Difference between revisions of "Aga Khan" - New World Encyclopedia

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:''This article is about the hereditary title. For the incumbent, see [[Aga Khan IV]].''
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'''Aga Khan''' ([[Persian language|Persian]]: ''' آغا خان  ''') is the hereditary title of the [[Imam]] (spiritual and general leader) of the [[Nizari|Ismaili Nizārī Muslims]] الطائفة الإسماعيلية, a sect of the [[Shi'a]] [[Ismaili]] branch of [[Islam]] which formed in 765 when the followers of [[Ismail_bin_Jafar|Imam Ismail bin Jafir]] split away from the [[Musa_al-Kazim|Musa Kazim]].
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==History==
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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 language|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.
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The Aga Khan was formally recognised by the [[British Raj]] in 1877 due to the help of the Aga Khan in suppressing a regional rebellion against the British, thus the Aga Khan became the only religious or community leader in British [[India]] granted a personal gun salute; all other [[salute states|salute dynasties]] were either rulers of [[Princely State]]s, or [[Political Pensioner]]s holding ancestral princely titles in states abolished by the Raj.
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==Incumbent==
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[[Aga Khan IV|Prince Karīm al-Hussainī]] became the present [[Aga Khan IV]] upon assuming the [[Imamah (Shi'a Ismaili doctrine)|Imamat]] of the [[Nizari]] [[Ismaili|Ismailis]] on [[July 11]], [[1957]] at the age of 20, succeeding his grandfather, Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah Aga Khan ([[Aga Khan III]]). His father, [[Prince Aly Khan]], was a high-profile celebrity in the mid 20th century owing to his relationships with [[Hollywood]] stars, including a marriage to [[Rita Hayworth]].<ref>Prince Aly Khan's obituary, ''Time'', [[23 May]] [[1960]], [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,827601,00.html Web copy]</ref> He was passed over from the succession, and was later appointed [[Pakistan]]'s permanent ambassador to the [[United Nations]].<ref>''Time'', [[17 February]] [[1958]], p 1. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,862923,00.html Web copy]</ref>
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In his will, Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah elaborated the conditions that led him to select his grandson as successor to the Ismaili Imamat:
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<blockquote>"In view of the fundamentally altered conditions in the world in very recent years due to the great changes that have taken place, including the discoveries of atomic science, I am convinced that it is in the best interests of the Shia Muslim Ismaili community that I should be succeeded by a young man who has been brought up and developed during recent years and in the midst of the new age, and who brings a new outlook on life to his office."<ref>"Aly Khan's Son, 20, New Aga Khan", ''The New York Times'', [[13 July]] [[1957]], p. 1</ref></blockquote>
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Prince Karim Aga Khan IV is the 49<sup>th</sup> Ismaili Imam, tracing their lineage to Ali, cousin  of the Prophet Muhammad, and his wife Fatima, the Prophet's daughter.<ref>Farhad Daftary. ''The Ismāʿīlīs: Their history and doctrines.'' Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 1990, pp. 551-553.</ref> The title [[His Highness]] was granted by [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]] of the United Kingdom in 1957, and [[His Royal Highness]] by the [[Shah of Iran]] in 1959.<ref>See [http://www.akdn.org/hh/highness.html]</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://ismaili.net/Source/khoj.html |title='''Khoja Case''' before Justice Sir Joseph Arnould, High Court of Bombay, 1886 |accessdate=2006-12-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://ismaili.net/hajibibi.html |title='''Haji Bibi Case''' before Mr. Justice Russell, 1905 - Bombay Law Reporter |accessdate=2006-12-01}}</ref>
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==Philanthropy==
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{{main|Aga Khan IV#Philanthropy}}
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The Aga Khan, heir to the family fortune and a society figure, is founder and chairman of the [[Aga Khan Development Network]] ([http://www.akdn.org/ AKDN]), one of the largest private development networks in the world. In Afghanistan, the AKDN has mobilised over $400 million in development projects, a large portion of which has come from the Network's own resources.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.akdn.org/news/AKDN_Afghanistan_010406.pdf |title=Afghanistan: Social, Cultural, and Economic Programmes of the Aga Khan Development Network |format=PDF |accessdate=2006-12-20}}</ref> AKDN continues to work with a variety of African and Asian countries to improve living conditions and promote education.
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==Equestrian==
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The Aga Khan has donated the trophy for the Aga Khan Cup. This is the most important competition held at the annual horse show of the [[Royal Dublin Society]] in Dublin, Ireland every summer. It attracts competitors from all of the main showjumping nations and is carried live on Irish national television.
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Its importance should not be underestimated within world equestrian sports as it is the foremost competition in the foremost event of one of the world's most important horse-breeding nations, Ireland. As a consequence "The Aga Khan" is one of the highlights of the Irish social calendar. It has the curious consequence that the Aga Khan's name is known, and affectionately so, by most of the population of Ireland though few would have heard of the Ismaili muslims or know their beliefs.
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== List of those who have held the title of Aga Khan ==
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# [[Aga Khan I]] = Hasan Ali Shah Mehalatee Aga Khan I (1800–1881), 46th Imam (1817–1881)
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# [[Aga Khan II]] = Ali Shah Aga Khan II (about 1830–1885), 47th Imam (12 April 1881–1885)
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# [[Aga Khan III]] = Prince Sultan Mohammed, (1877–1957), 48th Imam (17 August 1885–1957)
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# [[Aga Khan IV]] = Prince Karim Al Husseini (b. 1936), 49th Imam of the Ismailis (from 11 July 1957)
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==References==
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<references/>
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==Sources==
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*[http://www.iis.ac.uk/ The Institute of Ismaili Studies]
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*[http://www.akdn.org/ The Aga Khan Development Network]
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*[http://www.worldbank.org/ The World Bank]
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*[http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Religious_Organizations.html#Ismeaili%20Khans WorldStatesmen- Religious Organisations]
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*[http://www.4dw.net/royalark/India/salute.htm RoyalArk- India] & [http://www.4dw.net/royalark/Persia/persia-titles.htm Qajar Persia]
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*[http://www.sipa.columbia.edu/news_events/announcements/aga_khan.html Aga Khan article at SIPA (Columbia University)]
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*[http://www.brown.edu/Administration/News_Bureau/1995-96/95-147i.html Brown University President Vartan Gregorian's introduction of the Aga Khan (1996 baccalaureate address)]
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*[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6137720 Interview on NPR, 2006 September 25: "Aga Khan Speaks Out on Understanding of Muslims"]
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[[Category: Philosophy and religion]]
 
[[Category: Philosophy and religion]]
 
[[Category: Religion]]
 
[[Category: Religion]]
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Revision as of 17:56, 24 February 2007

This article is about the hereditary title. For the incumbent, see Aga Khan IV.

Aga Khan (Persian: آغا خان ) is the hereditary title of the Imam (spiritual and general leader) of the Ismaili Nizārī Muslims الطائفة الإسماعيلية, a sect of the Shi'a Ismaili branch of Islam which formed in 765 when the followers of Imam Ismail bin Jafir split away from the Musa Kazim.

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 due to the help of the Aga Khan in suppressing a regional rebellion against the British, thus 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.

Incumbent

Prince Karīm al-Hussainī became the present Aga Khan IV upon assuming the Imamat of the Nizari Ismailis on July 11, 1957 at the age of 20, succeeding his grandfather, Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah Aga Khan (Aga Khan III). His father, Prince Aly Khan, was a high-profile celebrity in the mid 20th century owing to his relationships with Hollywood stars, including a marriage to Rita Hayworth.[1] He was passed over from the succession, and was later appointed Pakistan's permanent ambassador to the United Nations.[2]

In his will, Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah elaborated the conditions that led him to select his grandson as successor to the Ismaili Imamat:

"In view of the fundamentally altered conditions in the world in very recent years due to the great changes that have taken place, including the discoveries of atomic science, I am convinced that it is in the best interests of the Shia Muslim Ismaili community that I should be succeeded by a young man who has been brought up and developed during recent years and in the midst of the new age, and who brings a new outlook on life to his office."[3]

Prince Karim Aga Khan IV is the 49th Ismaili Imam, tracing their lineage to Ali, cousin of the Prophet Muhammad, and his wife Fatima, the Prophet's daughter.[4] 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.[5][6][7]

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. In Afghanistan, the AKDN has mobilised over $400 million in development projects, a large portion of which has come from the Network's own resources.[8] AKDN continues to work with a variety of African and Asian countries to improve living conditions and promote education.

Equestrian

The Aga Khan has donated the trophy for the Aga Khan Cup. This is the most important competition held at the annual horse show of the Royal Dublin Society in Dublin, Ireland every summer. It attracts competitors from all of the main showjumping nations and is carried live on Irish national television.

Its importance should not be underestimated within world equestrian sports as it is the foremost competition in the foremost event of one of the world's most important horse-breeding nations, Ireland. As a consequence "The Aga Khan" is one of the highlights of the Irish social calendar. It has the curious consequence that the Aga Khan's name is known, and affectionately so, by most of the population of Ireland though few would have heard of the Ismaili muslims or know their beliefs.

List of those who have held the title of Aga Khan

  1. Aga Khan I = Hasan Ali Shah Mehalatee Aga Khan I (1800–1881), 46th Imam (1817–1881)
  2. Aga Khan II = Ali Shah Aga Khan II (about 1830–1885), 47th Imam (12 April 1881–1885)
  3. Aga Khan III = Prince Sultan Mohammed, (1877–1957), 48th Imam (17 August 1885–1957)
  4. Aga Khan IV = Prince Karim Al Husseini (b. 1936), 49th Imam of the Ismailis (from 11 July 1957)

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  1. Prince Aly Khan's obituary, Time, 23 May 1960, Web copy
  2. Time, 17 February 1958, p 1. Web copy
  3. "Aly Khan's Son, 20, New Aga Khan", The New York Times, 13 July 1957, p. 1
  4. Farhad Daftary. The Ismāʿīlīs: Their history and doctrines. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 1990, pp. 551-553.
  5. See [1]
  6. Khoja Case before Justice Sir Joseph Arnould, High Court of Bombay, 1886. Retrieved 2006-12-01.
  7. Haji Bibi Case before Mr. Justice Russell, 1905 - Bombay Law Reporter. Retrieved 2006-12-01.
  8. Afghanistan: Social, Cultural, and Economic Programmes of the Aga Khan Development Network (PDF). Retrieved 2006-12-20.

Sources

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