Mawlana Shah Karim was laid to rest today at a private burial ceremony in Aswan, Egypt. Mawlana Hazar Imam and his family were present, with senior leaders of the Jamat.
The Governor of Aswan facilitated and participated in a dignified procession through the city to the banks of the River Nile. Mawlana Shah Karim’s casket was transferred by boat in a ceremonial crossing to the mausoleum of Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah. The janaza (casket) was carried by hand to the hilltop mausoleum, where Shah Karim’s body was interred.
After the ceremony, leaders present had the opportunity to express condolences to the family, and the Governor of Aswan presented Mawlana Hazar Imam with a symbolic key to the City of Aswan as a mark of respect.
A new mausoleum for Mawlana Shah Karim will be constructed as his final resting place on land adjacent to the existing structure.
Egypt was the centre of the Fatimid Caliphate, which was governed by Ismaili Imams during the 10th and 11th centuries. The Fatimid Imam-Caliphs founded the city of Cairo, a major centre of learning, culture, and trade. Their support of pluralism, education and the arts led to a series of advancements in science, architecture, and philosophy, and their legacy can be observed today in the rich history and culture of the region.
Aswan is the final resting place of Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah and his wife, Mata Salamat, both of whom enjoyed warm relations with the people of Aswan. This relationship was sustained by Mawlana Shah Karim through the continuation of the development work of the Om Habibeh Foundation and later the Aga Khan Foundation.
Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah’s mausoleum, constructed from limestone featuring a central dome with arched windows, is a landmark in Aswan. Its elegant architecture blends elements of traditional Islamic design with Mughal and Persian influences. – Source: The official LinkedIn page of the Ismaili Muslim community
Earlier
Prince Karim Aga Khan Being Laid to Rest Today in Aswan, Egypt
Mawlana Shah Karim is being laid to rest today at a private burial ceremony in Aswan, Egypt, Linkedin account, The Ismaili posted today. ‘He will be interred in the mausoleum of his grandfather, Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, until a new mausoleum is constructed as his final resting place on land adjacent to the existing structure.’
Aga Khan’s funeral service held in Portugal ahead of private burial ceremony in Egypt
The funeral of Aga Khan IV, the 49th hereditary imam of the Shiite Ismaili Muslims, has taken place in Lisbon.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Spain’s King Emeritus Juan Carlos were among the dignitaries who attended Saturday’s private ceremony for His Highness Prince Karim Al-Hussaini at the Ismaili community center. Portugal’s President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and the mayor of Lisbon were also among the mourners.
The Ismaili religious community said Prince Karim will be laid to rest during a private burial ceremony in Aswan, Egypt, on Sunday.
His death was announced Tuesday by the Aga Khan Development Network and the Ismaili religious community. The following day, 53-year-old Rahim Al-Hussaini was named as the Aga Khan V, the spiritual leader of the world’s millions of Ismaili Muslims, in according with his father’s will.
The Aga Khan is considered by his followers to be a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad and is treated as a head of state.
Rahim Al-Hussaini named as 50th Aga Khan after death of father
Prince Karim was given the title of “His Highness” by Queen Elizabeth in July 1957, two weeks after his grandfather, the Aga Khan III, unexpectedly made him heir to the family’s 1,300-year dynasty as leader of the Ismaili Muslim sect.
Over decades, the late Aga Khan evolved into a business magnate and a philanthropist, moving between the spiritual and the worldly with ease. A defender of Islamic culture and values, he was widely regarded as a builder of bridges between Muslim societies and the West.
The Aga Khan Development Network deals mainly with issues of health care, housing, education and rural economic development. It says it works in over 30 countries and has an annual budget of about $1 billion for nonprofit development activities.
Ismailis lived for many generations in Iran, Syria and South Asia before also settling in east Africa, Central Asia and the Middle East, as well as Europe, North America and Australia more recently. They consider it a duty to donate up to 12.5% of their income to the Aga Khan as steward. — Courtesy AP/ERMD
