University of Calgary mourns the passing of the Aga Khan

It is with great sadness that the University of Calgary joins the world in mourning the loss of His Highness, the Aga Khan, who was recognized as the spiritual leader of the world’s Ismaili Muslims and considered to be the direct descendent of the Prophet Muhammad. Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, who became the Aga Khan IV and 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims at the age of 20, died on Feb. 4, 2025, in Portugal at the age of 88. 

The University of Calgary has a special connection to the Aga Khan, who graciously accepted an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree — UCalgary’s highest academic honour — at a ceremony held in October 2018 on campus, which was viewed by thousands around the world via a livestream broadcast. 

The Aga Khan was praised for his long history of altruism, contributing billions of dollars toward the building of hospitals, homes and schools in developing countries through his Aga Khan Development Network. His philanthropy reached more than 30 countries, particularly the poorest areas in Africa and Asia.

UCalgary benefited greatly from His Highness’s visionary efforts through research partnerships with Aga Khan University campuses in Pakistan, Kenya and Uganda. The faculties of graduate studies, nursing, arts, and the Werklund School of Education were among those supported by these partnerships. 

We have been enriched by the Aga Khan’s intellectual legacy through our Memorandum of Understanding with the Aga Khan Development Network and the Global Centre for Pluralism. The world-leading UCalgary Pluralism Initiative is enshrining shared understanding and dialogue in higher education through this partnership, and was recently featured by UNESCO.

The Aga Khan will be deeply missed by the UCalgary community. We grieve with the global Ismaili community and those who admire the Aga Khan — and will continue to honour our shared values as we strive to create a knowledge society guided by pluralism.