Nasser al-Din himself carried out a ceremony performed among Persian princes to mark the end of mourning of deceased relations.

[3] He spent his early years in Mahallat; however, his father's attempts to regain his former position as governor of Kirman made residence there difficult, and so Aqa Ali Shah was taken to Iraq with his mother in 1840.

[1] This was a noteworthy achievement, given that "nomination to the Council in those days was a rare distinction bestowed only on men of outstanding ability and high social position.

Although his imamate lasted only some four years, he was able to increase contacts with his followers living outside of the Asian subcontinent, particularly those who resided in the regions of the upper Oxus, Burma, and East Africa.

[1] He received much recognition for his work as he "discharged his responsible and onerous duties in a manner which drew the admiration and approbation of the community.

"[2] Imam Aqa Ali Shah was held in high esteem by the Indian Muslim population, a result of the improvement in the conditions of his own community, his policies, and his social activism.

[1] In his capacity as president, he was also involved in the promotion and organisation of educational and philanthropic institutions which served to improve the lives of members of the greater community of Muslims in India.

The eldest, Shihab al-Din Shah (also known as Aqa Khalil Ullah) was born around 1851-2 and wrote some treatises in Persian on Muslim ethics and Ismaili spirituality.

[2] From his marriage with Shams al-Muluk, who came to be known as Lady Ali Shah (d. 1938),[8] Aga Khan II had three sons, two of whom died in their infancy.

Sultan Muhammad Shah later noted that when his father died, "he left a large and imposing sporting establishment in being — hawks, hounds, and between eighty and ninety racehorses".

[3] Aqa Ali Shah was not only a skilful rider, but also an avid sportsman and hunter,[9] and was particularly famous for his hunting of tigers in India.

[2] Aqa Ali Shah was remembered fondly for the work he did towards the betterment of the community, and also as an intrepid horseman and hunter and a legend in his own lifetime.