From Loss to Light - Guidance from Imam Rahim Aga Khan V

Earlier this year, I wrote about losing my mentor, the Aga Khan IV, who has been the Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims for longer than I have been alive. Losing him felt like losing a guiding light. Not long after, Shah Rahim Aga Khan V stepped into his role as our 50th Imam. I'll be honest, at first it didn’t feel the same - I wasn’t able to connect to him as easily. But now, after his visit just yesterday to my hometown of Dallas, TX, I can confidently say that has evolved. The Imam blessed his followers with an in-person visit and offered pointed guidance on how to navigate today’s world. I didn’t realize how quickly my heart would find solace in his leadership.

I didn’t expect to feel emotional walking into the hall, but something small shifted in me yesterday. As he entered the hall, all eyes were on him. There’s a different aura I felt with Shah Rahim (current Imam) compared to Shah Karim (past Imam). Shah Karim always felt almost otherworldly, a towering figure who seemed to float above humanity. In the past, when Shah Karim walked into a room, the energy instantly shifted as if a higher being was present.

In the present, when Shah Rahim walks into a room, it feels more down to earth, more connected to his audience. His presence feels grounded, human, present. His eyes gleamed with love and acceptance as he looked around at his followers. It’s the same gleam his father had. The contrast isn’t a loss; it’s a mirror reflecting what my generation is yearning for, a leader who looks us in the eyes, bumps fists with our kids, forms a heart with his hands, and speaks frankly about what harms our souls. He truly represents what we call the "Imam of our time."

During the Didar (a sacred gathering when Ismailis experience the spiritual and physical presence of their living Imam) yesterday in Dallas, I wrote down every point that pierced my heart, knowing I’d want to revisit those words whenever I feel lost.

When he spoke to us, I felt that familiar warmth his father had. My heart and ears were tuned to every single word. He reminded us that our faith is both Dīn, our inner purpose, our connection with the soul and the Divine, and Dunyā, our outer responsibilities to family, community, and work. These two worlds have always intertwined for me; I’ve built Emagineer and its companies around a belief that business is a vehicle for serving humanity, not just profit. Hearing him insist that they are inseparable felt like both a validation and a challenge to step up further.

He called us to connect on shared values. In a world tearing itself apart by clinging to the 1 % that makes us different, he urged us to celebrate the 99 % we all share. The examples I thought of: the love we have for our families, the desire for safe societies, and affordable healthcare. That reminder to build bridges, not walls, reassured me that I’m on the right path, the path toward unity.

He warned us not to give for recognition, a reminder not to let generosity be laced with ego. He spoke about compassion and generosity as the only way to live a fulfilled life. I thought about how much judgment I still carry, how many times I let past heartbreaks harden me. I wrote in my notes that I have to love more openly and give, give, give no matter what. He even emphasized that our giving doesn’t need to be limited to his organizations like AKF, it can be to anyone and anything. It doesn’t matter, as long as it’s sincere.

He told us to stay away from anything unethical in business and that our word is our bond. As someone who leads multiple companies, this reminder was especially needed as we scale Emagineer. It’s easy to justify compromises in the name of growth. It’s easy to get distracted off the path by greed, lust, hatred, and division when you’re surrounded by those powerful, negative forces every day. This was a call to vigilance, to keep checking that our actions align with our values.

He emphasized taking care of the elders who paved the way for us. To serve our communities, serve one another, that material success is not real success. That real success to him are people who uplift others. It echoed the reason I started MySeema; my mom’s health scare showed me how easily our elders fall through the cracks and that we must serve our elders who taught us everything we know.

He told us to put down our phones, pick up a book, and not let social media isolate us from one another.

He said, “Your body is a gift from God.” In those few words, he summed up why I’m obsessed with preventive health. Sometimes our bodies and minds need a cleanse. If we don’t nourish them properly, we can’t show up for anyone else.

He reminded us that we all come from one soul. My spiritual journey over the last few years has taught me the same: the universe, God, Jesus, Allah - whatever name we choose - is one Source. We are all fragments of that Source. This idea isn’t just poetic; it’s the foundation of how we treat one another, how we build companies, and how we raise families.

Sitting in that hall, listening to him, I felt both grounded and uplifted. I could see his love for us in his eyes, and I could feel the responsibility in my own heart. It took me a moment to realize how deeply I already feel for him and how much I want to support and give, with my time, knowledge, and means, to our vision of humanity. I’m still grieving the loss of Shah Karim, but with each passing day, I find myself embracing Shah Rahim’s guidance and presence more and more.

This post isn’t meant to be a sermon. It’s a reminder to myself. Years from now, I want to look back and see how far I’ve come in living up to the ideals he laid out, the same ideals that my soul and my God remind me of daily: connecting on shared values, giving without ego, leading with compassion, upholding ethics, remembering that we are one soul, honoring those who came before us, caring for our bodies and nourishing our spirits.

You don’t have to be a Shia Ismaili Muslim to feel this. To me, it’s simply part of being human. If these words move you, maybe they’ll awaken something in your heart too. And maybe, just maybe, the universe will connect our paths to uplift humanity together.