Prince Rahim named as the Aga Khan V
World
Prince Rahim, 53, became 50th hereditary Imam of Ismaili Muslims following the death of his father
(Web Desk) – Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini was named as the Aga Khan V in a ceremony held on Tuesday in Lisbon.
Prince Rahim, 53, became 50th hereditary Imam of Ismaili Muslims following the death of his father Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, the Aga Khan IV, at the age of 88 last week.
Meanwhile, King Charles granted the new Aga Khan the title “His Highness”, Buckingham Palace announced.
"Charles is continuing a long-standing royal tradition of bestowing the title on the spiritual leader of the world’s millions of Ismaili Muslims."
Buckingham Palace in a statement on the monarchy’s official social media accounts said: “To mark the accession of Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan as the fiftieth hereditary Imam of the Shi’a Ismaili Muslim community, and in accordance with long-standing tradition, it has pleased The King to grant the new Aga Khan the title “His Highness”.
Earlier, the ceremony of “ascension to the throne,” called Takht Nashini, a Persian term, officially marks the start of the new imam’s reign.
Leaders of the Ismaili community attended the ceremony, which was also broadcast live at community centres worldwide, including Pakistan, said a statement issued by the imamat.
Prince Rahim accepted pledges of allegiance made on behalf of the community by the chairpersons of the Ismaili Leaders International Forum (LIF) and presidents of Ismaili Councils in every country, the statement added.
The Prince later signed a “constitutional instrument” in his name as “Imam-of-the-Time” (Imam-e-Waqat). It confirmed that the instrument will continue to apply to Ismaili Muslims all over the world.
He then delivered his sermon (Farman Mubarak) to the leaders and followers worldwide. He paid tributes to his late father and thanked his family for their presence and support.
Born on October 12, 1971, the US-educated, Swiss-based Prince Rahim is the eldest son of the Aga Khan IV. He has served on the boards of many agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network and chairs its Environment and Climate Committee.
“Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan V was today named the 50th hereditary Imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, following the unsealing of the Will of his late father, Prince Karim al-Hussaini Aga Khan IV, who died in Lisbon, Portugal yesterday, aged 88,” said an official statement announcing the succession.
