The Ismaili Muslim community in Houston is mourning the loss of their beloved spiritual leader, Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, the Aga Khan IV, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 88. The Aga Khan IV was the 49th hereditary imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims and was widely recognized for his philanthropic work through the Aga Khan Development Network.
His commitment to service and education had a profound impact on the Ismaili Muslim community in Houston, who are both large in number and tight-knit. The community is devastated by his loss, with many remembering him as the only spiritual leader they had known growing up.
The Aga Khan IV’s son, Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan V, has been named as his successor, becoming the 50th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims. The younger Aga Khan is a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad and is expected to continue his father’s legacy of service and guidance.
Houston’s Ismaili Muslim community is not alone in mourning the loss of the Aga Khan IV. Texas elected officials, including Houston Mayor John Whitmire, Texas State Rep. Salman Bhojani, and U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, have expressed their deepest condolences, celebrating the Aga Khan IV’s remarkable life and legacy of community service and humanitarian efforts
