Aga Khan II facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Aga Khan II |
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| Religion | Shia Islam |
| Denomination | Isma'ilism |
| School | Nizari Ismaili |
| Lineage | Fatimid(direct descendant of Muhammad) |
| Personal | |
| Born | Aqa Ali Shah 1830 Mahallat, Sublime State of Iran |
| Died | 1885 (aged 54–55) |
| Resting place | Najaf, Ottoman Iraq |
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| Senior posting | |
| Title | Aga Khan II Imam |
| Predecessor | Aga Khan I |
| Successor | Aga Khan III |
| Religious career | |
| Initiation | 1881-1885 |
| Post | 47th Nizari Imām |
Aga Khan II (born 1830 in Mahallat, Iran; died 1885 in Poona, India), also known as Aqa Ali Shah, was a very important leader for the Nizari Ismaili Muslims. He was the 47th Imam, which is like a spiritual guide, for this community. He became the Imam in 1881. He was also a member of the Iranian royal family. During his time as Imam, he worked hard to improve life for his own community and for other Muslims in India. He was the second Nizari Imam to be called Aga Khan.
Contents
Early Life and Family Connections
Aqa Ali Shah was born in 1830 in Mahallat, Iran. He was the oldest son of Aga Khan I. His mother, Sarv-i Jahan Khanum, was the daughter of Fat'h Ali Shah, who was the second ruler of the Qajar dynasty in Iran. This made Aqa Ali Shah a prince of the Iranian royal family.
When his father passed away, the Shah of Iran, Nasser al-Din Shah Qajar, showed his respect. He sent Aqa Ali Shah a special robe and a diamond-studded emblem of the Persian Crown. This showed the close connection between the Shah and the Aga Khan's family.
Aqa Ali Shah's family came from the Fatimid rulers of Egypt. He spent his early years in Mahallat. However, his father's efforts to regain his old job as governor of Kirman made it hard to live there. So, in 1840, Aqa Ali Shah moved to Iraq with his mother.
Education and Travels
In Iraq, he studied Arabic, Persian, and Nizari Ismaili teachings. He quickly became known for his knowledge of Persian and Arabic literature. He also studied philosophy and religious ideas.
In the late 1840s, things changed in Persia, allowing Aqa Ali Shah to return. He started taking on some of his father's duties. In 1853, he and his mother joined Aga Khan I in Bombay, India. As his father's chosen successor, Aqa Ali Shah often visited different Ismaili communities in South Asia. He traveled to places like Sind and Kathiawar.
Leading the Ismaili Community
Aqa Ali Shah became the Imam of the Ismailis when his father died in 1881. He also inherited the title of Aga Khan. Aga Khan II continued the good relationship his father had built with the British. He was even appointed to the Bombay Legislative Council. This was a big honor, given only to very skilled and important people back then.
Imam Aqa Ali Shah cared deeply about his followers. He knew their needs well because his father had sent him to visit various communities in South Asia. For example, some of his followers in India were confused because they followed both Muslim law and Hindu law. In 1874, he was part of a group that suggested changes to the law for his community.
He also opened many schools for his followers in Bombay and other places. He gave money to families who needed help. Even though he was Imam for only about four years, he made more connections with his followers outside of India. This included people in places like the upper Oxus region, Burma, and East Africa. He was highly respected for his work.
Connections with Other Muslim Groups
Imam Aqa Ali Shah was well-regarded by many Muslims in India. This was because he improved his own community and was active in social causes. He was chosen as president of the Muhammadan National Association and held this role until his death. In this position, he helped create and support schools and charities that improved the lives of Muslims across India.
Like his father, Imam Aqa Ali Shah had close ties with the Nimatullahi Sufi order. Both Aqa Ali Shah and the founder of the Nimatullahi order, Shah Nimatullah Wali, traced their family lines back to the Shia Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq. This shared history helped them connect. Aqa Ali Shah often sent money from India to honor the leader of one Nimatullahi branch, Rahmat Ali Shah, after his death. He also welcomed important visitors from the Nimatullahi order to India.
Family Life
Not much is known about Aqa Ali Shah's first two wives, who both passed away in Bombay. His first marriage to Maryam Sultana had two sons. The older son, Shihab al-Din Shah, was born around 1851-52. He wrote some books about Muslim ethics and Ismaili spirituality. Sadly, he died in December 1884 from a chest illness and was buried in Najaf. The second son, Nur al-Din Shah, died around 1884-85 in a horse riding accident in Poona when he was young. People said that Aqa Ali Shah died of a broken heart after losing two of his sons.
In 1867, Aqa Ali Shah married his third wife, Shams al-Muluk. She was the daughter of a nobleman and a niece of Muhammad Ali Shah of the Qajar dynasty. Shams al-Muluk became known as Lady Ali Shah. She was described as a very capable and remarkable woman. From this marriage, Aga Khan II had three sons. Two of them died as babies. His only surviving son and successor was Sultan Muhammad Shah.
Sports and Hobbies
Aqa Ali Shah's father started the family tradition of racing and breeding horses in Bombay. The first Aga Khan owned some of the best Arabian horses, which Aqa Ali Shah inherited. His son, Sultan Muhammad Shah, later said that when his father died, he had a large collection of sporting animals. This included hawks, hounds, and about eighty to ninety racehorses.
Aqa Ali Shah was a very skilled rider. He was also a passionate sportsman and hunter. He was especially famous for hunting tigers in India. He was known to hunt tigers on foot and was such a good shot that he killed at least forty tigers this way.
Death and Legacy
In 1885, while hunting water-fowl near Poona, Aqa Ali Shah got pneumonia. His son, Sultan Muhammad Shah, later explained that his father was caught in heavy rain and got soaked. He caught a bad chill that quickly turned into pneumonia.
Aqa Ali Shah died eight days later, after being Imam for four years. He was buried in the family tomb in Najaf, a very holy place for Shia Muslims. This tomb is also where his grandfather, Shah Khalil Ullah, the forty-fifth Imam, was buried.
The death of his father, Aqa Ali Shah, so soon after his brother Shihab al-Din Shah, must have been very sad for the young Sultan Muhammad Shah, who was only seven and a half years old. His death also brought much sadness to the Muslim community. Aqa Ali Shah was remembered for his work to improve the community. He was also remembered as a brave horseman and hunter, a true legend in his time. His son, Sultan Muhammad Shah, became his successor as Aga Khan III.
Images for kids
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Aga Khan II
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Aga Khan II around 1885
See also
In Spanish: Aga Khan II para niños
