Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini appointed new Aga Khan

Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini has been named the new Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of an estimated 15 million Shia Ismaili Muslims worldwide.

He succeeds his father, Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 88 in Lisbon, Portugal, the seat of the Ismaili Imamat.

The appointment, confirmed after the unsealing of Prince Karim's will, marks a significant transition of leadership within this prominent Shia Muslim community.

Prince Rahim, now Aga Khan V, becomes the 50th hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims, a community that traces its lineage back to the Prophet Muhammad.

The Ismailis, a branch of Shia Islam, hold a deep reverence for a line of Imams, including Imam Ismail, who lived in the 8th century.

Their global presence is substantial, with significant populations in India, Pakistan (around 500,000), Afghanistan, and various parts of Africa, as well as diaspora communities in Europe, North America, and elsewhere.

The late Aga Khan IV, Prince Karim, led the Ismaili community for an impressive 68 years, having assumed the Imamat in 1957 at the young age of 20.

He succeeded his grandfather, Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah, Aga Khan III. His passing marks the end of an era characterized by significant development and modernization within the Ismaili community. A funeral service will be held in Lisbon, Portugal.

During his long and influential leadership, Prince Karim established the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), a vast network of charitable organizations dedicated to improving the quality of life in developing countries.

The AKDN's work spans across various sectors, including health, education, rural development, and culture, impacting millions of lives globally.

Hundreds of hospitals, schools, and cultural initiatives stand as a testament to the AKDN's commitment to social progress.

Beyond his philanthropic endeavors, Prince Karim was also a prominent figure in the business world. His personal wealth, estimated by Forbes magazine in 2008 to be around $1 billion (approximately £801 million at the time), stemmed from diverse investments in hotels, telecommunications, and, notably, thoroughbred horse breeding.

He was a leading owner and breeder of racehorses in the UK, France, and Ireland, and was associated with the legendary racehorse Shergar.

The new Aga Khan, Prince Rahim, is the eldest son of Prince Karim and his first wife, Begum Salimah (formerly Sarah Croker Poole).

Educated in the United States and based in Switzerland, Prince Rahim has been actively involved with the AKDN for many years, serving on various boards and currently chairing its Environment and Climate Committee.

His focus areas, as highlighted on the AKDN website, include environmental protection, climate change mitigation, and addressing the needs of the world's poorest populations. This suggests a continued commitment to the values and priorities established by his father.

Prince Rahim is married to Kendra Spears, a former American fashion model. They have two sons. As the new Aga Khan, he now assumes the immense responsibility of leading the global Ismaili community, carrying forward a legacy of spiritual guidance, social development, and international engagement.

The transition marks not only a change in leadership but also an opportunity for the Ismaili community to continue its trajectory of progress in the 21st century.