The king without a kingdom is no more
By Ahmed Nofel Siddiqui
OPINION | Feb 7, 2025
Prince Karim’s death is a blow to the entire world, not just to his followers; his successor has his work cut out for him
The Aga Khan IV delivering a speech at his silver jubilee dinner in New Delhi, India.
EMBODYING how a true leader should be, Prince Karim Aga Khan IV devoted his entire life to the service of mankind, as he did not differentiate on the basis of caste, creed or religion. First and foremost he was a human being and then a leader to almost 15 million Ismailis, who considered him as the “representation of God on Earth”. Often referred to as a “king without a kingdom”, the Aga Khan did not need any flag to represent him; his name and life’s work were enough.
He was a saviour to an uncountable number of people across the globe, most of whom were not Ismailis. But knowing that he was making this world a better place for millions of people was sufficient for him. He was arguably the most “well-known but unsung hero” of the world as he was known by many who didn’t sing praises of him despite his various achievements. Although he was known by world leaders, royals, nobles, celebrities, and businessmen, most of the common people who benefitted from his projects did not even know his full name.
He led a rather private life; he had a lavish lifestyle indeed, but the billionaire prince was rarely spotted flaunting his wealth. Despite his riches, he did not find it difficult to empathise with the oppressed, the unheard, and the voiceless. Rather, he became the voice of the marginalised, and the voiceless as he represented and worked for them in a manner no one else could.
He was entrusted the Imamate by his grandfather, Sultan Mohamed Shah Aga Khan III, who was a legend himself. His grandfather had blazed a trail that had not been seen before by the Ismailis as he helped create a separate homeland for Muslims. Initially it seemed difficult for the young Prince Karim — who was only 20 when he inherited the imamate — to create a legacy that could stand up to that of his legendary predecessor.
But the young prince proved all the critics wrong. In the 68 years of his reign, he worked tirelessly in the service of mankind, building hospitals, clinics, maternity homes, schools, learning centres, universities, and many other projects which were aimed at improving the lives of less fortunate people, irrespective of their backgrounds.
A great patron of the arts, Prince Karim established the Aga Khan Trust for Culture which oversaw the restoration of important historical sites like the Walled City of Lahore, Humayun’s tomb in Delhi, the gardens of Babar’s mausoleum in Kabul, and the Baltit Fort in Hunza. He also established a coveted annual award for art and architecture.
Perhaps his most prominent project was the establishment of the Aga Khan hospitals and health centres, which have hundreds of outlets across the world that serve hundreds of thousands each year. Notably, the Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi was the first teaching hospital in all of Africa. Also, the Aga Khan name has become synonymous with excellence across the globe, being considered the gold standard for healthcare. Similarly, the Aga Khan University has provided education of the highest standard to dozens of thousands of students, imparting knowledge and training in disciplines ranging from medicine to education.
A collage showing different periods of Prince Karim’s reign
However, the crowning achievement in his journey of service to humanity was the establishment of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), which has worked relentlessly to improve the living standards of millions of impoverished people. Boasting an army of 80,000 employees, the AKDN has worked to build schools, supply food and water, aid the fight against climate change, and overall help the underprivileged get ahead in life.
With the death of the noble prince, the world has lost one of the greatest well-wishers and servants of mankind. Prince Karim was from a dying breed of men who talked with their actions rather than words. He was the change the world needed to see; he set an example to be followed by the rest of mankind. His life is a guiding light for any person who dreams of creating a better world. He genuinely wanted to see the world become a better place, and that is evident from the legacy he has left behind. He was a symbol of peace, a person who always worked selflessly for the cause of the other man. He was a silent soldier in the fight against poverty, hopelessness, and sickness.
He was a man of few words. Often shying away from the limelight, he let his work make the noise as he himself kept silent. Prince Karim was the pinnacle of excellence, and the world may never see a man of his calibre again.
For his son and successor, Prince Rahim al-Husayni Aga Khan V, filling the shoes of the late prince will not be an easy task. It remains to be seen whether or not Prince Rahim will be able to live up to the Aga Khan name, as the road ahead is full of challenges for him. Many Ismailis had expected the younger Prince Aly Muhammad to assume the responsibilities of the new Imam, which is why the decision to elevate Prince Rahim to the exalted position came as a surprise to many.
So, the questions remain; will Prince Rahim be able to consolidate his position by garnering support for himself? Will he be able to carry forward his father’s legacy? Will he be able to serve humanity in the same manner as did his father and great-grandfather? Only time will tell.
The writer is a student and can be reached at ahmednofel443@gmail.com