About Qum, Iran — Living & Studying in Qum

Choose a topic to explore — each one is its own page with its own comment thread, so you can add a tip or question right where it belongs.

Where Qum sits in Iran, the surrounding terrain, and what to expect from its dry desert climate through the year.

Qum's population, age profile, and the religious communities that make up the city and the wider country.

Farsi as Iran's official language, the influence of other tongues, and the local dialects you may encounter.

The Solar Hijri (Shamsi) calendar used in Iran, and how to juggle it alongside the Gregorian and Islamic Lunar calendars.

How Qum grew from an early Shia settlement into the centre of Shia scholarship, and the great scholars who shaped it.

An introduction to SIOS — the seminary behind this guide — its vision, its programs, and a look around the campus.