Aga Khan
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (November 2018) |
| His Royal Highness Prince Aga Khan of the Imāmate of the Nizari Ismāʿīli Shias | |
|---|---|
| Template:Lang-fa Template:Lang-ar | |
| Incumbent | |
_(cropped).jpg) The current Aga Khan, pictured in 2014 | |
| Shah Karim al-Husseini since 11 July 1957 | |
| Details | |
| Style | His Highness |
| First monarch | Hasan Ali Shah |
| Formation | 1817 |
| Part of a series on Islam Isma'ilism |
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 Islam portal |
Aga Khan (Template:Lang-fa, Template:Lang-ar; also transliterated as Aqa Khan and Agha Khan)[1] is a title held by the Imām of the Nizari Ismāʿīli Shias. Since 1957, the holder of the title has been the 49th Imām, Prince Shah Karim al-Husseini, Aga Khan IV (b. 1936). Aga Khan is a descendant of Muhammad, the last prophet according to the doctrine of Islam.[2]
Title
The title is made up of the titles "agha" and "khan". The Turkish "agha" is "aqa" (Āqā) in Persian. The word "agha" comes from the Old Turkic and Mongolian "aqa", meaning "elder men",[3][4] and means something like "master" or "lord." "Khan" means king or ruler in Turkish and Mongolian languages.[5]
According to Farhad Daftary,[6] a scholar of the Isma'ili movement, Aga Khan[7][8] is an honorific title bestowed on Hasan Ali Shah (1800–1881), the 46th Imām of Nizari Ismai'lis (1817–1881), by the Iranian king Fath-Ali Shah Qajar.[9] However, Daftary apparently contradicts what the Aga Khan III noted in a famous legal proceeding in India: that Aga Khan is not a title but instead an alias that was given to the Aga Khan I when he was a young man.[8][10]
History
During the latter stages of the First Anglo-Afghan War (1841–1842), Hasan Ali Shah and his cavalry officers provided assistance to General Nott in Kandahar Province and to General England in his advance from Sindh to join Nott.[citation needed] For these and for other diligent efforts made by him in the service of the Empire, the British Raj recognised him as a "Prince". This title was less extraordinary in that time and place than it seems today, because the British while consolidating their hold on India, had been handing out similar titles liberally to any large landowner or tribal chieftain with local influence who made himself useful to them.
The Aga Khan was exceptional in that, while it was the local tribal influence that had enabled him to serve the British and gain their favour, his claim to nobility was based upon his claim to leadership of an entire sect of Islam. Imperial Britain saw great possibilities in having under their control and patronage the head of a major Shia sect; it could even be used at some later stage to counterbalance the influence of the Ottoman Caliph, the head of Islam as recognized by the Sunni sects. The Aga Khan was the only religious or community leader in British India granted a personal gun salute.[11]
When Hasan Ali Shah, the first Aga Khan, came to Sindh (which is now in Pakistan) from Afghanistan, he and his army were welcomed by Mir Nasir Khan Noori of Baluchistan.[citation needed] In 1866, the Aga Khan won a court victory in the High Court of Bombay in what popularly became known as the Aga Khan Case, securing his recognition by the British government as the head of the Khoja community. The Aga Khan is also the Pir within the Nizari Ismaili community.
The Bombay High Court decision of 1866 recognized Aga Khan I as the hereditary Imām of Isma'ilis.[12]
In 1887, the Secretary of State for India, acting through the Viceroy of India, formally recognized the title Aga Khan.[13]
Ismaili Constitution
Ismailis have their own constitution that governs their community. The most recent constitution was formally enacted in Lisbon on July 13th 1998.
On an informal level, Aga Khan encourages his spiritual children to be curious and to question in order to learn and understand their beliefs, values, and principles. On a formal level or constitution level, he retains "the sole authority to determine ALL questions that arise regarding the meaning of their religion" - Ismaili Constitution Article One.
Ismailis themselves struggle to understand the Ismaili Tariqah as they are limited from questioning in any formal capacity the core beliefs, values and principles of the Ismaili traditions. It is well-know that Ismaili Tariqah on its surface promotes kindness, pluralism, and diversity in thought but what is clear as mud is on what basis Aga Khan converted individuals from their original faith/belief into Ismailism. The Ismailis are expected to follow/obey what has been instructed to them by the Aga Khan. In a well-know guidance, Aga Khan is known to have said that "if I say it is day outside (even if it is night), you must believe it is day outside, that is the kind of faith you should have in me as your spiritual father/mother who wants the best for you and I know what is best for you more than you know what is best for you."
It is common practice within Ismaili REC (Religious Education Center) schools to teach students the Ismaili Dua that is obligatory on each Ismaili aka the permanent Spiritual Child of the Spiritual Father/Mother, the Aga Khan, to be recited three times ever day. However, it is not common practice to teach Ismaili students to read and understand the Ismaili Constitution, the highest level of authoritative document officially ordained by the Spiritual Father. Hence, it is rare to come across any Ismaili who has read the constitution or is familiar with its contents. However, it is be noted that Ismailis considered themselves to be the most well-educated Muslims around the world as they consider themselves to be true Muslims following the right path as originally intended by Allah via Prophet Muhammad. Ever other Muslim is to be respected in their own right but it is to be understood by each Ismaili that they are the right or true Muslims and they should be proud that they keep alive the true message of Allah alive following their Imam who is directly/indirectly appointed by Allah to guide them in today's age and time as reflected by the current Imam of the time and age.
It is be noted that Farhad Daftary, a Belgian-born Iranian-British Islamic scholar who is the co-director and head of the Department of Academic Research and Publications at the Institute of Ismaili Studies in London has officially refrained himself in giving Bayah (spiritual allegiance) to the current Aga Khan, the Spiritual Father/Mother of the Ismailis. When asked why, Dr. Daftary said it was a personal choice that reflects his belief based on his extensive scholarly work that he has done in his lifetime and if tomorrow it is revealed to him that Aga Khan is indeed Allah's Imam to be followed, he would certainly give him his official Bayah. Thus, as of now, Dr. Daftary is not an Ismaili Muslim or a Spiritual Child of Aga Khan.
List of Aga Khans
Four Ismāʿīli imāms have held this title:
- Aga Khan I – Hasan Ali Shah Mahallati (1804–1881), 46th Imam of Nizari Ismailis (1817–1881)
- Aga Khan II – Shah Ali Shah (about 1830–1885), 47th Imam of Nizari Ismailis (12 April 1881 – August 1885)
- Aga Khan III – Sir Sultan Mohammed Shah (1877–1957), 48th Imam of Nizari Ismailis (17 August 1885 – 11 July 1957)
- Aga Khan IV – Prince Shah Karim Al Husseini (b. 1936), 49th Imam of Nizari Ismailis (11 July 1957 – present)
See also
References
- ^ Daftary, Farhad (2007). The Ismāʻı̄lı̄s: their history and doctrines (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-511-35561-5.
- ^ Compagna, Lawrence (6 March 2019). Genealogy: Tools, Tricks and Tips for putting together your family tree. Candco Publishing, a division of the Candco Corporation.
- ^ "the definition of aga". Dictionary.com. Archived from the original on 7 July 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
- ^ "imla". www.nisanyansozluk.com. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
- ^ Fairbank, John King (1978). The Cambridge History of China. Cambridge University Press. p. 367.
- ^ "The Institute of Ismaili Studies". Archived from the original on 12 May 2013. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
- ^ Daftary, Farhad (2011), "A Modern History of the Ismailis: Continuity and Change in a Muslim Community", I.B. Tauris & Co., 416 p., pp. 1–2 Archived 31 December 2018 at the Wayback Machine ISBN 978-1845117177
- ^ a b (...) H.H. the Aga Khan 'who is known amongst his followers by the following names: "Hazarat Mowlana Dhani Salamat Datar, Pir Salamat, Sarkar Saheb, Huzur Pur Nur, Dhani Salamat, Hazar Imam, Dhani Pir, Aga Khan." '
- ^ Daftary, Farhad (2004). Ismaili Literature: A Bibliography Of Sources And Studies. Institute of Ismaili Studies. ISBN 978-1-850-43439-9.
- ^ Russell, Justice. "Haji Bibi vs H.H. Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah, 1 September 1908". indiankanoon.org. Indian Kanoon. Archived from the original on 14 July 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
- ^ "Table of Personal Salutes, 11 Gun Salutes". The India Office and Burma Office List for 1945: 43. 1945.
Table of Personal Salutes, Salutes of 11 Guns
- ^ Ricardo., Cole, Juan (1989). Roots of north indian shīʻism in Iran and Iraq : religion and state in Awadh, 1722-1859. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-562326-6. OCLC 25380111.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Vankwani, Dr Ramesh Kumar (14 June 2017). "The Aga Khan's legacy". The News International. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
Further reading
- "Les Agas Khans", Yann Kerlau, Perrin 2004
