Celebrating the legacy of His Highness the Aga Khan IV through Special Collections at the IIS

Early life and education

His Highness the Aga Khan IV was born on 13th December 1936 in Geneva, Switzerland and spent his early childhood in Nairobi, Kenya and attended the Institut Le Rosey in Switzerland. He graduated from Harvard University in 1959 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Islamic History.

Aga Khan IV in Mombasa, Kenya in 1944

Aga Khan IV reciting ‘Id Namaz in Nairobi in 1944

Aga Khan IV reciting ‘Id Namaz with Prince Amyn by his side in Nairobi, Kenya in 1944

Aga Khan IV and Prince Amyn with Aga Khan Scouts

Aga Khan IV with Imam Sultan Mohamed Shah, Begum Om Habibeh Aga Khan and Prince Amyn Aga Khan in 1951

Aga Khan IV at his Harvard University Graduation

Aga Khan IV with Prince Aly Khan, Princess Tajudawla and Prince Amyn

Aga Khan IV with the Ismaili communities

From the age of 20, when he became the 49th Imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims in 1957, Aga Khan IV travelled around the globe for various Ismaili community and institutional engagements. A glimpse of some of these events is presented here.

Takht-nishini and Mulaqats

Takht-nishini ceremonies (ascension to the office of Imamat) and Mulaqats are significant events marked by historically symbolic features such as ceremonial robes where the Ismaili communities have opportunities to meet their Imam, receive blessings and express joy through celebrations.

Takht-nishini Ceremony of Aga Khan IV in Nairobi, Kenya

Aga Khan IV addressing the audience in his Takht-nishini Ceremony in Nairobi, Kenya

Aga Khan IV with Ismaili leadership at his Takht-nishini Ceremony in Nairobi, Kenya

Aga Khan IV speaking with an Ismaili leader on his visit to Rangoon, Burma in 1960

Aga Khan IV during his visit to Rangoon, Burma in 1960

Aga Khan IV with Ismaili leadership on his visit to Rangoon, Burma in 1960

Prince Aly Khan and Aga Khan IV in East Africa during the earlier era of his Imamate

Prince Aly Khan and Aga Khan IV in East Africa during the earlier era of his Imamate

Aga Khan IV during a Mulaqat with the Ismaili community

Aga Khan IV being presented with a nazrana on behalf of the UK Ismaili community during 1994 Mulaqat in London

Aga Khan IV being presented with a nazrana on behalf of the UK Ismaili community during 1994 Mulaqat in London

Aga Khan IV with the Ismaili community during 1994 Mulaqat

Aga Khan IV blessing Ismaili community members during 1994 Mulaqat in London

Aga Khan IV with an Ismaili leader

Aga Khan IV with Ismaili leadership during 1994 Mulaqat in London

Aga Khan IV meeting Ismaili community members during celebration events in 1994

Aga Khan IV meeting Ismaili community members during celebration events in 1994

Aga Khan IV meeting Ismaili community members during celebration events in 1994

Aga Khan IV meeting Ismaili community members during celebration events in 1994

Aga Khan IV at an institutional dinner during 1994 Mulaqat celebration events

Aga Khan IV with Dr Farhad Daftary during Mulaqat celebration events in 1994

Aga Khan IV at an institutional dinner during 1994 Mulaqat celebration events

Aga Khan IV blessing Ismaili leaders during 1994 Mulaqat in London

Aga Khan IV viewing an exhibition during the 1994 Mulaqat celebrations

Aga Khan IV in conversation with an Ismaili community member at an exhibition during the UK Mulaqat Celebrations in August 1994

Aga Khan IV viewing an exhibit up-close during the UK Mulaqat Celebrations in August 1994

Meeting with volunteers and attending celebrations

One of the most important roles of Ismaili community members is voluntary service. Members of the community serve the Imam in various capacities which include day to day running of spaces of worship (jamatkhanas), preparations for mulaqat events as well as celebrations of these events through showcasing performances in art and music.

Aga Khan IV meets with performers during 1994 Mulaqat celebrations

Aga Khan IV applauds performers during 1994 Mulaqat celebrations

Aga Khan IV with a volunteer outside the Ismaili Centre, London

Aga Khan IV with performers and artists during 1994 Mulaqat celebrations

Meetings with Ismaili leadership

His Highness the Aga Khan IV held several meetings over the years with Ismaili leadership from various parts of the world to guide the Ismaili communities and the institutions associated with serving them.

Aga Khan IV with Ismaili leadership in the early era of his Imamate

Mrs Sakina Velshi Keshavjee in a meeting with Aga Khan IV in 1960 at an educational function in Nairobi

Aga Khan IV meeting with the leader of the Ismailis of China in Kashgar, Xinjiang Province

Aga Khan IV with Ismaili leadership at Aiglemont on 11 July 1982

Aga Khan IV addressing Ismaili leadership at Aiglemont on 11 July 1982

Aga Khan IV with Ismaili leadership at the ITREB Conference at Aiglemont in 1988

Aga Khan IV and The Institute of Ismaili Studies

His Highness the Aga Khan IV established The Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS) in 1977 as an academic institution of higher education to promote scholarship and learning about Islam, and a greater understanding of the intellectual heritage of the Ismailis.

The IIS Foundation and Visits

As founder and Chair, the Aga Khan IV visited the IIS on various occasions to meet with IIS staff and students, some of which are presented below.

Aga Khan IV with the Ismailia Association leadership and scholars at the Paris Conference in 1975

Aga Khan IV signing a guestbook during his visit to the IIS in 1979

Aga Khan IV arriving at the IIS in 1981

Aga Khan IV meeting with IIS leadership during his visit to the IIS in 1981

The first class of the Waezeen and Teacher Training Programme

Aga Khan IV with Anil Ishani and Shams Vellani during his visit in 1981

Aga Khan IV meeting with IIS staff during his visit in 1981

Aga Khan IV in conversation with IIS leadership and staff during his visit in 1981

Aga Khan IV and IIS staff gather together to capture this memory of his visit in 1981

Aga Khan IV signing a guestbook, 1998

25th Anniversary Celebrations

Graduation Ceremony

At this graduation ceremony which took place at Le Meridien Grosvenor House Hotel in London on the afternoon of October 19, 2003, fifteen Members of the Class of 2004 and 180 alumni of the Institute’s varied programmes were honoured. Over 1,600 guests were in attendance, including the Chairman of the Institute’s Board of Governors, His Highness the Aga Khan IV.

Aga Khan IV at the IIS 25th Anniversary Graduation Ceremony on October 19, 2003

Aga Khan IV at the IIS 25th Anniversary Graduation Ceremony

Aga Khan IV with IIS Director and Governors

A portrait of Aga Khan IV, 19 October 2003

An IIS graduate from the class of 2004 being presented with a certificate

Professor Azim Nanji addressing the audience

An IIS graduate from the class of 2004 being presented with a certificate

An IIS graduate from the class of 2004 receives a certificate from Aga Khan IV

An IIS graduate from the class of 2004 being presented with a certificate

An IIS graduate from the class of 2004 being presented with a certificate

Aga Khan IV addressing the audience

Aga Khan IV in conversation with IIS graduates

Aga Khan IV meeting with IIS staff and graduates

Aga Khan IV meeting with IIS students and alumni

Aga Khan IV and IIS alumni share a moment of laughter

Aga Khan IV addressing the audience

Aga Khan IV meeting with Dr Farhad Daftary and Professor Afzal Ahmed

25th Anniversary Celebrations

Donor event

Organised as part of the IIS 25 Anniversary Celebrations, an event for donors of the IIS was held at the Natural History Museum in London with the Chairman of the Institute’s Board of Governors, His Highness the Aga Khan IV and the senior leadership of the IIS in attendance.

Aga Khan IV addressing the audience

Aga Khan IV meets with IIS Governors

Aga Khan IV at the Donor's Event

Aga Khan IV meeting with attendees

Mr Zauhar Meghji addressing the audience in the presence of Aga Khan IV

Mr Zauhar Meghji addressing the audience in the presence of Aga Khan IV

Aga Khan IV meeting with attendees

Word of God, Art of Man

The Qur’an and its Creative Expressions

The three-day international colloquium, “Word of God, Art of Man: The Qur’an and its Creative Expressions”, was launched on October 18, 2003 with an evening reception and plenary lecture by Gulru Necipoglu, Aga Khan Professor of Islamic Art and Architecture at MIT. The formal preceedings, beginning with an address by His Highness the Aga Khan on October 19, was followed by the Opening Lecture by renowned Art Historian, Oleg Grabar.

Watch opening session

Aga Khan IV and Naguib Kheraj with Councillor Christopher Buckmaster

Professor Oleg Grabar addressing the audience

Aga Khan IV at the International Colloquium

Aga Khan IV, Professor Oleg Grabar and Professor Azim Nanji

Aga Khan IV delivering the opening address

Aga Khan IV observing a manuscript

Aga Khan IV, Alnoor Merchant and Dr Duncan Haldane

Aga Khan IV with Professor Wilferd Madelung

Aga Khan IV looks closely at the exhibited items

Meeting Civic and Governmental Personalities

During his time as the Imam, His Highness, the Aga Khan IV built bridges with various world leaders for the upliftment of the Ismailis and the societies in which they reside. Through his efforts and engagement with civic and governmental personalities, he also created opportunities for Imamate institutions to work for the betterment of societies where they operated.

Aga Khan IV with the Imam of the mosque of Xi’an in China, November 1981

Aga Khan IV receiving the award of Commander of the Legion d'Honneur from French President François Mitterrand

McMaster University conferred an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws on Aga Khan IV for his humanitarian work, 15th May 1987

Aga Khan IV presents a certificate to an employee of one of the Aga Khan Development Network institutions

Aga Khan IV and King Juan Carlos of Spain

Aga Khan IV and the Canadian Minister for External Relations and International Development, the Honourable Monique Landry

Aga Khan IV meeting civic and governmental personalities

Aga Khan IV meeting civic and governmental personalities

Aga Khan IV with Mohammed Khan Junego, a state dignitary from Pakistan

Aga Khan IV meeting civic and governmental personalities

President Islam Karimov with the Aga Khan IV

Aga Khan IV being received at the airport in Jakarta

Aga Khan IV meeting civic and governmental personalities

Aga Khan IV meeting civic and governmental personalities

Aga Khan IV with President Soeharto of Indonesia

Aga Khan IV and Minister Sjadzaly at the closing session of a seminar in Indonesia

Aga Khan IV and the Indonesian Vice President His Excellency Mr Sudharmono

Portraits

A photographic tribute to His Highness the Aga Khan IV would be incomplete without a selection of his portraits. Provided here are some portraits from photographic collections housed at the IIS.

Aga Khan IV in a ceremonial robe

A portrait of Aga Khan IV skiing in 1963

Portrait of Aga Khan IV in traditional regalia

Portrait of Aga Khan IV

Portrait of Aga Khan IV

Portrait of Aga Khan IV in the earlier era of his Imamate

Portrait of Aga Khan IV

Portrait of Aga Khan IV

Portrait of Aga Khan IV

Portrait of Aga Khan IV

Portrait of Aga Khan IV in the earlier era of his Imamate

Aga Khan IV wearing a Sindhi cap in Hyderabad

Portrait of Aga Khan IV at the Aga Khan University Graduation Ceremony

Aga Khan IV in Calgary

Aga Khan IV addressing the Ismaili community during 1994 Mulaqat in London

Aga Khan IV at an institutional dinner during 1994 Mulaqat celebration events

Aga Khan IV at an institutional dinner during 1994 Mulaqat celebration events

Aga Khan IV at an institutional dinner during 1994 Mulaqat celebration events