Prince Karim al-Husseini, who was the Aga Khan IV, died in Lisbon recently at his 88.
Lineage of Islam
All 3 trace the descent of Muhammad through a chain of Imams or religious teachers, but they differ in the specifics of what the line of descent comprises.
Twelver Shias, the largest, comprising 90% of the total Shia population, follow a line of 12 divinely-ordained Imams, with the 12th Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi, believed to be alive and in occultation.
The Ismailis or Sevener Shias concur with the Twelvers till the 6th Imam, after which the two lines split.
The Zaydis or Fiver Shias split from the other lines after the first 4 Imams.
Nizaris trace the Prophet’s hereditary descent all the way to the Aga Khans.
The Dawoodi Bohras recognise direct descent only till the 18th Imam, and follow today a line of Dais who are representatives of the concealed Imam.
Prince Karim was the eldest son of Prince Aly Khan and the grandson of Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah, or the Aga Khan III.
Aga Khan IV - The Aga Khan is the Imam of the Nizari Ismaili Shias, and holds near-divine status among the community.
The title of Aga Khan was bestowed on Hasan Ali Shah, the 46th Imam of Nizari Ismailis by the Iranian king Fath-Ali Shah Qajar in the 19th century.
Following a deal with the Portuguese government in 2015, the Aga Khan IV declared Lisbon as the global seat of the Nizari Imamate.
Today, the Nizari Ismailis are spread out across more than 30 countries, although most trace their origin to Persia or the Indian subcontinent.
They are not a majority community in any location.
