Books

Qum's renowned bookshops for religious texts and academic literature — and where to find titles in English.

Qum is renowned for its vast collection of religious texts and academic literature, specialising in Islamic theology, jurisprudence and philosophy. Most books are in Farsi and Arabic, with only a few shops catering to English readers. Notable places to visit include:

• Publishers’ Complex (Mujtameh Nasheran) — near the shrine on Moallem Street, the first commercial complex for publishers and booksellers in Iran. Many renowned publishers (e.g. Dar al-Hadith) have offices here. A ground-floor “Find a Book” service helps locate specific titles.
• Passage Quds — a bustling arcade a 5-minute walk from the shrine, renowned for bookstores carrying classical religious texts, hawzah textbooks, commentaries and translations. Shopkeepers have phenomenal memories and can locate any book instantly.
• Kitabestan Razavi — a spacious two-floor bookstore stocking books published by Astan Quds Razavi, plus frames, banners, ornaments and stationery.
• Bustan Kitab — a well-organised, well-stocked bookshop and publishing house specialising in religious and academic literature.
• Shahr Kitab (“Bookcity”) — a prominent Tehran chain with a Qum branch, carrying literature, science, history, children’s books and some international titles.
• Dunya Kitab (World of Books) — a well-organised bookshop inside a shopping centre, with clearly marked sections across many fields.
• Ansariyan Publishers — about a 10-minute walk from the shrine; focuses on the teachings of the Ahlul Bayt (a), with translations into English, Urdu, French, Turkish, Russian and Spanish. Familiar to many foreigners, though pricier than Farsi/Arabic originals.

Digital bookshops

Many bookstores now offer online ordering. Sites like bookroom.ir and ketab.ir let customers browse and purchase with delivery. Most of the bookshops above also have their own websites for direct orders.