Aga Khan III
Aga Khan III | |
|---|---|
Muhammad Shah in 1936 | |
| 48th Imam of the Nizari Isma'ilism Muslim | |
| In office 17 August 1885 – 11 July 1957 | |
| Preceded by | Aga Khan II |
| Succeeded by | Aga Khan IV |
| President of the All-India Muslim League | |
| In office 1906–1957 | |
| Preceded by | Khwaja Salimullah (Interim) |
| Member of the Assembly of The League of Nations | |
| In office 1934–1937 | |
| President of the Assembly of The League of Nations | |
| In office 1937–1938 | |
| Preceded by | Tevfik Rüştü Aras |
| Succeeded by | Éamon de Valera |
| Personal life | |
| Born | 2 November 1877 Karachi, Bombay Presidency, British India |
| Died | 11 July 1957 (aged 79) Versoix, near Geneva, Switzerland |
| Resting place | Mausoleum of Aga Khan, Aswan, Egypt |
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| Children |
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| Parents |
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| Other names | Sultan Mohammad Shah |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Shia Islam |
| Denomination | Isma'ilism |
| School | Nizari Ismaili |
| Lineage | Fatimid |
Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah (2 November 1877 – 11 July 1957), known as Aga Khan III, was the 48th imam of the Nizari Ism'aili branch of Shia Islam. He is considered one of the founding fathers of Pakistan, and also served as the first permanent president of the All-India Muslim League (AIML).
Shah sought the advancement of Muslims and the protection of Muslim rights in British India. The League, until the late 1930s, was not a large organization but represented landed and commercial Muslim interests as well as advocating for British education during the British Raj. Shah advocated for the recognition of Muslims in India as a distinct political and cultural community, a position that would later align with the principles underlying the two-nation theory. Even after he resigned as president of the AIML in 1912, he still exerted a major influence on its policies and agendas. He was nominated to represent India at the League of Nations in 1932 and served as President of the 18th Assembly of The League of Nations (1937–1938).