AhlulBayt News Agency: following the death of Shah Karim Aga Khan IV, the leader of the Nizari Isma'ili Shia community, the World Assembly of Ahlul Bayt (A) released a message expressing condolences and wishing success in service for Aga Khan V.
The message from the Ahl Al-Bayt World Assembly noted that the passing of Aga Khan IV, after 68 years of leadership, brought sadness to his followers and admirers across the world. The death of such a prominent figure, due to his fame and capabilities, served as a reminder to the world, as the Quranic verse "Every soul shall taste death" (Quran 3:185) teaches us that the inevitable end in this transient world is the soul’s return to the Creator, moving on to eternal life.
The message further explained that Aga Khan IV, a scholar of Islamic history, the founder and president of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), and the leader of the Isma'ili Shia community, was of Iranian and Qajar descent. Following the wishes of Aga Khan III, he assumed leadership of the Isma'ili Shia community at the age of 20 and set out to bring a modern outlook and way of life suitable for the times. Aga Khan IV pledged to continue the work of his predecessor in establishing modern institutions to improve the lives of the Nizari Isma'ilies and used his wealth, part of which was derived from the tithe collected from Isma'ili followers worldwide, for this cause, and in addition to development work, he also focused on education and research.
In the message, the Ahl Al-Bayt World Assembly extended its condolences to his family, the staff of the Isma'ili Imamat office in Lisbon, the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), its affiliated institutions, Shia Ismaili brothers worldwide, and all those who admired him.
The World Assembly also prayed for the forgiveness of the late Aga Khan IV and for patience for his family, as well as for success in service for his successor, Aga Khan V, who himself had been a senior manager in the Aga Khan Development Network.
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