About Us

Al-Maarif Foundation was established as a not-for-profit organization in Canada. It’s main goals consist of the following:

The propagation of Islam according to the Shi’a Ithna ‘Ashari faith through various mediums
To help charitable causes locally, as well as globally such as those in India, Iraq, Pakistan, African countries & more.
To uplift the quality of life for those who are underprivileged. This is done by providing them shelter, food, clean water, and other aids to help people take steps towards stability.
Long term goals of assisting the underprivileged by also helping their children in acquiring quality education, and supporting deserving students of the underprivileged families with grants for higher education.
To cooperate and work with other individuals and organizations with similar aims and objectives, both locally and internationally
You may help us with these causes & more, by visiting our Donate page

Al-Ma’arif Publications

For many years, Al-Ma’arif has been publishing new works in various fields, largely authored by Shi’i scholar Syed Muhammad Rizvi (Toronto, Canada)
Some of the works published by Al-Ma’arif and/or written by Syed Muhammad Rizvi include:
- Business Ethics in Islam
- A History of the Shi’a People (Sayyid Saeed Akhtar Rizvi)
- Marriage & Morals in Islam
- A Code of Practice for Muslims in the West (translation)
- Shi’ism: Imamate & Wilayat
- Khums: An Islamic Tax
- Writing an Islamic Will
- Death: Before, During, & After
- A Explanatory Translation of the Qur’ãn (3 Volumes covering half of the Qur’an so far)
- Risalatul Huquq: A Charter of Rights by the 4th Imam (Translation & Commentary)
- Imam Husayn: the Saviour of Islam
- An Introduction to the Islamic Shari’ah
- Ritual and Spiritual Purity
- Sermons of Bibi Zaynab and Imam Zaynul Abidin: Their Historical Backgrounds & Impacts
- Ritual Ablutions for Women (Tahãratu ’n-Nisã’)
- Hajj: the Pilgrimage to Mecca
- Hijab: A Muslim Woman’s Dress
- Islam: Faith, Practice & History
- The Infallibility of the Prophets in the Qur’ãn
- Series on Prophet Muhammad
  - Muhammad, the Messenger of God
  - Peace & Jihad in Islam
  - How Did Islam Spread?
  - Polygamy & Marriages of the Prophet
  - Justice, Peace & Prophet Muhammad
- Joining the Congregational Prayer (Jamat Salat)
- Praying with Physical Challenges
- and many more….

Many of these titles are available in our online Bookstore. New titles are regularly added, but if you are looking for something that isn’t listed, please contact us for more information.
Al-Ma’arif Publications has also undertaken the initiative of updating, editing, and republishing previous works in order to bring the words of the Ahlul Bayt to the Shia community at large. One of the main goals of Al-Ma’arif Publications is to reproduce the works of the late ‘Allamah Sayyid Saeed Akhtar Rizvi with refreshed formatting and annotation for circulation on a global level.
Current & upcoming projects include:
- Completion of ‘A Explanatory Translation of the Qur’ãn. Currently 3 volumes covering half of the Quran is published. The remainder is almost at completion, currently undergoing edits, review, formatting, and final preparation
- Updated and refreshed editions of previous titles, including ‘Ritual Ablutions for Women’, ‘Hajj: the Pilgrimage to Mecca’, ‘Marriage & Morals in Islam’, and others
- Please support these efforts through volunteerism, donations, editing, printing, or shipping assistance

Other Works

Aside from published books, many newsletters, information sheets, lectures, pamphlets, and other literature based on Islamic themes have been created and distributed by Al-Ma’arif. Some of these are available in our Downloads section of the website. Check back regularly for updates, or contact us for anything you may be looking for.
- Some of these informational works include:
  - An Introduction to Islam
  - An Introduction to Shi’a Islam
  - Jesus: the Prophet of Islam
  - Al-Furqan Newsletter Series
  - Imam Husayn’s Mission: Reforming the Ummah
  - Freedom of Expression: only a right or also a responsibility?
  - Samarra, O Samarra; Your Golden Dome Shall Shine Again
  - The Last Messenger’s Last Message
  - Salat al-Jum’a / Friday Prayer: a few reminders
  - Proposal & Engagement: a few pointers
  - Optional Conditions in An Islamic Marriage Contract
  - Organ Donation & Transplantation
  - Gender Apartheid or Respected Interaction?
  - Respectable Interaction or Mixed Gathering
  - The Shi’;as of Lebanon (1)
  - The Shi’as of Lebanon (2)
  - Brotherhood, Courage & Loyalty in ‘Abbas bin ‘Ali
  - Fasting & Ramadhan Guide
  - What After Ramadhan?
  - Health Care in Islam
  - Al-Fajr as-Sadiq: A New Perspective
  - The Da Vinci Code: from a Muslim’s Perspective
  - Apostasy in Islam
  - Ghadir & the Orientalists
  - The Story of the Crescent
  - Ababil Air Force. (the story of Surat Feel for children) unpublished
  - Zakat in the Shi’a Fiqh
  - On the Zabiha of Ahlul Kitab
  - Islam & Religious Pluralism
The Al-Ma’arif team is also involved in creating content for digital consumption through online videos, social media, correspondence, and other outlets. See some of these below:
- Islamicentre: An online resource for lectures, majalis, sermons, seminars, Q&A’s, and much more
  - Website: www.islamicentre.org
- - Youtube: www.youtube.com/islamicentre
  - Facebook: www.facebook.com/IslamiCentre.org