Agha Khan (Persian: آغا خان ) is the
hereditary title of the Imam (spiritual and general leader) of the Nizārī
Ismā'īlī, a sect of the Shi'a Ismaili branch of Islam which formed in 1094 when
the followers of an-Nizār split away from the Mustaˤliyya (followers of Nizar's
younger brother al-Musta'li).
History
In 1818 the title of Aga Khan was bestowed upon Aga Hasan Ali Shah, the 46th Imam of the Ismailis, by Fath Ali, the Shah of Persia. Etymologically the title combines the Turkish military title Agha with the Turkic, Mongolian and Persian/Pashto polyvalent title Khan, so it means roughly "Commanding Chief". In Persia's Qajar court protocol, Khan (and Amir) was commonly part of commanders of armed forces and provincial tribal leaders which ranked fourth in precedence amongst the eight title classes for non-members of the dynasty.
The Aga Khan was formally recognised by the British Raj in 1877. The Aga Khan became the only religious or community leader in British India granted a personal gun salute; all other salute dynasties were either rulers of Princely States, or Political Pensioners holding ancestral princely titles in states abolished by the Raj.
Aga Khan III, Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah, was one of the founders of the Muslim League in 1906.
Incumbent
The present Aga Khan IV became Imam of the Shi'a Imami Ismaili Nizari on July 11, 1957 at the age of 21, succeeding his grandfather, Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah Aga Khan (Aga Khan III). He is the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shi'a Imami Ismaili Muslims and claims to be a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad through his cousin and son-in-law Ali, the first Imam, and his wife Fatima, the Prophet's daughter. The title His Highness was granted by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom in 1957, and His Royal Highness by the Shah of Iran in 1959.
Philanthropy
The Aga Khan, heir to the family fortune and a society figure, is founder and chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), one of the largest private development networks in the world. He recently pledged $75 million for the rebuilding of Afghanistan after the US led invasion in 2001. AKDN continues to work with a variety of Central Asian countries to improve living conditions and promote education.
List of those who have held the title of Aga Khan
History
In 1818 the title of Aga Khan was bestowed upon Aga Hasan Ali Shah, the 46th Imam of the Ismailis, by Fath Ali, the Shah of Persia. Etymologically the title combines the Turkish military title Agha with the Turkic, Mongolian and Persian/Pashto polyvalent title Khan, so it means roughly "Commanding Chief". In Persia's Qajar court protocol, Khan (and Amir) was commonly part of commanders of armed forces and provincial tribal leaders which ranked fourth in precedence amongst the eight title classes for non-members of the dynasty.
The Aga Khan was formally recognised by the British Raj in 1877. The Aga Khan became the only religious or community leader in British India granted a personal gun salute; all other salute dynasties were either rulers of Princely States, or Political Pensioners holding ancestral princely titles in states abolished by the Raj.
Aga Khan III, Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah, was one of the founders of the Muslim League in 1906.
Incumbent
The present Aga Khan IV became Imam of the Shi'a Imami Ismaili Nizari on July 11, 1957 at the age of 21, succeeding his grandfather, Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah Aga Khan (Aga Khan III). He is the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shi'a Imami Ismaili Muslims and claims to be a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad through his cousin and son-in-law Ali, the first Imam, and his wife Fatima, the Prophet's daughter. The title His Highness was granted by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom in 1957, and His Royal Highness by the Shah of Iran in 1959.
Philanthropy
The Aga Khan, heir to the family fortune and a society figure, is founder and chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), one of the largest private development networks in the world. He recently pledged $75 million for the rebuilding of Afghanistan after the US led invasion in 2001. AKDN continues to work with a variety of Central Asian countries to improve living conditions and promote education.
List of those who have held the title of Aga Khan
- Aga
Khan I = Aga Hasan Ali Shah = HH Shah Hasan Ali Shah Mehalatee Aga Khan I
(1800–1881), 46th Imam (1817–1881)
- Aga
Khan II = HH Ali Shah Aga Khan II (about 1830–1885), 47th Imam (12 April
1881–1885)
- Aga
Khan III = HRH Prince Sultan Mohammed, (1877–1957), 48th Imam (17 August
1885–1957)
- Aga
Khan IV = Karim Aga Khan = HH Prince Aga Khan IV = Prince Karim Al
Husseini (b. 1936), 49th Imam of the Ismailis (from 11 July 1957)
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