Muharram 2026: Books That Bring the Scholars Into Your Home

"To sit with scholars is a sort of worship."
— The Prophet Muḥammad (ṣ)
(Bihār al-Anwār, vol. 1, p. 62; al-islam.org)

The World Has Its Heroes. The Shia Have Something Else Entirely.

Every civilisation has its giants. South Africa had Nelson Mandela. Latin America had Che Guevara. The Catholic world had Mother Teresa. These are extraordinary individuals — but they are, by nature, exceptional. They appear once in a generation, maybe once in a century. The movements they inspire tend to fade, fragment, or become institutionalised beyond recognition within a few decades of their passing.

Now look at the Shia world.

There is no gap. There is no century of silence between one great soul and the next. From Imam ʿAlī (ʿa) to Imam al-Ḥusayn (ʿa), from Imam al-Ṣādiq (ʿa) to Imam al-Mahdī (ʿaj), there is a chain of fourteen Infallibles — then an unbroken lineage of scholars, martyrs, and leaders stretching through every single generation to our own time: Shaykh al-Mufīd, ʿAllāmah al-Ḥillī, ʿAllāmah Majlisī, Shaykh Anṣārī, Mīrzā Shīrāzī, Āyatullāh Burūjirdī, Imam Khumaynī, Āyatullāh Muṭahharī, Āyatullāh Bahjat, Sayyid Muḥammad Bāqir al-Ṣadr, ʿAllāmah Ṭabāṭabāʾī, Sayyid Khāmeneʾī, Shaykh Ibrāhīm Zakzaky, Shahīd Qāsim Sulaymānī, and countless others whose names the West has never heard but whose impact reshaped the lives of millions.

This is not a coincidence. It is a structure. The Shia intellectual tradition does not produce isolated sparks — it produces a continuous fire, each flame lighting the next. And the fuel for that fire, the source of its oxygen, is Karbala.

Karbala: The Engine of an Entire Civilisation

Imam al-Ḥusayn (ʿa) did not simply die at Karbala. He created a template, a permanent, repeating pattern of truth standing against power, of conscience refusing to kneel before convenience. Every Shia scholar, leader, and activist since the year 61 AH has been, consciously or not, living out a verse from that template.

When Āyatullāh Muṭahharī was assassinated in Tehran in 1979, days after the Islamic Revolution he helped build, he was a Ḥusayn of his time — a scholar who fought with knowledge. When Shaykh Zakzaky endured the massacre of his followers and the murder of his own children in Nigeria, he was enacting the patience of Zaynab. When Shahīd Qāsim Sulaymānī stood on the front lines against those who destroyed Shia shrines, he was walking the path of ʿAbbās ibn ʿAlī — loyalty to the Imam of his age, carried to its final breath.

This is what makes the Shia narrative unlike anything else on earth. It is not a historical memory. It is a living programme. As Sayyid Khāmeneʾī writes in his book on ʿĀshūrāʾ: "As long as there is truth and falsehood in every day and age, there will be a Ḥusayn and a Yazīd — so the umma must be prudent enough to make the right choice."

A Majlis of Scholars — In Your Living Room

The Prophet (ṣ) said: "To sit with the religious people is the honour of this life as well as the life to come." And Imam ʿAlī (ʿa) told Kumayl: "Those who amass wealth are dead even though they may be living, while those endowed with knowledge will remain as long as the world lives. Their bodies are not available, but their figures exist in the hearts." (Nahj al-Balāgha)

Read that again. Their bodies are not available, but their figures exist in the hearts.

This is exactly what a book does. When you open a work by Āyatullāh Muṭahharī, you are not merely reading words on a page — you are sitting in a majlis with one of the greatest minds of the 20th century. When you read Sayyid Khāmeneʾī's reflections on ʿĀshūrāʾ, you are being addressed by a marjaʿ. When you turn the pages of ʿAllāmah Ṭabāṭabāʾī's compilation of Imam al-Ḥusayn's sermons, you are hearing the voice of the Imam himself, curated by a scholar who spent his life in the service of the Ahl al-Bayt.

Luqmān the Wise told his son: "Sit with the scholars and stick your knees to them, for Allah enlivens the hearts with the illumination of wisdom in the same way as He enlivens the barren lands with heavy rain." (Bihār al-Anwār, vol. 1, p. 62)

For those of us who cannot sit physically in the ḥawza of Qum or Najaf, who do not live near a scholar of that calibre, who are separated by oceans and continents — a book is the next best thing. It is a form of majālis al-ʿulamāʾ: a gathering of scholars, brought into your home, available whenever you are ready.

And Muḥarram is the time to open that door.

Muḥarram 1448 Begins Around 16 June 2026. ʿĀshūrāʾ Falls Around 25 June.

Whether you attend majālis every night, organise your own at home, or simply want to deepen your understanding this year, these are the books that will transform how you experience Muḥarram.

The Essential Muḥarram Bookshelf

From the Scholars — Sit with Them

• Ashura — Sayyid Khāmeneʾī — $28.00 AUD. A collection of speeches by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution on the lessons of ʿĀshūrāʾ. This is not a retelling of events — it is a marjaʿ explaining what Karbala demands of us today. If you read one book on Muḥarram this year, make it this one.
• ʿĀshūrā: Misrepresentations and Distortions — Āyatullāh Muṭahharī — $15.00 AUD. Four Muḥarram sermons from 1969 in which Muṭahharī dissects how the true message of Karbala has been distorted — and how to reclaim it. Sharp, fearless, and profoundly relevant.
• Maqtal Muṭahhar: Majālis and Martyrdom of the Purified Ahl al-Bayt — Āyatullāh Muṭahharī — $24.00 AUD. An in-depth account of the martyrdoms of the Ahl al-Bayt, written by the same scholar. This is a maqtal in the deepest sense — scholarship and mourning woven together.
• Beyond Martyrdom: The Significance of Imam Hussein and Ashura — $15.00 AUD. A Shia Books exclusive that asks the confronting question: could an incident so tragic become the compass guiding us to eternal joy? A book about why Karbala, not just what happened.

The History — Know What Happened

• The Chronicles of the Martyrdom of Imam Ḥusayn — $90.00 AUD. The most comprehensive English-language chronicle of Karbala, drawing from the earliest sources. A reference work you will return to year after year.
• Maqtal and Arbaʿīn of Imam al-Ḥusayn — Shaykh al-Kaʿbī — $33.00 AUD. A day-by-day account of ʿĀshūrāʾ to Arbaʿīn from the late Shaykh al-Kaʿbī — a scholar who was himself poisoned by the Baʿthists for using the pulpit to speak truth to power. His life was a mirror of the message he preached.
• The Murder of al-Ḥusayn (AS) — Maqtal al-Ḥusayn — $25.00 AUD. A tightly compiled account of the authentic events before, during, and after the Battle of Karbala.
• From Madina to Karbala in the Words of Imam Ḥusayn — $28.00 AUD. Every discourse — oral and written — from the Imam's first conversation with al-Walīd to his final words on ʿĀshūrāʾ. The original Arabic, colour maps, and scholarly commentary. The Imam's own voice.
• Kerbala and Beyond: An Epic of Immortal Heroism — Yāsīn al-Jibūrī — see product page. A detailed and accessible narrative of the tragedy for readers encountering Karbala for the first time.

The Imam's Own Words

• Divine Flashes of Ḥusayn (Lamaʿāt al-Ḥusayn) — Sermons and Sayings — $18.00 AUD. A translation of Imam al-Ḥusayn's sermons and letters from the last six months of his life, compiled from the most authentic Sunni and Shia sources by the late Āyatullāh Ḥusaynī Tihrānī. This is the Imam speaking directly to you.
• Biḥār al-Anwār, Volumes 44 & 45 — ʿAllāmah Majlisī — see product page. The encyclopaedic hadith collection of ʿAllāmah Majlisī, volumes 44 and 45, is dedicated entirely to the life and martyrdom of Imam al-Ḥusayn (ʿa). For the serious student.

The Duʿā and the Ziyārah

• Ziyārat ʿĀshūrāʾ and Its Remarkable Effects — see product page. A book documenting the spiritual and material blessings that come from reciting Ziyārat ʿĀshūrāʾ consistently — a practice recommended by scholars across the board.
• Mafātīḥ al-Jinān (2-volume set) — $92.00 AUD. The indispensable duʿā companion for every night of Muḥarram, every ʿamal of ʿĀshūrāʾ, and every recitation through to Arbaʿīn.

For the Scholar in Formation

• Peace Be Upon Ibrāhīm, Vol. 1 & 2 — $28.00 AUD per volume. The story of Shahīd Ibrāhīm Hādī, recommended by Sayyid Khāmeneʾī — a modern-day Karbala story. What does it look like to live the Ḥusaynī ethic in the 21st century? This book answers that question.
• Shaykh Murtaḍā Muṭahharī: Reformation and Renewal of Islamic Thought — see product page. A biography and intellectual portrait of one of the most important Shia thinkers of the modern era — the man who made Karbala's lessons speak the language of philosophy.

For the Little Ones — Plant the Seed Early

Shaykh al-Kaʿbī used to say: "Our focus needs to be centred around the children, as they are the fruits of the future." These titles bring the message of Muḥarram to young hearts at every age:

• My First Book About ʿĀshūrāʾ — see product page. Answers the most important questions children have about ʿĀshūrāʾ and mourning ceremonies. A gentle, age-appropriate starting point.
• The Brave Heart of Karbala: Imam Ḥussain (A.S) — see product page. For ages 4–10. A heartfelt introduction to the courage, sacrifice, and love of Imam Ḥusayn.
• The Mourners of Imam Ḥusayn (as) — $18.00 AUD. Based on a hadith of Imam al-Ṣādiq (ʿa), this beautifully illustrated book tells the story of ʿĀshūrāʾ through the eyes of an owl. For ages 6–10. Includes reflection prompts.
• The Ahmad Family and the Eternal Message of Muḥarram — see product page. Sarah and Haider travel to Karbala for ʿĀshūrāʾ — and their taxi breaks down. A charming adventure that teaches children the meaning of the month.
• The Story of Ashura — Shaykh Bahmanpour — $18.00 AUD. An illustrated narrative based on authentic historical sources, written in simplified language for young adults.
• Who Is Ḥussain? — see product page. A direct, essential introduction for young readers (and adults) who want to understand why Imam Ḥusayn matters.
• Who Is ʿAbbās? — see product page. The companion volume — the story of loyalty, bravery, and the banner that never fell.
• Children of the Euphrates — from $18.00 AUD. A novel for older children and teens: three boys attempt to join the Imam, escaping a cowardly village chief. Adventure, faith, and Karbala, woven together.
• Yasser and Zahra Investigate What Happened After Ashura — see product page. The journey from Karbala to Shām — told for young investigators who want to know what happened to the family after the 10th.
• Yasser and Zahra Meet the Saviour of Islam — see product page. The same beloved characters, this time encountering Imam al-Ḥusayn himself.
• Muḥarram Colouring Book (English) — FREE PDF download. A colouring book that teaches children the events of Karbala through art. Add to cart and proceed to checkout for the free download.
• Karbala Ziyārat Activity Booklet — see product page. An engaging activity guide that walks children through the ziyārah of Imam Ḥusayn.

Every Book Is a Majlis. Every Page Is a Seat at the Scholar's Feet.

Imam al-Ṣādiq (ʿa) said: "On the Day of Resurrection, all people will be gathered on one highland and the scales will be maintained. The blood of the martyrs will be put in one scale and the ink of the scholars in the other. The ink of the scholars will outweigh the blood of the martyrs." (al-Wāfī, vol. 3, p. 40; al-islam.org)

The scholars who wrote these books poured their ink in service of the blood of Karbala. Some of them — like Āyatullāh Muṭahharī, like Shaykh al-Kaʿbī — gave both their ink and their blood. When you open their books, you are not just reading. You are sitting in their majlis, answering the call of the Prophet (ṣ) to "sit with the scholars."

This Muḥarram, invite them into your home.

Browse the full collection at www.shiabooks.com.au. For bulk orders for your community, masjid, or Islamic centre, contact info@shiabooks.com.au or call (+61) 433 162 768.

We're always updating our recommendations — have a suggestion? Email us at info@shiabooks.com.au.

Sources

• Sadr, S. M. — The Ahlul-Bayt: Ethical Role-Models, "Rights of Scholars" (al-islam.org)
• Imam ʿAlī (ʿa) — Nahj al-Balāgha (al-islam.org)
• Rizvi, S. M. — "The Philosophy of Husayn's Sacrifice and Our Azadari" (al-islam.org)
• Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh, Book 3, Ch. 134, Hadith 4 — on the days of Eid al-Aḍḥā (thaqalayn.net)