The Aga Khan, spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims and a philanthropist, dies at 88
Considered by followers to be a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad, His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV was a student when his grandfather picked him to lead the Shia Ismaili Muslim diaspora.
![The Aga Khan, spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims and a philanthropist, dies at 88](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3900x2194+0+209/resize/1400/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F65%2Fac%2F72b17a8e49f98a216eeed9ad7045%2Fap25035806066183.jpg)
![The Aga Khan addresses an audience about the challenges to a pluralistic society on Nov. 12, 2015, at the Memorial Church on the campus of Harvard University, in Cambridge, Mass.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3900x2611+0+0/resize/3900x2611!/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F65%2Fac%2F72b17a8e49f98a216eeed9ad7045%2Fap25035806066183.jpg)
Considered by followers to be a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad, His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV was a student when his grandfather picked him to lead the Shia Ismaili Muslim diaspora.
(Image credit: Steven Senne)