Throughout history, Ismaili Muslim’s have been led by a living, hereditary Imam-of-the-Time. A descendent of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family), through his cousin and son-in-law, Hazrat Ali, and his daughter, Hazrat Bibi Fatima.
On 13 December 2016, Ismaili’s around the world celebrated the 80th birthday of our present living Imam, His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan. Born in Geneva, Switzerland in 1936, he succeeded his grandfather to become the 49th Ismaili Imam at the age of 20.
In the nearly six decades of his Imamat, Mawlana Hazar Imam has devoted himself to the spiritual and worldly progress of Ismaili’s worldwide.
The celebration of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s birthday is an occasion for Ismaili’s to reflect on the unique spiritual bond that links each murid to Hazar Imam. It also affords the Jamat an opportunity to express its love, loyalty and devotion to the Imamat, which binds the Ismaili community together as one.