A small presentation on the ismailis and the Aga Khan

1. Aga Khan and his Community
A Neutral’s Point of View
Syed Hasan Ahmed Alvi
07566

2. THE AGA KHAN?
• “Aga Khan” – (“Aqa”) –(“Khan”)
• Bestowed on 46th Spiritual Leader of Ismaili
Muslims by King Al Fath-Ali Shah of Persia
• Current Holder of the Title: Prince Shah Karim-
Al Hussaini (The 49th Spiritual Leader) as The
Aga Khan IV
• Took up authority at age of 20.

3. Early Life
• 13th December 1936( age 77 )
• Geneva ,Switzerland
• Islam(Nizari Ismail’ism)
• Parents:
Prince Aly Khan, Joan Barbara Buller.
• Children:
Zahra, Rahim,Hussain and Aly Muhammad

4. Nizari Ismaili’s
• The Followers of the Aga Khan are known as the
Nizari Ismailis
• Commonly known as Ismaili’s or Aga Khani’s
• Nizari Ismailis are part of the Shia Sect of the
Islamic Ummah!
• There are approximately 15 million Ismailis
around the world
• They are most commonly located in Pakistan,
India, US and Canada, Major parts of Africa
• Ismailis follow the Imamate System

5. The imamate System

6. Place of Worship
• The Ismaili’s worship in their private worship
halls commonly known as the Jamat’Khana
• The Ismailis worship 3 times a day Before Sun
rise ,before sunset and after sunset(A
consecutive schedule)
• The ismailis have a strict no entry policy for
the non community members in their
Jamatkhana’s specially during their prayer
timings.

7. WHY?

8. Reason Being!
First and foremost in the Jamat Khana the Ismailia have
religious ceremonies. These ceremonies are esoteric
and not exoteric. If a non ismaili was allowed in then
that person would be totally lost on what is going on.
Also Ismailis view the Jamat Khana has their safe Haven
wear they can practice their faith without any fear and
could concentrate on the Bayat that was given to the
Imam Of the Time. If a non Ismailia was allowed in this
concentration would be broken because of the fact
that the non Ismailia would be confused and it would
break the standing Spiritual connection during the
prayer time.

10. The AKDN
• The AKDN has been criticized for being
servants to the community members only and
is thus criticized by Many of the Muslim World
for being a non-Islamic Ngo which does not
serve other communities.
• But the AKDN focuses on making efforts to
help people of every community in different
Disaster stricken areas, Rural areas and the
Mountainous remote areas.

11. AKDN
• The Aga Khan in collaboration with so many Western powers and
aid, has set up the world-wide Aga Khan Development Network
(AKDN) which runs several institutions and service companies both
in the profit and not for profit sectors. This network is very actively
operating in Pakistan, India, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and
Bangladesh, and has now started concentrating its efforts in
Tajikistan and the neighboring areas where there is a concentration
of Muslims who have not known or openly practiced Islam for the
decades. By taking up economical, social, educational and rural
development efforts through NGOs (Non-Govt. Organizations)
within the AKDN, the AKDN have gained wide acceptance amongst
these countries and masses. In spreading the Word of Islam with
the help of different Muslim Leaders of different sect’s