We are excited to announce three new titles by one of the most prolific and respected contemporary Shia scholars working today: Shaykh Habib al-Kadhimi. Published by al-Buraq Publications and now available through Shia Books Australia, these books span the three pillars of a complete Muslim life: prayer, family, and spiritual readiness for the return of the Imam of our time (aj).
If you have already come across Shaykh Habib's acclaimed The Illuminating Lantern, his tafsir of the 30th Juz' of the Qur'an (available here), you already know the clarity, spiritual depth, and practical orientation that define his writing. These three new releases carry that same signature.
For those unfamiliar with the name, Shaykh Habib al-Kadhimi is a scholar, educator, and institution-builder whose influence stretches far beyond the classroom. He completed his advanced seminary studies (bahth al-kharij) in the holy city of Qom, studying under some of the most eminent jurists and mystics of our era, including Shaykh Mirza Hashim al-Amuli, Shaykh Husayn Wahid al-Khurasani, Sayyid Kadhim al-Husayni al-Ha'iri, and the renowned Ayatollah Shaykh Muhammad Taqi Bahjat, known widely for his spiritual depth and asceticism.
From the very beginning of his seminary life, Shaykh Habib was not content to simply study. He dedicated himself to actively propagating the teachings of Islam. He founded Hawzat al-Athar, a seminary in Qom, and established Majma' al-Zahra' at the holy shrine of Imam al-Ridha (a) in Mashhad. He also launched the website alseraj.net and the satellite television channel al-Ma'arif, making Qur'anic and ethical content accessible to Arabic-speaking audiences around the world.
His written works reflect this dual commitment to scholarly rigour and everyday accessibility. He writes not to impress academics but to transform the daily lives of believers, and the three books below are the perfect example of that mission.
~346 pages | Softcover | 6 x 9 in Order now – $32.00
In a time when the pressures of modern life, digital distraction, and shifting social norms are testing Muslim families in every community across the world, Towards a Happy Family addresses the one institution that Islam places at the very centre of a functioning society: the family unit.
Shaykh Habib grounds the discussion in the Noble Qur'an and the teachings of the Fourteen Infallibles (a), highlighting the family's elevated status in Islamic law and divine guidance. The book goes beyond theory. It identifies the real threats to family peace, from mental distractions and societal pressures to the often-overlooked mistake of neglecting familial duties in the name of personal spiritual goals. The Shaykh argues that true obedience to Allah (swt) is not found in isolation from family but through it, that serving your spouse, honouring your parents, and raising your children with presence and intention are themselves acts of worship.
The book also extends outward, exploring how an individual can positively impact their wider community, from relatives and neighbours to colleagues. The ultimate aim is to cultivate what the Qur'an calls a qalb salim, a sound heart, the only currency that will matter on the Day of Judgement.
This is essential reading for couples, parents, and anyone who has ever felt the tension between spiritual ambition and family responsibility.
~380 pages | Softcover | 5.5 x 8.5 in Order now – $40.00
The concept of intizar, awaiting the reappearance of Imam al-Mahdi (aj), is central to Shia theology. But what does it actually mean to wait? Is it passive hope, or is it something far more demanding?
Characteristics of Those Who Await answers this question with depth and precision. Drawing from Qur'anic guidance, Prophetic traditions, and the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt (a), Shaykh Habib lays out a detailed roadmap of the spiritual discipline, moral readiness, and noble qualities that define a sincere muntazir (one who awaits). The book outlines the ethical, emotional, and theological traits that genuine believers must cultivate: sincerity, patience, justice, steadfastness, and a constant orientation toward self-improvement.
What makes this book stand apart is its insistence that waiting is not a passive state. It is an active, purposeful journey. To truly await the Imam (aj) is to live as though you could be called upon as his companion at any moment, which means refining your character today, not tomorrow.
For anyone who has ever felt that the doctrine of the Mahdi (aj) is abstract or distant, this book brings it powerfully into the here and now.
~236 pages | Softcover | 5.5 x 8.5 in Available now at Shia Books Australia
How many of us finish our salah and realise we cannot recall a single word we recited? Toward a Sincere Prayer addresses perhaps the most common spiritual struggle among practising Muslims: the gap between the physical performance of prayer and the inner experience of standing before Allah (swt).
Shaykh Habib walks readers through the inner meanings and etiquettes of every element of salah, from preparation and purification through to the spiritual depth embedded in intention, qiblah, timing, adhan, recitation, ruku', sujud, qunut, and beyond. Rooted in Qur'anic themes, Prophetic guidance, and the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt (a), the book is designed to be a concise companion "at the prayer mat," something you return to again and again.
The goal is not to add more obligations but to transform what you already do. Shaykh Habib invites readers to cultivate presence, humility, and sincerity so that daily prayer becomes what it was always meant to be: an ascent of the heart and a refuge in every circumstance.
If you have ever read 101 Ways to Concentrate in Prayer from our collection and wanted to go deeper into the Shia tradition specifically, this is your next step.
Do not miss his widely praised tafsir, which remains one of the most accessible Qur'anic commentaries available in English from a Shia perspective:
The Illuminating Lantern: Tafsir of the Juz' 30 – Browse & order here
This book covers Surah 78 through Surah 114, the very surahs most of us recite daily in our prayers, offering practical, spiritually nourishing commentary that speaks to both the mind and the soul.
There is a beautiful coherence to this trio. Toward a Sincere Prayer strengthens your private relationship with Allah (swt). Towards a Happy Family extends that sincerity outward into your closest relationships. And Characteristics of Those Who Await lifts your gaze toward the horizon, connecting your daily efforts to the grand promise of divine justice through the Imam of our time (aj).
Together, they form a curriculum for the complete believer: one who prays with presence, loves with purpose, and waits with readiness.
All three titles are available now at www.shiabooks.com.au with worldwide shipping from Melbourne, Australia.
For questions, recommendations, or bulk orders for your Islamic centre or study group, reach out to us at info@shiabooks.com.au.
