili Centre in Lisbon, was attended by Prince Rahim Aga Khan V, the 50th Ismaili Imam, and other members of the Aga Khan family.
Leaders of the Ismaili community and the Aga Khan Development Network were also in attendance, as were international dignitaries.
The Egyptian city of Aswan will on Sunday, February 9 be the resting place for His Highness Prince Karim al-Hussaini Aga Khan IV, the 49th Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, following an emotional funeral ceremony held in Lisbon, Portugal, on Saturday.
The burial of the Aga Khan IV, who died aged 88 on Tuesday, will be a private ceremony.
His predecessor and grandfather, Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan III, is also buried in Aswan at the Mausoleum of the Aga Khan along River Nile.
A statement issued on Saturday by the Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat said that His Highness’s body will lie in his grandfather’s mausoleum for some time.
Prince Rahim Aga Khan V and members of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV’s family seated in the funeral hall at the Ismaili Centre Lisbon.
Photo credit: Pool
“He will be interred in the mausoleum of his grandfather, the late Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan III, until a new mausoleum is constructed as his final resting place on land adjacent to the existing structure,” the statement said.
Saturday’s funeral ceremony, held at the Ismaili Centre in Lisbon, was attended by Prince Rahim Aga Khan V, the 50th Ismaili Imam, and other members of the Aga Khan family.
Leaders of the Ismaili community and the Aga Khan Development Network were also in attendance, as were international dignitaries.
Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan V arrives at the Ismaili Centre Lisbon for the funeral of his father Prince Karim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan IV, the spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims, in Lisbon, Portugal, February 8, 2025.
Photo credit: REUTERS/Pedro Nunes
“Amongst global leaders in attendance were President Rebelo de Sousa of Portugal, Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada, and senior officials from Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Portugal, Qatar, Spain, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom amongst others,” said the statement from the Ismaili Imamat.
“The global Ismaili community assembled around the world in Jamatkhanas (places of worship and gathering) to witness the ceremony through a live transmission, and to pay tribute to their Imam’s extraordinary life of leadership and service.
Portugal's President Marcelo Rebel de Sousa arrives at the Ismaili Centre Lisbon for the funeral of Prince Karim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan IV, the spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims, in Lisbon, Portugal, February 8, 2025.
Photo credit: REUTERS/Pedro Nunes
“His Highness’s casket was draped in a white cloth, with his personal standard embroidered in gold. It was carried into the ceremonial hall by volunteers from the Ismaili community, while prayers were recited invoking blessings on Prophet Muhammad and his progeny (peace be upon them). In accordance with Muslim tradition, verses from the Holy Quran were recited and, thereafter, guests filed past the casket to pay their last respects,” the statement further said.
Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan V and his sons Prince Irfan and Prince Sinan react on the day of the funeral of Prince Karim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan IV, the spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims, in Lisbon, Portugal, February 8, 2025.
Photo credit: REUTERS/Pedro Nunes
Elsewhere, in Pakistan, Saturday was a national day of mourning.
Following a directive by the Cabinet on Thursday, the national flag flew at half-mast. Pakistan’s Finance minister, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, was among those who attended the funeral ceremony in Lisbon.
After Sunday’s burial, Tuesday will be a key date in the Ismaili Muslims’ calendar as that is the day when the homage ceremony for the new Aga Khan will be held.
His Highness the Aga Khan addresses the audience at an award ceremony and dinner during the 35th anniversary International Development convention at the Washington, DC Convention Center. March 18, 1987
Photo credit: Photo | Colleen Combes | REUTERS
“A special homage ceremony will take place in Lisbon, Portugal. Prince Rahim al-Hussaini Aga Khan V will grant an audience to senior leaders of the Ismaili community, who will pledge their allegiance, on behalf of the global Ismaili community, to the 50th Imam of the Ismaili Muslims,” said a statement from the Ismaili Imamat on Thursday.
Among the many achievements of the Aga Khan IV was the establishment of the Aga Khan Development Network — a group of private, international, non-denominational agencies working to improve living conditions and opportunities for people in some of the poorest parts of the developing world.
