Paris (France), Feb 4 (LaPresse/AP) – Karim Aga Khan has passed away at the age of 88, his Foundation announced. He became the spiritual leader of millions of Ismaili Muslims worldwide at the age of 20 while studying at Harvard and went on to build an economic empire by developing housing, hospitals, and schools in developing countries.
The 49th hereditary imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, Aga Khan was granted the title of His Highness by Queen Elizabeth in 1957. He passed away in Portugal, surrounded by his family. The Foundation stated that an announcement regarding his successor would be made later.
Considered by his followers to be a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad, Karim Aga Khan was still a student when his grandfather chose to bypass his father—known for his worldly lifestyle—and designated him as the successor to lead the Ismaili Shia diaspora, stating that the faithful should be guided by a young leader "raised in the midst of the new era."
Over the decades, Aga Khan became a business magnate and philanthropist, seamlessly moving between the spiritual and material worlds. "An extraordinarily compassionate global leader," said Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday, calling him a great friend. "He will be deeply missed by people around the world."