Quoted in Houston Chronicle on Aga Khan Visit
The role the Aga Khan plays as the spiritual leader for Ismailis is unique to the group, said New York-based scholar Hussein Rashid. He said Ismailis gather in an audience with the Aga Khan to receive blessings and guidance.
“A lot of people are very curious about this because they don’t see this happening with very many other Muslim communities in the context of the United States,” Rashid said. “And so there are a lot of questions around this, but it’s a very important practice and event in the life of a believer.”