Aga Khan V makes rare visit to Dallas to meet officials, followers
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His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V inaugurated the Ismaili Center, Houston, last week, while on a six-day trip to Texas. Photo: Courtesy of Akbar Hakim
Thousands of Ismaili Muslims will gather in Dallas on Monday for a rare visit from their spiritual leader.
Why it matters: North Texas has one of the largest — and growing — populations of Ismaili Muslims in the U.S. This is the first time an Ismaili imam has visited Dallas.
Driving the news: His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V has spent the past week in Texas to open the world's seventh Ismaili Center, in Houston — and first in the U.S. — and meet with his followers.
Catch up quick: Ismailis, a branch of Shia Islam, are guided by a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. There are millions of Ismailis globally.
- Prince Rahim became the community's leader after his father's death in February at age 88.
The latest: Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, Carrollton Mayor Steve Babick and Plano Mayor John Muns welcomed the Aga Khan at Dallas Executive Airport on Sunday. Euless and Lewisville also sent representatives.
- The mayors of Dallas, Carrollton and Plano have each given the Aga Khan a key to their city.
- On Monday, he will meet with the wider Ismaili community in downtown Dallas.
What they're saying: Babick tells Axios it was "humbling" to meet the Aga Khan with the other mayors, after many years of interacting with Carrollton's Ismaili community.
- "I am a Catholic, so to me, it's as though the Pope came to Texas and to Carrollton," Babick said.
- "He's a very non-ostentatious person. He's very low key, he's very polite. He does not come across as somebody of such significance. And so that was, to me, a real honor."
Fun fact: The Aga Khan has a bachelor's degree in comparative literature from Brown University. He ran the Chicago Marathon on his 54th birthday last month.
The big picture: This is his first visit to the U.S. in a religious capacity.
- The newly opened Ismaili Center, Houston is meant to be a place for the larger public to use for casual get-togethers, scenic walks and community events.
- The 11-acre site has gardens inspired by Texas' ecological diversity and a 150,000-square-foot building that merges contemporary design with classic Islamic elements.
- "Empty buildings, however striking, don't serve their communities," the Aga Khan said last week at the center's opening ceremony. "The Center will bring people together, strengthen bonds, and help us all collectively to bring happiness and harmony to societies here and elsewhere."
Editor's note: The headline and URL of this story were updated to correct the name of Aga Khan V.