In February 2025 Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini became the Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Nizari Ismailis, a denomination within Islam. Prince Rahim Aga Khan V succeeded his late father, Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, who had held the title of Aga Khan since 1957, to become the 50th hereditary Imam of the Nizaris. Nizari Ismailis believe the Aga Khan is directly descended from the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
There are approximately 15 million Nizari Ismailis residing in countries all over the world. There are large communities in Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, and parts of sub-Saharan Africa, whilst there are also significant Nizari populations in countries like Canada and the United Kingdom. Nizari communities in these countries are diverse, with members tracing their heritage to East Africa, India, Pakistan, Central Asia and the Middle East.
Nizaris believe in the core tenets of Islam, including in the oneness of Allah (‘Tawhid’) and the teachings of the Qur’an. Nizari Ismaili teachings also place a strong emphasis on charity; for example, like other branches of Islam, Ismailism incorporates the concept of Zakat. But many Nizari Ismailis donate upwards of 10% of their income to charity, rather than the 2.5% benchmark required of all Muslims.
This emphasis is also visible in the work of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), which grew out of the Aga Khan Foundation which Prince Karim Aga Khan IV founded in 1967. The AKDN operates in line with the teachings of Islam, and helps people regardless of faith or nationality. For example, the AKDN runs hundreds of health facilities, including 22 hospitals, across the developing world which provide medical services to anybody who needs them.
In line with the Islamic concept of stewardship, many of the AKDN’s initiatives emphasise sustainability. This is evident in many of the projects the AKDN supports. For example, the AKDN partnered with the Government of Switzerland to create the Naryn Urban Resilience Programme, an initiative designed to help rural communities in Kyrgyzstan meet environmental challenges.
Today, the global Nizari community is a vibrant and dynamic Muslim community, known for their charitable activities and social justice initiatives, and make up an important part of the global religious landscape.