LISBON: Prince Rahim, 53, has become the 50th Imam of the Ismailis according to the Will of the 49th Imam who passed away in Lisbon Portugal on February 4, 2025.
The Will of His Highness Shah Karim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan IV was read out at a gathering of Ismaili Jamat leaders from different parts of the world in the presence of the Imam\’s family.
\”Prince Rahim al-Hussaini Aga Khan V is the 50th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, as designated by Mawlana Shah Karim in accordance with the historical Shia Imami Ismaili Muslim tradition and practice of nass.\”
The announcement about the 50th Imam of Ismailis was made in the presence of the Imam’s family and senior Jamati leaders, in Lisbon on 5 February 2025, following the reading of Mawlana Shah Karim’s Will.
\”The Nur of Imamat, in unbroken hereditary succession from Hazrat Mawlana Ali (peace be upon him), is vested in our 50th Imam, Mawlana Shah Rahim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan V,\” said the Ismaili website.
Biography
Born on 12 October 1971, Mawlana Hazir Imam Shah Rahim Al-Hussaini is the eldest son of the late Prince Karim Aga Khan and his first wife, Princess Salimah, according to the AKDN.
Prince Rahim was educated at Phillips Academy Andover and graduated in 1995 from Brown University with a Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literature.
Prince Rahim has two sons from his former wife, Princess Salwa: Prince Irfan (b. 2015) and Prince Sinan (b. 2017). He serves on the boards of many agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network, and has closely followed the work of The Institute of Ismaili Studies and the Ismaili community’s social governance institutions.
Prince Rahim has been particularly concerned with the AKDN’s drive to protect the environment and mitigate the effects of climate change, serving as Chairman of its Environment and Climate Committee. He has also given sustained attention to the work of AKDN and the Ismaili community institutions in addressing the needs of those living in the greatest poverty and supporting the improvement of their livelihoods through education, training and enterprise.
Prince Rahim meets regularly with leaders of government, international organisations, and civil society to strengthen their relations with the Ismaili Imamat and to advance the AKDN’s efforts to improve the lives of marginalised and vulnerable communities.
It may be mentioned here that Prince Rahim was conferred with Pakistan’s highest civilian award, the Nishan-i-Pakistan, by President Asif Ali Zardari during his visit last year.
The award recognizes individuals who have rendered services of the highest distinction to Pakistan.