Tribute to His Highness the Aga Khan – by Lord Sarfraz
2 min read
The world has lost a remarkable statesman with the passing of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV. The Aga Khan, a British citizen, was the spiritual leader of some 15 million Ismaili Muslims worldwide, many of whom are distinguished contributors to their societies.
There are few Muslim leaders who have had such profound global impact, especially on low-income populations at scale. While I am not an Ismaili, the Aga Khan will always remain a hero of mine.
At the heart of his legacy is the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), the world's largest network of private development agencies. The AKDN serves millions of beneficiaries daily through truly iconic, world-class projects that remain accessible to all who need them. Whether hospitals, schools, universities, museums, or libraries, AKDN has built institutions that are market leaders in each country where they operate. The network has also led major cultural interventions, such as the restoration of ancient forts that might otherwise have fallen into ruin. They remain longstanding partners of the UK's overseas development programme.
Here in London, the Aga Khan Centre in King's Cross, the foundation's UK headquarters, is a striking building, featuring Islamic gardens inspired by diverse Muslim cultures. There are similar Ismaili Centres in Toronto, Dushanbe, Dubai and elsewhere – “ambassadorial buildings” in the Aga Khan’s own words, designed to be open and welcoming to all.
Perhaps most inspiring is what he taught his followers, who are widely dispersed throughout the world. He encouraged them to assimilate into their adopted countries, pledge full allegiance to their new nations, to be patriotic, entrepreneurial, and charitable. His guidance likely explains why Ismailis are so successful across many professions, so widely respected internationally, so domestically engaged, and so rarely associated with illegal activity. His own life showed that cultural adaptation does not need the abandonment of tradition – rather it could lead to enrichment on all sides. In his speeches he demonstrated a powerful multicultural fluency, seamlessly moving between worlds, and doing more to bridge Islamic and Western cultures than anyone I can think of.
Religious extremism was notably absent from his community, a direct result of the Aga Khan's teachings. In his own words, "I do not govern any land" and his authority is only "that of religious interpretation." It is indeed the Aga Khan’s interpretation of Islam, emphasising education, ethics and enterprise that gained such admiration throughout the Muslim world, and resulted in the prosperity of millions of his followers.
His son, Prince Rahim has now been announced as the new Aga Khan. I wish him all the best, knowing that he has benefited from his father’s 70-year masterclass.
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