His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, 1936-2025

His Highness Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, Aga Khan IV, 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims and descendant of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), passed away peacefully in Lisbon on 4 February 2025, aged 88, surrounded by his family.

The announcement of his designated successor will follow.

For many decades, Prince Karim Aga Khan has been concerned about misperceptions of Islam and large sections of the Muslim Ummah. He established The Institute in 1977 as an academic institution to promote scholarship and learning about Islam, and a greater understanding of the intellectual heritage of the Ismailis.

The governors, faculty, staff, students and volunteers of The Institute of Ismaili Studies offer our condolences to the family of His Highness and to the Ismaili community worldwide. As we honour the legacy of our founder, Prince Karim Aga Khan, we continue to identify and address pressing ethical and intellectual questions faced by Muslim communities around the world.