The Aga Khan, pictured in 2016 Source:&nbsp AKDNThe Aga Khan, spiritual leader of the world's Ismaili Muslim community and a lifelong advocate for Islamic architecture and culture,has died aged 88 Prince Karim al-Hussaini, the Aga Khan IV, became the 49th hereditary imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, a branch of Shia Islam with its own distinct theology and cultural traditions, in 1957. At the time he was a 20-year-old Harvard graduate.The Aga Khan is considered by his followers to be a direct descendant of the prophet Muhammad, and treated elsewhere as a head of state, being referred to as his highness by Queen Elizabeth when he was given his title.He was a lifelong philanthropist and defender of Islamic culture and values, and was widely regarded as a builder of bridges between Muslim societies and the West, according to the Guardian.AdvertisementWith his personal wealth estimated to have been in the billions, the Aga Khan alsospent billions of dollars on homes, hospitals and schools in developing countries throughout his lifetime.In 1967 he founded the Aga Khan Foundation, the first agency of what would become the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), to support sustainable, community-driven development to tackle poverty, primarily in south and central Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East.The wider Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) employs 96,000 people across more than 30 countries, and channels $1 billion per year into development projects including hospitals, schools, universities, businesses and climate and cultural initiatives.He was behind the creation of Aga Khan Centres, designed as places for education, knowledge and cultural exchange, and established all around the world. Seven years ago he opened the Maki & Associates-designed centre in King's Cross, London.In 1977, the Aga Khan established the Aga Khan Award for Architecture (AKAA) through the foundation. The award is given every three years to projects that set new standards of excellence in architecture, planning practices, historic preservation and landscape architecture.AdvertisementRecipients of the award have included Foster + Posters for its Petronas University of Technology building in Malaysia (2007), and Zaha Hadid Architects for the Issam Fares Institute in Beirut (2016).The Aga Khan also set up programmes for Islamic architecture at MIT and Harvard, through which he restored ancient Islamic structures throughout the world, according to the Guardian.The spiritual leader died in Portugal on Tuesday. The Aga Khan Foundation and Ismaili religious community announced the news on their websites.The Aga Khan Centre in Kings Cross, London, which opened in 2018 designed by Maki & Associates and delivered by Allies and MorrisonAga Khan Award 2025-02-05Anna Highfieldcomment and share TagsAga Khan Award