The body of Prince Karim Aga Khan, the former spiritual leader of the Ismaili Muslims, was laid to rest in the family mausoleum in Aswan, Egypt, on Sunday, following a funeral held in Lisbon on Saturday.
Arrival in Aswan
According to Egyptian media, the body arrived in Aswan at 12:00 PM local time (10:00 AM in Lisbon) after a coordinated logistical operation by Egyptian authorities. A private plane carrying about 80 passengers, including Aga Khan’s family members and Ismaili community members, departed for Egypt on Saturday night after the funeral ceremonies held at the Ismaili Center in Lisbon, which houses the Ismaili Imam's global headquarters.
On Sunday, a second private plane landed in Aswan with Aga Khan IV's body. The body was then transported to the imposing mausoleum built in the 1950s along the Nile River, intended for Aga Khan III, the grandfather of Prince Karim.
Funeral Procession
Images released by Egyptian media show the coffin being transported through the streets of Aswan in a hearse, followed by a large crowd led by his son, Prince Rahim, who succeeded his father as Aga Khan V. The coffin was placed on a boat to be taken from the eastern bank of the Nile to the western bank, where the mausoleum is located.
The Egyptian state was represented at the ceremony by Aswan's governor, Ismail Kamal, who praised the Aga Khan Development Network for its social projects worldwide, including local initiatives in Aswan aimed at improving living standards.
Legacy of Aga Khan IV
Aga Khan IV passed away on Tuesday at the age of 88 in Lisbon, where the global headquarters of the Ismaili Imam has been since 2015. He was the 49th Imam of the Ismailis and the fourth Aga Khan, a title granted since the early 19th century. His son, Rahim Aga Khan, is now the 50th Imam, continuing a lineage believed to descend directly from the Prophet Muhammad. Aga Khan V leads an estimated 12 to 15 million Ismaili Muslims worldwide, known for their inclusive approach to religious diversity.
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