• Aga Khan IV's funeral was held in Lisbon, Portugal, attended by prominent dignitaries.
• He was laid to rest in Aswan, Egypt, in accordance with his final wishes.
• His son, Rahim Al-Hussaini, has been named the new Aga Khan V.

The funeral for Aga Khan IV, the 49th hereditary imam of the Shiite Ismaili Muslims, took place on Saturday at the Ismaili community center in Lisbon, Portugal. Dignitaries such as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Spain’s King Emeritus Juan Carlos were present at this intimate ceremony honoring His Highness Prince Karim Al-Hussaini. Following the funeral, a private burial service was conducted on Sunday in Aswan, Egypt, fulfilling the late Aga Khan’s wish to be laid to rest close to his ancestors.

According to the Aga Khan Development Network and the Ismaili religious community, Prince Karim's passing was announced earlier in the week, and his son, 53-year-old Rahim Al-Hussaini, was subsequently named as the new Aga Khan V, as outlined in his father’s will. The Aga Khan is revered by his followers as a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad, often regarded in a capacity akin to a head of state.

Major General Ismail Kamal, governor of Aswan, indicated that it was the Aga Khan’s desire to be interred in Aswan, where his burial site is located near his grandfather, Sultan Muhammad Shah, and his grandmother, Begum Om Habibeh. During the burial, mourners participated in a solemn procession, honoring the legacy of the Aga Khan by carrying his body, draped in a white shroud, to a yacht on the Nile River. Bells rang in the background as they paid their respects.

Bridge-builder between cultures, Aga Khan IV excelled as a business magnate and philanthropist, fostering understanding between Muslim societies and the West. His philanthropic endeavors through the Aga Khan Development Network have spanned over three decades, addressing healthcare, education, and rural development with an annual budget exceeding $1 billion. The Ismaili community, which has roots in Iran, Syria, and South Asia before expanding globally, holds the tradition of donating a portion of their income to support the Aga Khan’s initiatives as a fundamental duty.

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