What do mainstream Muslims think about the Aga Khan sect? Though not=20
Caliphs they claim a succession of Imams going back to Muhammad.
The title "Imam" emphasizes religious authority while "Caliph" or "Amir-ul-=
Muminin" temporal authority. Theoretically they should all be the same and =
be born simultaneously, but as claims of legitimate succssion to religious =
without temporal authority materialized and the Sunni concept of "Caliph" =
became increasingly temporal, one title or the other was preferred accordin=
g to the situation.
As for the Agha Khan, they are Nizari Ismailis (7'er Shia) the majority of =
whom recognize the Agha Khan as Imam. BTW they go back to the Assasins and =
then to the Fatimids.
Thanks to the their global philanthropic and cultural efforts they are appr=
eciated by mainstream Muslims.