Agha Khan

Shri Nathji often narrated how the followers of the Agha Khan had absolute and complete faith in him and accepted all his actions as divinely inspired. When someone said to one of his followers:

“Your Master has married film actresses and he goes to the horse races and night clubs and enjoys himself with the tremendous wealth at his disposal–how come you still have faith in him as being divine?”

The follower at once replied: “Chupp karo! Ye hamaaraa test hai! Be quite! This is the test of our faith!”

Agha Khan is be the hereditary title of the Imam of the Nizari Ismaili community. The Nizari Ismaili community is a denomination of Ismailism within Shia Islam and consists of approximately 5-15 million adherents (under 10% of the world's Shia Muslim population). The Nizari Ismailis recognize the Imamat of the descendants of Ismail ibn Jafar, eldest son of Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq. On the other hand Twelver Shi`ism, the largest denomination of Shia Islam, recognizes the Imamat of the descendants of Ismail's younger brother Musa al-Kazim. Aga Khan I was a supporter of the British and helped them in the invasion of Sindh, thus he and his successors  were given many privileges and honours by the British.

During Shri Nathji’s time, head of the community was the third Agha Khan, Sir Sultan Muhammed Shah, Aga Khan (November 2, 1877 – July 11, 1957), who  was the 48th Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims. He was one of the founders and the first president of the All-India Muslim League, and served as President of the League of Nations from 1937-38. He was nominated to represent India to the League of Nations in 1932. He was instrumental in the creation of Pakistan.

The distinction of a Knight Commander of the Indian Empire was conferred upon him by Queen Victoria in 1897 (and later Knight Grand Commander in 1902 by Edward VII) and he received like recognition for his public services from the German Emperor, the Sultan of Turkey, the Shah of Persia and other potentates.

He was an owner of thoroughbred racing horses,which won many championships in Europe.  In 1926, the Agha Khan gave a cup (the Agha Khan Trophy) to be awarded to the winners of an international team show jumping competition held at the annual horse show of the Royal Dublin Society in Dublin, Ireland every first week in August.

He led a lavish lifestyle and also had three Europeans ladies as his wife. So outwardly he didn’t looked and acted like any leader of a Muslim sect.