On July 11, millions of Shi‘a Isma‘ili Muslims around the world will celebrate the anniversary of the ascension of their 49th hereditary Imam, Mawlana Shah Karim al-Husayni, to the office of the Isma‘ili Imamate. The notion of succession in the Imamate evokes several key questions: How is the next Imam chosen? Does the Imam-to-be know of his own status beforehand? Was he prepared for his function? Why does the Imamate continue in a single line of male descent? This article explores the principles of the Imamate succession in light of Shi‘a Isma‘ili intellectual literature and provides examples from the history of the Isma‘ili Imams including the most recent succession of the 49th Imam in light of these principles.
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