Lantern Publications | Newsletter No. 3

LANTERN PUBLICATIONS

ISSUE 03

THE MONTHLY LETTER

A New Chapter
for Lantern

New books, major scholarly projects, international partnerships, and a growing publishing community.

As-salāmu ʿalaykum,

Alḥamdulillāh, the past few months have been an exciting period of growth for Lantern Publications.

Since our last letter, we have made significant progress on several major publications, welcomed new distribution partners, expanded our editorial team, and introduced substantial improvements to our website.

Behind each of these developments is the same commitment that has guided Lantern from the beginning: to make the rich intellectual, spiritual, and literary heritage of the Ahl al-Bayt (ʿa) more accessible to English-speaking readers, without compromising on scholarly integrity or the quality of our publications.

NEW RELEASES

Two New Books Launching Soon

FORTHCOMING RELEASE

Islamic Governance — Volume 4

By Sayyid Ali Khamenei
Translated by Blake Archer Williams

The fourth and concluding volume of this important series is approaching publication. This final instalment brings together the arguments developed throughout the preceding volumes, examining Islamic governance, political authority, justice, leadership, and the responsibilities of an Islamic society. Completing this substantial series will be an important milestone for Lantern and a valuable addition to contemporary Islamic political thought in English.

FORTHCOMING RELEASE

Islam at a Glance

By Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi

We are also preparing the release of Islam at a Glance, an accessible introduction to Islam from one of the contemporary Shia world's most prominent scholars.

While many of our publications are substantial works of scholarship, we recognise the equal importance of clear introductory books that help readers build a sound understanding of Islam. This publication will be valuable for young adults, new Muslims, students, and those beginning their journey into Islamic studies.

Both titles are approaching release, in shāʾ Allāh.

OUR PUBLISHING PIPELINE

Major Publications Nearing Completion

Several important titles are now progressing through the final stages of translation, editing, design, and production.

Al-Amālī of Shaykh al-Ṭūsī

ALMOST COMPLETE — DESIGN STAGE

After more than two years of sustained effort, we are delighted to share that our English translation of Al-Amālī is almost complete and is progressing into the design stage.

This monumental classical collection preserves narrations on theology, ethics, history, spirituality, and the virtues of the Ahl al-Bayt (ʿa). Bringing it into English has required painstaking attention to translation accuracy, terminology, references, and editorial consistency.

Explore the Al-Amālī project →

Maʿālim al-Madrasatayn — Volume 1

TRANSLATION AND EDITING COMPLETE

Volume 1 of this remarkable work by ʿAllāmah Sayyid Murtadha ʿAskarī has now been translated and edited, bringing us significantly closer to publication.

The work offers a detailed, source-based examination of historical and theological differences between the School of the Caliphs and the School of the Ahl al-Bayt (ʿa).

We hope this project will lay the foundation for translating more of ʿAllāmah ʿAskarī's extraordinary scholarly contributions into English. The complete table of contents is now available on our website.

View the project and table of contents →

Like Mary — The Story of Lady Fiḍḍah

A biography of the remarkable Lady Fiḍḍah, who served and accompanied Sayyida Fāṭima al-Zahrāʾ (ʿa). This work seeks to bring greater attention to a woman whose devotion, knowledge, and character deserve to be known far more widely. Production work is continuing towards publication.

Euthanasia from the Perspective of Islamic Jurisprudence

By Mohsen Mortazavi

An important examination of euthanasia and end-of-life ethical questions through Islamic jurisprudence, with particular relevance to Jaʿfarī fiqh. This work addresses difficult questions at the intersection of medicine, ethics, law, and religious responsibility.

Qiblah-ye Kaʿba-zād — Volume 1

By Hujjat al-Islam Hamed Kashani
Translated by Sara Brown

This ambitious three-volume work explores approximately 80 virtues of Imam ʿAlī (ʿa), drawing on historical and narrational evidence. The first volume has been translated and is undergoing editing.

We are particularly excited about its potential to introduce English-speaking readers to a deeper understanding of Amīr al-Muʾminīn (ʿa).

Explore the project →

LOOKING AHEAD

Major Projects on the Horizon

The Holy Qur'an with Selected Brief Commentary

We are developing a carefully designed edition of the Holy Qur'an combining Arabic text, English translation, transliteration, and selected concise commentary drawn from Tafsīr Nemūneh.

Our aim is to produce a Qur'an that is accessible without sacrificing scholarly depth: a companion for those learning to recite, seeking to understand the verses, or wishing to reflect more deeply on the divine message.

Explore the Holy Qur'an project →

Biḥār al-Anwār — Kitāb al-Ghaybah

We are also working towards a refreshed edition of the material concerning the Occultation of Imam al-Mahdī (ʿa) from the great encyclopaedic collection Biḥār al-Anwār. With renewed editorial attention and contemporary presentation, we hope to make this important body of narrations more accessible to readers and students.

Tafsīr al-Qummī

Another major classical work next in our plans is Tafsīr al-Qummī, an important work within the Shia exegetical tradition. This forms part of our longer-term commitment to making foundational Islamic texts available to English-speaking readers.

Our forthcoming catalogue also includes By the Fig and the Olive, Sincerity: The Treasure of Felicity, An Introduction to al-Kulaynī, and Ontology of the Qur'an, among other exciting works.

Explore All Forthcoming Projects

LANTERN KIDS

New Stories for Young Hearts

Tree of Faith

By Basim Al Ansari

We are pleased to announce that Tree of Faith, a new children's book by Basim Al Ansari, is in development. It joins our growing commitment to producing thoughtful, engaging books that help children connect with their faith.

We are also working on several exciting new titles with Somayeh Zomorodi, whose storytelling has already made a wonderful contribution to the Lantern Kids catalogue. Further announcements will follow soon, in shāʾ Allāh.

Through Lantern Kids, we hope to offer children more than simply books with Islamic themes. We want stories that nurture imagination, shape character, encourage questions, and help children develop a genuine love for their faith.

Explore Lantern Kids →

DIGITAL HOME

A Refreshed Website and Growing Catalogue

Visitors to our website may have noticed several significant changes. We have been working to make Lantern's growing collection easier to explore, while also offering a clearer view of the publishing process behind each title.

Our refreshed website includes a more organised catalogue, detailed forthcoming project updates, an events section, and new ways to find our books through distributors around the world.

We have also expanded From Our Shelf, a curated collection of worthwhile books from other publishers, including titles we have received permission to reprint or distribute. This forms part of our wider mission to ensure valuable Islamic literature remains available to readers.

Visit our refreshed website →

INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION

Reaching More Readers Worldwide

We are delighted to welcome two new international distribution partners to our growing network.

ShiaKids.org

UNITED KINGDOM

A new distribution partner helping bring Lantern books to readers and families across the United Kingdom and Europe.

Oudhmania

UNITED STATES

Based in Florida, Oudhmania joins our network of international retailers, helping make Lantern titles more readily available to readers in North America.

These partnerships are an important step towards our goal of making quality Shia literature genuinely accessible worldwide.

Find an international distributor →

BEHIND THE BOOKS

Building a Stronger Editorial Team

One of the most encouraging developments behind the scenes has been the establishment of a new editorial initiative in collaboration with eHawza and Shaykh Mansour Leghaei.

Through this collaboration, we are welcoming a new group of editors with a strong foundation in Islamic studies and a sincere interest in contributing to the publication of meaningful scholarly works.

Our editors are undertaking structured training in Lantern's editorial standards, developed over several years and informed by the practices of leading academic publishers.

Good Islamic publishing requires more than correcting grammar. It demands careful attention to theological meaning, scholarly accuracy, original-language terminology, the author's intent, and the integrity of the text.

We hope this initiative will not only strengthen our publishing capacity, but help develop a new generation of skilled editors serving the Shia intellectual tradition.

COMMUNITY & EVENTS

Bringing Writers and Readers Together

We are working towards a Sydney Shia writers' gathering following the holy month of Ramadan, with plans for an event around the Easter period.

Our ambition is to bring together authors, translators, illustrators, educators, parents, and readers for meaningful conversations about Islamic literature and publishing.

We envisage opportunities for workshops, author discussions, children's literature activities, and community engagement. Further details, including dates, programme, and participation opportunities, will be announced once arrangements are confirmed.

SUPPORT OUR MISSION

Help Us Bring the Next Generation of Books to Life

Every book that reaches a reader represents months, and sometimes years, of often unseen effort.

Translations must be checked. Historical references need verifying. Manuscripts require careful editing, scholarly review, proofreading, typesetting, design, and printing. All of this comes at a significant cost.

Publishing specialist Shia literature for a relatively small English-speaking readership is rarely commercially profitable. Yet we believe that the value of this work cannot be measured by sales alone.

We are actively seeking financial support for a number of our forthcoming publications.

Projects such as Maʿālim al-Madrasatayn, Qiblah-ye Kaʿba-zād, our forthcoming Holy Qur'an edition, and other major translations require further funding to progress towards publication.

We warmly invite individuals, families, community organisations, and institutions to consider contributing towards these works. Support can take the form of a contribution towards a project's overall cost, sponsorship of a particular stage of production, or more substantial funding for an entire publication.

No contribution is too small to make a difference. Together, we can bring valuable works of scholarship into print and into the hands of readers who may never otherwise have access to them.

We pray that every publication becomes a source of beneficial knowledge and lasting ṣadaqa jāriya for those who help make it possible.

Explore & Support Our Projects

Interested in sponsoring a publication or supporting a specific stage of production?
Contact us to discuss how you can help.

Lantern remains a small publishing house with a large vision. We are deeply grateful to the authors, scholars, translators, editors, supporters, and readers who continue to make this journey possible.

Thank you for reading, supporting, sharing, and praying for this work. We look forward to sharing more exciting news in the months ahead, in shāʾ Allāh.

With warm regards,

Abidali Mohamedali
Editor-in-Chief
Lantern Publications · Lantern Kids