ASWAN, Egypt (AP) 鈥 The Aga Khan IV was laid to rest on Sunday at a private ceremony in Aswan, Egypt.
The death of Prince Karim 鈥 the 49th hereditary imam of the Shiite Ismaili Muslims 鈥 was Tuesday by the Aga Khan Development Network and the Ismaili religious community. His son, 53-year-old Rahim Al-Hussaini, has been , the spiritual leader of the world鈥檚 millions of Ismaili Muslims, in according with his father鈥檚 will.
On Saturday, a took place at the Ismaili community center in Lisbon attended by 春色直播 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Spain鈥檚 King Emeritus Juan Carlos and Portugal鈥檚 President .
The Aga Khan is considered by his followers to be a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad and is treated as a head of state.
The governor of Aswan welcomed Prince Karim鈥檚 family at the southern Egyptian鈥檚 provinces airport on Saturday.
鈥淲hen his will was opened, it was found that he had requested to be buried in Aswan near his grandfather, Sultan Muhammad Shah, and his grandmother, Om Habiba,鈥 said Maj. Gen. Ismail Kamal.
Ismaili mourners marched as bells rang during the burial ceremony in the country鈥檚 southern Aswan province, as Prince Karim鈥檚 body was taken in a van. They carried his body, draped in a white shroud, and placed it on a yacht on the Nile River.
Prince Karim, 88, was given the title of 鈥淗is Highness鈥 by Queen Elizabeth in July 1957, two weeks after his grandfather, the Aga Khan III, unexpectedly made him heir to the family鈥檚 1,300-year dynasty as leader of the Ismaili Muslim sect.
The late Aga Khan evolved over decades into a business magnate and a philanthropist, moving between the spiritual and the worldly with ease. He was a defender of Islamic culture and values, but also widely regarded as a builder of bridges between Muslim societies and the West.
The Aga Khan Development Network deals mainly with issues of health care, housing, education and rural economic development. It says it works in over 30 countries and has an annual budget of about $1 billion for nonprofit development activities.
Ismailis lived for many generations in Iran, Syria and South Asia before also settling in east Africa, Central Asia and the Middle East, as well as Europe, North America and Australia more recently. They consider it a duty to donate up to 12.5% of their income to the Aga Khan as steward.
