The Ismaili Imamat is a supra-national entity representing the succession of Imams since the time, and in the progeny, of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny). His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan is the 49th hereditary Imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims. From 11th July 2017 to 11th July 2018, the global Ismaili community is commemorating the 60th anniversary (Diamond Jubilee) of the Aga Khan’s accession to the Imamat.
Consistent with 1400 years of Muslim tradition of leadership and ethics, covering all interpretations of Islam, the Imam not only guides his community in matters of faith but also leads the e ort to improve the security and quality of their lives and of all those with whom they share their destiny – locally, regionally and globally – regardless of creed, gender or ethnicity. Faith in Islam is a force that leads to a deep concern for the worldly habitat, embracing its challenges, and improving the quality of human life. The Muslim belief in the fusion of faith and the world underlines the contemporary endeavor of the Ismaili Imamat to carry forward the social conscience of Islam through the action of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), a group of private, international, non-denominational agencies working to improve living conditions and opportunities for people in speci c regions of the developing world.
The Ismaili Imamat and the AKDN have had a long, close relationship with Portugal, built on shared values. Underpinning this partnership is Portugal’s pluralism and bridge-building initiatives with people from disparate cultures and faiths. The AKDN has been present in Portugal since 1983, initially through the e orts of the Aga Khan Foundation, in the areas of early childhood development and education, strengthening civil society through social, cultural and economic inclusion of people living in neglected or underserved communities, as well as, since then, through initiatives of other AKDN agencies.
AKDN’s commitment to Portugal re ects His Highness’ deep respect for this country and a deep a ection for its people. His Highness has remarked “I have always felt at home in Portugal, and now ever more so since the signing in 2015 of an historic Agreement between the Ismaili Imamat and Portuguese Republic to establish the Seat of the Ismaili Imamat in this country – an important milestone in the 1,400-year history of the Ismaili Imamat.”
The Seat of the Ismaili Imamat established at the historic Palacete Mendonça (see stamp cover), built between 1900 and 1909 by Henrique Monteiro de Mendonça in Lisbon, marks the rst such accord in the Imamat’s modern history. It provides an enabling framework that facilitates the global work of the Ismaili Imamat. The accord also establishes an intensi ed cooperation between Portugal and the Ismaili Imamat in supporting research and in improving the quality of life in Portugal.
Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat in Lisbon
