Why in News?
Prince Karim al-Husseini, who was the Aga Khan IV, died in Lisbon recently at his 88.
Lineage of Islam
- All 3 trace the descent of Muhammad through a chain of Imams or religious teachers, but they differ in the specifics of what the line of descent comprises.
- Twelver Shias, the largest, comprising 90% of the total Shia population, follow a line of 12 divinely-ordained Imams, with the 12th Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi, believed to be alive and in occultation.
- The Ismailis or Sevener Shias concur with the Twelvers till the 6th Imam, after which the two lines split.
- The Zaydis or Fiver Shias split from the other lines after the first 4 Imams.
- Nizaris trace the Prophet’s hereditary descent all the way to the Aga Khans.
- The Dawoodi Bohras recognise direct descent only till the 18th Imam, and follow today a line of Dais who are representatives of the concealed Imam.
- Prince Karim was the eldest son of Prince Aly Khan and the grandson of Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah, or the Aga Khan III.
- Aga Khan IV - The Aga Khan is the Imam of the Nizari Ismaili Shias, and holds near-divine status among the community.
- The title of Aga Khan was bestowed on Hasan Ali Shah, the 46th Imam of Nizari Ismailis by the Iranian king Fath-Ali Shah Qajar in the 19th century.
- Following a deal with the Portuguese government in 2015, the Aga Khan IV declared Lisbon as the global seat of the Nizari Imamate.
- Today, the Nizari Ismailis are spread out across more than 30 countries, although most trace their origin to Persia or the Indian subcontinent.
- They are not a majority community in any location.
Reference
The Indian Express | Who was the Aga Khan IV?
