His Highness the Aga Khan IV: A Champion of Peace, Pluralism, and Human Development.

I am honoured to pay tribute to my beloved 49th Hereditary Imam, Shah Karim al Hussaini Aga Khan IV, through a Wakhi devotional poem, "Nazrana-e-Aqeedat." 

Nazrana-e-Aqeedat': A heartfelt Wakhi poetry tribute to His Highness the Aga Khan IV, commemorating his 60 Years of Imamat Diamond Jubilee in July 2017. 

Written by Sharif Khan and voiced by Sadaf Khan.

Born on December 13, 1936, His Highness became the 49th hereditary Imam of Shia Ismaili Muslims on July 11, 1957, following the tradition and will of his grandfather, Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah Aga Khan III.

 The significance of July 11 lies in its celebration worldwide by his followers as the day of His Highness the Aga Khan IV Takht Nashini, marking his ascension to the throne of Imamat. His Highness devoted himself to spreading knowledge and wisdom, igniting light in darkness, and leaving an indelible mark on humanity. Through the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) agencies, he provided shelter, supported poverty alleviation, and promoted peace and dignity for mankind.

 Notably, he was the first Imam in Ismaili history to visit the then-Northern Areas of Pakistan, now Gilgit-Baltistan, during his early days of Imamat from October 20-26, 1960. This visionary leadership led to the establishment of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), which is dedicated to improving the quality of life of those in need. AKDN is working in more than 30 countries with over 90,000 employees and hundreds of thousands of volunteers serving irrespective of faith, race, ethnicity, or gender under the Ismaili Imamat. 

His Highness's contributions to social, economic, and cultural development have been recognised by esteemed forums, including the United Nations Organisation (UNO) and the World Bank. As an ambassador of Islam, he emphasised peace-making, respect for diversity, pluralism, and tranquillity. He established world-class universities, hospitals, academies, schools, art and music initiatives, research centres, humanitarian emergency response, museums, architecture, and cultural development programs on humanitarian grounds.

 Furthermore, His Highness upgraded biodiversity conservation efforts and addressed climate change. One of his unique contributions was the establishment of Ismaili centres worldwide, providing opportunities for communities to share best practices and resources and spread happiness. 

Sadly, His Highness the Aga Khan IV departed this world on February 4, 2025, at the age of 88, in Lisbon, Portugal. He was laid to rest in peace in Aswan in Egypt, the land of his ancestors.As per Shia Ismaili Muslim tradition, the Nur continues unbroken, passed on to his elder son, His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Hazir Imam Shah Rahim al Hussaini Aga Khan V, who has become the 50th hereditary Imam and spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslims.  

The world acknowledged the tireless services of His Highness the Aga Khan IV, recognising him as a true ambassador of peace, diversity, pluralism, champion of cosmopolitan ethics, and generosity. His meritorious services to humanity have been honoured by various world leaders, scholars from different schools of thought, media persons, civil society members, and common people from every walk of life, who expressed their deepest condolences, highlighting the Aga Khan's contributions to serving the needy and marginalised communities. May his legacy continue to inspire future generations in the pursuit of knowledge and excellence.