Aga Khan Fatimid Imam Caliph

Aga Khan Receives Kenya’s Highest Medal of Honour

Nairobi, Kenya, August 14, 2007 – His Highness the Aga Khan was awarded Kenya’s highest medal of honour, the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya, (C.G.H.) by the President of the country, His Excellency President Mwai Kibaki.

Bestowing the award during a state banquet held in honour of the Aga Khan yesterday, the President noted that the Aga Khan had recorded an impressive and enduring legacy of service to the Ismaili community, Kenya and the world at large. “The achievements you have accomplished are an eloquent testimony of your dedication to your spiritual calling as well as selfless commitment to the well-being of mankind, irrespective of race or religion” said the President.

President Kibaki praised the Ismaili community’s contribution to Kenya’s development. “The energy and resources that the community has continued to deploy in various fields of development, including health, education, business and investments have immensely benefited our people and country,” he said. “We value your contribution and look forward to even stronger bonds in the years ahead.”

East Africa in general and Kenya in particular have been the traditional home to many members of the Ismaili community, which has played a significant role in the region’s development for more than a century.

The Kenyan President also applauded the work of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in the health and education sectors, which impact positively on the lives of many Kenyans. He spoke hours after the Aga Khan announced the launch of East Africa’s first private medical school – the Faculty of Health Sciences that is part of the Aga Khan University.

The Aga Khan thanked the President, “Let me say first what a wonderful honour it is – to become a Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya, and to do so on one’s Golden Jubilee!” He reflected upon his early childhood days in Kenya and spoke about his hope for the future of the country and renewed optimism of the Kenyan people.

“Kenya has one of the highest per capita literacy rates in Africa and is determined to make democracy work. It has created an enabling environment for vibrant enterprise in fields such as agriculture and horticulture, tourism and finance. In fact, at a recent World Economic Forum, Kenya was ranked among the top three countries in Africa in welcoming investment and innovation,” he said.

Speaking about the work of the AKDN in Kenya, the Aga Khan noted that these projects “ .. reflect our respect and affection for the Kenyan people - and for the sense of promise which I recall from my childhood in Kenya, and which I continue to feel on every return visit”.

Press Communique of Government of Canada:

Ottawa, July 6, 2007

Statement by the Hon. Jason Kenney, PC, MP
Secretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity)
on the Golden Jubilee of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan as Imam of the Shi’a Ismaili Muslims

I am pleased to join Canadians, as well as individuals from around the world, in recognizing the Golden Jubilee Year of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan as Imam of the Shi’a Ismaili Muslims.

 His Highness the Aga Khan became the 49th hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslim community on July 11, 1957.

Canada has benefited enormously from the significant contributions of Ismaili Muslims—whether it is Rahim Jaffer, the first Muslim elected to Parliament, to the countless entrepreneurs and CEOs who strengthen our economy, create jobs, and personify the inclusiveness of the free enterprise system.

Under the Aga Khan’s leadership, Ismailis around the world have developed an impressive network of institutions that carry out social, economic and cultural activities. In every country, these institutions—with mandates ranging from architecture, education and health to the promotion of rural development and private-sector infrastructure—benefit numerous individuals, regardless of their nationality or religion.

 As Prime Minister Stephen Harper said last year, “the Aga Khan has contributed significantly to advancement and stability in Asia and
Africa while promoting Islam as a thinking, spiritual faith that teaches compassion.”

Canada is proud to have been selected as the site for the Aga Khan’s Global Centre for Pluralism, and Canada’s New Government is proud to be supporting an institution that will serve as a cornerstone of good governance, the rule of law, and human development in the years ahead.

As Secretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity), and on behalf of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, I encourage Canadians to celebrate the Golden Jubilee Year of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan as Imam of the Shi’a Ismaili Muslims by learning more about the Aga Khan’s substantial contributions to international development, and the Canadian Ismaili community’s very impressive achievements.

Information:
Office of the Hon. Jason Kenney, PC, MP
Secretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity)
819 934-1122

Muslims regard Qur’an as being the unique culmination of series of divine revelations. It elaborates the evolution of both mankind and the universe in that it is an eternal book of guidance that must be understood and followed if it is to serve as the moral and spiritual guide for human conduct and progress. It also reflects the social economic, religious and state situation of seventh century
Arabia. It is reflective of the circumstances of the life of the Holy Prophet and his community, and that of his preceding communities and Prophets.The earliest revelations of the Holy Qur’an to the Prophet Muhammad evoke powerful symbols of learning and knowledge. The value placed on knowledge in the Holy Qur’an became the foundation for the development of education in all its different expressions throughout Muslim history.In Quran there are 704 verses in which either the word ilm or the words of the same derivation are used in the following order: a’lam 49 times, al-ilm 80 times, a’lamu 11 times, alim 162 times, a’lim 13 times, ilman 14 times, i’lamu 27 times, ma’lum and ma’lumat 13 times, ya’lamun 85 times, ya’lamu 93 times, ta’lamun 56 times. Pen and books are essential aids of knowledge, and for them, the qalam occurs 2 times and al-kitab 230 times. In addition, a number of words related to writing, like kataba, katabna, kutiba, katib, yaktubu, naktubu are used in a number of verses. In Quran the total number of verses using the words related to writing is 319, and the word kitab for the Quran is used on 81 different occasions.  His Highness the Aga Khan on October 19, 2003 speaking of the Qur’an at the opening session of “Word of God, Art of Man: The Qur’an and its creative expressions” said that our time is now calling us for enlightened encounters among faiths and cultures. Whatever its vernacular forms, the language of art, more so when it is spiritually inspired, can be a positive barrier-transcending medium of discourse, manifesting the depths of the human spirit. 

“The discourse of Holy Qur’an, rich in parable and allegory, metaphor and symbol, has been an inexhaustible well-spring of inspiration, lending itself to a wide spectrum of interpretations. This freedom of interpretation is a generosity which the Qur’an confers upon all believers, uniting them in the conviction that All-Merciful Allah will forgive them if they err in their sincere attempt to understand His word. Happily as a result the Holy Book continues to guide and illuminate the thought and conduct of Muslims belonging to different communities of interpretation and spiritual affiliation, from century to century, in diverse cultural environments.” “Noble Qur’an” the Aga Khan went on to say,” extends its principle of pluralism also to adherents of other faiths. It affirms that each has a direction and path to which they turn so that all should strive for good works, in the belief that, whatsoever they may be, Allah will bring them together.” 

“The Qur’an acknowledges that people upon whom wisdom has been bestowed are the recipients of abundant good; they are the exalted ones, hence Islam’s consistent encouragement to Muslim men and women to seek knowledge wherever it is to be found. Poetising the Prophet’s teaching, Nasir Khusraw, the 11^th century Iranian poet-philosopher, also extols the virtue of knowledge. For him, true jihad is the war that must be waged against the perpetrators of bigotry, through spreading knowledge that dispels the darkness of ignorance and nourishes the seed of peace that is innately embedded in the human soul.” 

“The Qur’an” Aga Khan said “may not propound a doctrine of Islamic art or material culture it does offer imaginative scope in this direction. From early on, its passages have inspired works of art and architecture, and shaped attitudes and norms that have guided the development of Muslim artistic traditions. Scientific pursuits, philosophic inquiry and artistic endeavour are all seen as the response of the faithful to the recurring call of the Qur’an to ponder the creation as a way to understand Allah’s benevolent majesty. As Sura al-Baqara proclaims: ‘Wherever you turn, there is the face of Allah’. 

“Does not the Qur’an invite the artist, as much as the mystic, to go beyond the physical – the outward – so as to seek to unveil that which lies at the centre but gives life to the periphery? Is not a great work of art, like the ecstasy of the  mystic, a gesture of the spirit, a stirring of the soul that comes from the attempt to experience a glimpse of, and an intimacy with, that which is ineffable and beyond being?” he enquired hypothetically. 

“The famous verse of ‘light’ in the Qur’an, the Ayat al-Nur, inspires among Muslims a reflection on the sacred, the transcendent. It hints at a cosmos full of signs and symbols that evoke the perfection of Allah’s creation and mercy. Many other verses of the Qur’an have similarly inspired calligraphy in all its forms, reminding us of the richness and vitality of Muslim traditions in the Arts.” 

“The Holy Qur’an as a message encompasses the entirety of human existence and effort. It is concerned with the salvation of the soul, but commensurately also with the ethical imperatives which sustain an equitable social order. The Qur’an is an inclusive vision of society that gives primacy to nobility of conduct. It speaks of differences of language and colour as a divine sign of mercy and a portent for people of knowledge to reflect upon.” 

“Ours is a time when knowledge and information are expanding at an accelerating and, perhaps, unsettling pace. There exists, therefore, an unprecedented capacity for improving the human condition. And yet, ills such as abject poverty and ignorance, and the conflicts these breed, continue to afflict the world. The Qur’an addresses this challenge eloquently. The power of its message is reflected in its gracious disposition to differences of interpretation; its respect for other faiths and societies; its affirmation of the primacy of the intellect; its insistence that knowledge is worthy when it is used to serve Allah’s creation; and, above all, its emphasis on our common humanity” asserted Prince Karim Aga Khan.  

WelCome! You are now touring a complimentary website* of Ismaili Muslims, the followers of His Highness Prince Karim al-Hussaini Aga Khan.

The Aga Khan completed his 50th year as the Fatimid Imam-Caliph of the Ismaili Muslims on July 11, 2007. Exacatly 50 years ago, at the age of 20, the Aga Khan succeeded his grandfather, Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah Aga Khan III, as the 49th hereditary Imam-Caliph of the Shia Ismaili Muslims. The Aga Khan has now joined eight of his predecessor Fatimid imam-Caliphs to have completed 50 years or more of Imamat: 11th Imam Muhammadinil Mahdi 268-322 (881-934); 18th Imam Mustansiribillah I 427-487 (1036-1095); 28th Imam Shamsiddeen Muhammad 654-710 (1257-1310); 29th Imam Qasim Shah 710-771 (1310-1370); 30th Imam Islam Shah 771-827 (1370-1423) 44th Imam Abyl Hasan Aly 1143-1206 (1730-1792); 46th Imam Shah Hasan Aly 1233-1298 (1817-1881); and 48th Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah 1302-1376 (1885-1957).

Jubilees go back many thousands of years to ancient Egyptian and Hebrew times. In the Bible the Book of Leviticus prescribed that every fifty years there should be a jubilee when families should gather together, land should be restored to its original owners, debts should be remitted, slaves freed and the land left fallow. The word ‘jubilee’ actually comes from the Hebrew word for the ram’s horn trumpet with which the jubilee year was announced - a ‘yobel’.
In the New Testament, Jesus presents himself as the One who brings the old Jubilee to completion, because he has come to “preach the year of the Lord’s favour” (Isaiah 61: 1-2). In the Roman Catholic Church, jubilees began to be celebrated formally in 1300 AD and are years of forgiveness of sins and reconciliation. They are celebrated every 25 years. The most recent year of jubilee was 2000.

Royal Jubilees celebrate significant periods in monarchs’ reigns and the national life. Few British monarchs have achieved reigns of 50 years, and Golden Jubilees are very rare. There are few records of how - if at all - Henry III, Edward III and James VI and I celebrated their 50-year milestones.

The first British monarch to mark 50 years on the throne in a significant way was George III, followed by Queen Victoria. The Queen had Silver Jubilee celebrations in 1977, when she marked 25 years on the Throne - her Silver Jubilee. His Highness the Aga Khan Facilitated the Commonwealth Tribute to Queen at Windsor, United Kingdom, on 19th May, 2002.
The Aga Khan was present at the royal ceremony as mounted officers from Canada, India, Kenya and Pakistan joined contingents from other countries in an unique tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, as Head of the Commonwealth, on the 50th anniversary of her accession to the throne.

The Aga Khan’s support enabled contingents from the four Commonwealth countries to participate in a major international event honouring the Queen. Recognising shared history and traditions as well as the strength of diplomatic linkages, the equestrian spectacular was one of the largest of its kind ever staged in the world.

The Aga Khan and Begum Inara Aga Khan joined with the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, members of the Royal Family and Ambassadors of participating foreign and Commonwealth countries that also included the United States and France, to view the presentation as part of an event entitled “All the Queen’s Horses.”

“This event serves to acknowledge the Commonwealth’s importance in maintaining relations among countries through both good and less good times in their shared history,” said the Aga Khan. “The event honours the personal attention that Her Majesty the Queen has accorded to that history and the admirable manner in which she has exercised, and continues to exercise, the challenging role of Head of the Commonwealth.”

His Highness Aga Khan leads 50 million Ismaili Muslims living in more than 25 countries, mainly in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Australia and North America.

The Aga Khan is a direct lineal descendant of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) through his cousin and son-in-law Ali, the first Imam, and his wife Fatima, the Prophet’s daughter.

In keeping with the Shia tradition of Islam, the mandate of the Imam extends to both spiritual and worldly matters. Since assuming the office of Imamat in 1957, Prince Karim Aga Khan has taken upon himself his grandfather’s concern for the well-being of the Ismaili community, the wider Muslim community, and those amongst whom they live. He has emphasised Islam as a thinking, spiritual faith that teaches compassion and tolerance and upholds the dignity of mankind.

In the Ismaili tradition, the Imam’s jubilee celebrations offer occasions to launch new social, cultural and economic development projects. In keeping with the ethics of the faith, these projects aspire to improve the quality of life for the most vulnerable in society. Sultan Muhammad Shah Aga Khan’s jubilees led to the creation of schools, hospitals, housing projects, insurance companies and cooperative banking programmes.

In accordance with traditions of that era, symbolic weighing ceremonies were held for him on three distinct occasions, the last in 1956. The contributions from these ceremonies were used to strengthen existing institutions and establish new institutions to serve the Ismaili community and the societies amongst which they lived. The ceremonies were not specifically related to Shia Ismaili Muslim faith or tradition. They were fundraising events used by various religious and ethnic communities in India of that time to collect funds for specific projects.

Such ceremonies have never been held for the present Aga Khan, yet the tradition of generosity associated with jubilees has continued. At his Silver Jubilee 25 years ago, the current Aga Khan launched new social and economic development institutions and projects that have improved the lives of millions in the developing world.

These initiatives are now part of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), a group of agencies with mandates ranging from health and education to architecture, microfinance, disaster reduction, rural development, and the promotion of private-sector enterprise and the revitalisation of historic cities - all of which are catalysts for development. AKDN guided by the Islamic ethic of compassion for the less fortunate works for the common good of all citizens, regardless of their gender, origin or religion.

The Aga Khan Development Network spends more than $320 million a year on social and cultural development activities. It runs more than 200 health care institutions, including nine hospitals and over 300 schools in the developing world.

Following in the tradition of his forefathers - going back a thousand years to the establishment of the earliest universities and institutions of learning in the Muslim world - the Aga Khan has continued to place emphasis on the importance of education. His recognition of the need to engage the global “Knowledge Society” led to the establishment of the Aga Khan University (AKU) in Pakistan 25 years ago - the first private self-governing university in that country.

AKU has since grown into an international university, and today operates on nine campuses around the world. Separately, the University of Central Asia was founded in 2000 to respond to the higher education needs of remote mountain communities. The Aga Khan’s conviction of the need for home-grown intellectual leadership of exceptional calibre is also driving the development of a new network of centres of educational excellence at the school level around the world, known as the Aga Khan Academies.

The Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) - another key AKDN agency - has been involved in a number of cultural projects that range from organizing exhibitions of Islamic art to rehabilitation of historic sites, buildings and neighbourhoods from Hunza in the north of Pakistan to Kabul in Afghanistan to Cairo, Egypt and Mali in northern Africa. The AKTC is currently negotiating private public partnership agreements with the authorities in India, Pakistan, Egypt and Syria for the rehabilitation of historic sites in those countries.
The agreements represent a largely pioneering effort to expand the use of Public Private Partnerships from the economic domain to the cultural sector.

The Aga Khan Music Initiative in Central Asia - part of the AKTC - has worked to preserve, safeguard and promote Central Asia’s rich but relatively little known musical tradition.
Another AKDN agency, the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED), makes bold but calculated investments in post-conflict and fragile economies. It operates on a for-profit basis, but all profits are reinvested in other development projects. AKFED is one of the largest employers in countries such as Afghanistan and Burkina Faso, and generates annual revenues of $1.5 billion.

In the course of the next 12 months, and in keeping with the tradition of launching new development initiatives during a Jubilee year, the Aga Khan will announce the creation of new development institutions and projects and the significant expansion of existing ones.

The event on 11 July was private. However, a press release, a video news release and photos of the event have been made available to the media on the day.

*managed by: ‘Fatimid Heritage Foundation’ and ‘Mountain Girls Educational Development Program (MGEDP)’