Aga Khan’s 50th Year of Imamat:

Reflecting on the Institution of Imamat

On 11th July 2007, Ismaili Muslims around the world paid homage to their Imam, Shah Karim al-Hussaini, Aga Khan IV and renewed their spiritual allegiance to him with which began the commemoration of the 50th Year of his Imamat marked as the Golden Jubilee Year. His Highness the Aga Khan has held the office of Imamat since 11th July 1957 when he succeeded his illustrious grandfather, Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah, Aga Khan III as 49th hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims.

The year commenced with the homage ceremony which took place at Aiglemont, France, the secretariat and residence of the Imam and watched by millions of his murids (followers) around the world, from the remote mountainous regions of Central Asia to the metropolitan centres in Europe and North America. The leaders of the Ismaili communities in different countries gathered at Aiglemont and paid homage to the Imam of the Time on behalf of his followers in their respective countries.

In the contemporary history of the community, the ceremony was unique and momentous the atmosphere was intensely spiritual and unparallel in serenity. The recitation from the Holy Qur’an and devotional poems from the community’s poetic traditions, expression of spiritual allegiance to the Imam through submissions of religious symbols, the speech of gratitude, and above all the Irshad (speech) of the Imam itself created the ambience where simplicity, beauty, glory and grace were all one and the same. The specially designed ceremonial robes, both for the Imam, for members of his family and for the leaders of his followers blurred the boundaries of history, tradition and modernity.

On this momentous occasion, it is befitting to reflect on the institution of Imamat as a source of inspiration and support for the creation of numerous institutions for social, economic, cultural and spiritual development in accordance with the time. But first I will briefly introduce the institution of Imamat in the context of the history of Muslim institutions.

Imamat is the office of the Imam (spiritual leader) which is one of the two earliest institutions in the history of Islam. The other institution is Khilafat, the office of the Khalifah (Caliph). The Khilafat was instituted soon after the death of Prophet Muhammad, peace be on him and his family, to provide leadership of governance to the fast expanding Muslim empire. The genesis of the institution of Imamat goes to the lifetime of the Prophet. For the Sunni Muslims, the Imam (leader) is one who leads the ritual prayers and that is why each mosque has its own Imam. In the Shia Muslim interpretation, the institution of the Imamat goes back to the congregation of pilgrims accompanying the Prophet at Ghadir-e-Khum where he stopped on his way to Madina after his last pilgrimage to Mecca and delivered his last sermon. Addressing the gathering, Prophet Muhammad, peace be on him and his family, said: “For whoever I am the Mawla (another word for leader) Ali is his Mawla”. According to this tradition of Ghadir Khum, Ali bin Abi Talib, cousin of the Prophet and husband of his daughter Fatima became the first Imam and succeeded the Prophet in his religious authority to interpret the faith of Islam for his followers. In the Shia interpretation, there is always one Imam at a time. Aga Khan IV is the 49th Imam in direct descent from this lineage.

Unlike the institution of Khilafat which in the course of Muslim history manifested itself in many forms from head of the caliphate to different monarchies, the institution of Imamat in the Ismaili tradition has been a permanent one both in its continuity and hereditary leadership. With the office of Imamat which is permanent, the Ismaili Imams have also held the office of Khalifat at different times. The first Imam Ali bin Abi Talib is one of the first four caliphs known as Khulafa-e Rashidoon and the Faitimd Imams ruled as caliphs a vast empire stretching from North Africa and Sicily to Syria and Palestine. Another important distinction between the two Muslim institutions is that the institution of Khilafat is temporary and its authority is defined by the geographical boundaries and political authority of the caliphate whereas the institution of Imamat is not subjected to either of them. There is always one Imam for all Ismailis regardless of which country they belong to and under what political system they live. As citizens they are loyal to their respective countries and as Ismaili Muslims their spiritual allegiance is to the Imam of the Time.

The institution of Ismaili Imamat has been a permanent source of inspiration and support for institutional development in the community and beyond. During the middle Ages, it created an institutional framework called the Ismaili Da’wah within which Ismailis in various regions of the world were organized and linked with the Imamat office. The Fatimid caliph-Imams developed elaborate administrative and financial systems and created institutions of higher learning such as Al-Azhar University and the Academy of Sciences known as Dar al-Ilm where scholars of high calibre could study.

Development of modern institutions of the Ismaili Imamat began in early 20th century. The jubilees of the 48th Imam, Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah led to the creation of schools, hospitals, housing projects, insurance companies and cooperative banking programs. In accordance with the tradition, the followers of the Imam, out of love and devotion presented to him an unconditional gift each time on the occasion of his three Jubilees, golden, diamond and platinum. Accepting the gift on the occasion of his Platinum Jubilee in 1955, the Imam said: “On this unique occasion when you make this wonderful offering of platinum and its equivalent as an unconditional gift, I must immediately tell you that I give it to the Diamond Jubilee Investment Trust as further addition to its capital.”

25 years ago, on the occasion of his Silver Jubilee, the present Imam launched several new institutions and projects for social and economic development which have contributed immensely to improving the lives of millions in the most impoverished parts of the developing countries. All these development institutions are now known as the Aga Khan Development Network or AKDN, one of the largest not-for-profit development network in the world.

In his speech, His Highness committed himself to support democratic processes, to find means to help the ultra-poor, and to address theological and political tensions through consensus among all Muslims. He expressed the hope that his Golden Jubilee will enable the institutions and activities of the AKDN strengthen and consolidate themselves. His Highness called for the revitalization of the essential values of Islam which he felt could only be possible through greater collaboration among different interpretations of the faith.

His Highness the Aga Khan, since assuming the office of Imamat in 1957, has emphasised Islam as a thinking, spiritual faith that teaches compassion and tolerance and upholds the dignity of mankind. As he indicated in his speech, the Imam’s Golden Jubilee offers opportunities, as were his Silver Jubilee and the Jubilees of his grandfather, to initiate new development projects.

A very happy Golden Jubilee Imamat Day Mubarak to all Ismailis in Chitral and around the world.

Dr. Mir Baiz Khan
Toronto, Canada .