Ismaili Muslims bid goodbye to late Aga Khan
The funeral prayers of late Prince Karim al-Hussaini Aga Khan IV, the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, was held in Lisbon on Saturday.
Prince Karim al-Husseini, 88, died on Tuesday. He was regarded as a direct descendent of the Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him) and enjoyed near divine status as the 49th hereditary imam of the Ismaili Nizaris.
Saturday's private ceremony at the Ismaili community centre in Lisbon was attended by more than 300 guests, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and former Spanish king Juan Carlos I.
Aga Khan IV died in the Portuguese capital, where he had established the global headquarters in 2015.
He held British and Portuguese nationalities, as well as honorary Canadian citizenship, a distinction rarely given.
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.
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.
Throughout his life, His Highness emphasised that Islam is a thinking, spiritual faith, that teaches compassion and tolerance and upholds the dignity of humankind.
Guided by these ethical principles, he established the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) a group of private, international, non-denominational agencies, working to improve living conditions and opportunities for people in some of the poorest, most vulnerable parts of the developing world. He leaves a powerful legacy and platform for his successor, Prince Rahim al-Hussaini Aga Khan V.
Prince Karim Aga Khan IV will be laid to rest on Sunday (today), at a private burial ceremony in Aswan, Egypt. 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.
His eldest son, 53-year-old Rahim, will succeed him and take on the title of Aga Khan V.
The equivalent of an inauguration of the new Aga Khan will be held on Tuesday morning at the community's headquarters, a mansion in central Lisbon.
Born in Geneva on December 13, 1936, Al-Hussaini succeeded his grandfather, Mahomed Shah, as leader of the Ismailis in 1957, when he was only 20 years old.
His father, Ali, was excluded from the succession after his tumultuous marriage to US actor Rita Hayworth.
As Aga Khan, Al-Hussaini expanded the work of his grandfather, who created hospitals, housing and banking cooperatives in developing countries.
He invested part of the immense family fortune in the most deprived countries, combining philanthropy with business acumen.
To this end, he founded the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), a gigantic foundation which is thought to have 96,000 employees worldwide and which funds development programmes, mainly in Asia and Africa.
A keen racehorse owner, he continued the family tradition of breeding thoroughbreds in his eight stables in France and Ireland. His horses have many of the most prestigious races.
Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb represented Pakistan at the funeral.
According to press release issued by finance ministry, during the meeting with Prince Rahim al-Hussaini Aga Khan V the minister expressed heartfelt condolences on the sad demise of late Prince Karim Aga Khan on behalf of the President, the Prime Minister and people of Pakistan.
The minister lauded the services of late Prince Karim Aga Khan and the Aga Khan Development Network which has a focus on development of human capacity, generating economic growth, building resilient communities and honoring cultural heritage.
He said the sad demise of Prince Karim al-Hussain was a monumental loss not only for his family, friends and followers but also for the underprivileged and destitute people of the world.He recalled late Prince Karim Agha Khan's special attachment to Pakistan and its people.
The government of Pakistan declared February 8 as the day of national mourning on the occasion of the funeral of Prince Karim Aga Khan, the press release said, adding Pakistani flag will remain on half-mast in the country and at Pakistan missions abroad.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Express Tribune
Sparks fly in White House after 'South Park' Trump parody
The White House on Thursday lashed out at the creators of South Park after the bawdy satire skewered Donald Trump in an episode featuring an AI-generated version of the US president crawling naked through a desert, reported AFP. In a no-holds-barred season premiere, the animated Trump character is also seen begging Satan for sex, only to be rebuffed - in part because his penis is too small. The White House was not amused. "The Left's hypocrisy truly has no end — for years they have come after South Park for what they labeled as 'offence' content, but suddenly they are praising the show," White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said in a statement to Variety. "Just like the creators of South Park, the Left has no authentic or original content, which is why their popularity continues to hit record lows." Rogers maintained that the show "hasn't been relevant for over 20 years" and is "hanging on by a thread" in a bid for attention. "President Trump has delivered on more promises in just six months than any other president in our country's history — and no fourth-rate show can derail President Trump's hot streak," he added. The adult animated series, which frequently touches on hot-button issues in American life, is now in its 27th season and remains one of the world's most valuable TV shows. The season premiere begins with the foul-mouthed Cartman appalled that NPR has been taken off the air by the president, while Randy, a parent, is disturbed by the presence of Jesus in public elementary school. Complaints to the fictional White House receive only a threat from Trump to sue the mountain town of South Park for billions of dollars. Meanwhile, the animated Trump is threatening to bomb Canada "like I did Iraq." "I thought you just bombed Iran," the Canadian prime minister replies. The episode, which sees the fictional Trump ride rough-shod over many aspects of American life, ends after the town of South Park makes a financial deal with the president that includes an agreement to make public service announcements. The AI generated short that follows — ostensibly one of those announcements — shows an overweight Trump staggering through a desert as a narrator casts him as a latter-day Jesus. The short ends with a naked Trump as the narrator says: "Trump. His penis is teeny-tiny, but his love for us is large." Merger The episode aired days after creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone reportedly penned a $1.5 billion streaming deal with Paramount that gives the company global rights. The deal comes at a sensitive time for Paramount, which is trying to secure government approval for a multi-billion-dollar merger with entertainment company Skydance. The CBS parent caused a furor this month when it agreed to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit Trump had brought over an interview the storied "60 Minutes" current affairs program aired with Kamala Harris ahead of last November's election. The payment was criticised by Democrats as little more than a bribe to help smooth the merger, with Paramount initially dismissing Trump's lawsuit as meritless. Last week CBS sparked fury after it cancelled The Late Show with Stephen Colbert whose host is a pointed critic of the president. The network insisted it was a financial decision, but opponents have painted the move as the latest example of American institutions bowing to Trump.
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Express Tribune
South Park season 27 premiere skewers Donald Trump with bold satire
South Park returned to Comedy Central on July 23, 2025, with the premiere of its 27th season. The episode, titled 'Sermon on the 'Mount,' directly targets former US President Donald Trump in a surreal blend of animation and AI-generated visuals. In the episode, a miniaturized, Canadian-animated version of Trump, voiced by series co-creator Trey Parker, shares a bed with Satan. -Comedy Central The exaggerated storyline also shows Trump suing the town of South Park for $5 billion. Later, a lifelike, AI-generated version of Trump appears nude in a desert-themed public service announcement, adding to the episode's shock value. The episode aired shortly after Paramount secured a five-year, multi-billion-dollar deal with the show's creators to produce 50 new episodes, following a brief delay linked to corporate negotiations and legal settlements. Beyond the satire, the premiere reflects South Park's ongoing mission to address real-world political and media dynamics in provocative and often controversial ways. The episode also nods to the show's evolving animation style, blending traditional 2D visuals with live-action and AI elements. Following its television debut, the episode was made available for streaming on Paramount+. Fan reactions have ranged from praise for its boldness to criticism of its shock tactics, reinforcing South Park's reputation as a cultural lightning rod nearly three decades after its debut.
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Business Recorder
Syria to sign 44 agreements worth nearly $6 billion with Saudi Arabia
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's investment minister led a business delegation travelling to Syria on Wednesday, where they were expected to sign deals worth $4 billion to $6 billion as part of Riyadh's efforts to support the country's post-war recovery. The Gulf kingdom has been a crucial supporter of interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa's government, which came to power after toppling longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December and is now seeking to rebuild Syria after a 14-year civil war. Saudi Investment Minister Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih, who brought around 130 Saudi businesspeople to Damascus, is set to hold meetings with Syria's leadership ahead of a two-day investment conference opening on Wednesday, according to people due to attend. KSA adds $600m to $2.2bn investment Syrian Information Minister Hamza al-Moustafa said at a press conference on Wednesday that Syria will sign 44 agreements with Saudi Arabia estimated to be worth nearly $6 billion. The agreements cover various sectors, including energy, telecommunications, financial and banking, investment funds and others, the minister said. Some of the agreements will be signed between the government and private companies, he said. Saudi state-run Al Ekhbariya television reported on Tuesday that the agreements to be signed between Damascus and Riyadh would be worth over $4 billion. During his visit to Syria, Saudi Arabia's Al-Falih and his Syrian counterpart launched a cement factory project on Wednesday in Adra Industrial City in the Damascus countryside, the first white cement production project in the country, with an investment worth $20 million, Syrian state news agency SANA said. Al-Falih also broke ground on an integrated retail project by Saudi investment firm Ethraa Holding that is worth 375 million riyals ($99.96 million) in investments. Saudi Arabia has shown interest in Syria's energy and hospitality sectors, as well as airports, a diplomat and a Syrian businessman familiar with the matter told Reuters. The two countries are also expected to launch a joint business council, said the Syrian businessman. The investment conference had initially been scheduled to take place in June, but was delayed due to the war between Iran and Israel. It is going ahead this week despite sectarian clashes in Syria's southern city of Sweida that have left hundreds dead. The violence is a reminder of the lingering instability in Syria, even as foreign investors explore opportunities. Companies, many from Gulf states and Turkey, have expressed interest in rebuilding Syria's power generation capacity, roads, ports and other damaged infrastructure. Syria has signed a $7 billion power deal with Qatar and an $800 million agreement with UAE-based port company DP World in recent months. U.S. energy firms are also set to draw up a master plan for the country's energy sector. KSA investment minister arrives For its part, Saudi Arabia, along with Qatar, paid off Syria's World Bank arrears, opening the possibility of new lending. Syria's al-Sharaa made his first trip abroad as president, to Saudi Arabia in February. And the kingdom's Crown Prince and de-facto ruler Mohammed Bin Salman successfully lobbied U.S. President Donald Trump to lift sanctions seen as holding back private investment.
