Rahim Al-Hussaini Succeeds Father as Aga Khan, New Ismaili Leader

Rahim Al-Hussaini was appointed the new Aga Khan on Wednesday, becoming the spiritual leader of millions of Ismaili Muslims after the death of his father. He was named Aga Khan V, the 50th hereditary imam of the Ismaili Muslims, in the will of his father, who died on Tuesday in Portugal. The Aga Khan is seen by his followers as a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad and is venerated as a head of state.

The prayer for the late Aga Khan was read in the London Palace Jamatkhana prayer hall as he was prepared for interment. Noon prayers were offered by large numbers of Ismaili Muslims at the London Palace Jamatkhana for the eternal peace of the departed soul, and within the Ismaili community, Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini's ascension began to be the focus of conversation.

After the demise of Aga Khan IV, Prince Rahim is the elder son who received his education in the US, having studied comparative literature at Brown University. He has held various positions on the boards of several agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network, the spiritual leader's paramount philanthropic institution.

This organization basically deals with healthcare, housing, education, and rural economic development and operates in over 30 countries, investing around $1 billion every year for its non-profit development programs.

The Aga Khan Development Network stated that Prince Rahim has been a special champion for climate change and the environment.

In many ways, the late Aga Khan was a businessman and philanthropist, straddling the interface of the spiritual and secular realms for the last few decades.

A resolute defender of Islamic culture and values, he was known, in fact, as a bridge-builder between Muslim societies and the West, maybe because he refrained from active politics.

There is an Aga Khan hospital network located in areas with little healthcare for the poor, including Bangladesh, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan, where he invested millions upon millions of dollars for the development of local economies.

Ismailis trace their ancestry for generations in Iran, Syria, and South Asia before travelling to East Africa, Central Asia, and the Middle East and, most recently, Europe, North America, and Australia. It is their sacred responsibility to donate 12.5% of their income to the Aga Khan, who is their steward.

Shenila Khoja-Moolji, an associate professor at Georgetown University studying Muslim societies, expounded that Ismailis turn to the Aga Khan for guidance in matters of faith and worldly affairs, having faith in the divinely-inspired knowledge that enables him to interpret the Quran.

Prince Rahim has two brothers and a sister.