professor | writer | public speaker

A Brief Guide to

Shia Islam

A Brief Guide to Shia Islam: Beliefs, Practices, and Exemplars (Tehzeeb Press 2025) offers readers an accessible yet comprehensive introduction to Islam through a Twelver Shia lens. Written with clarity and care, this engaging book decodes the foundations of faith, illuminates key teachings, and celebrates the extraordinary lives of prophets, contemporaries, and the revered 12 Imams central to Shia theology.

From understanding sectarian differences and Islamic rituals to exploring modern takes on topics such as gender, economics, and science, each chapter distills complex ideas into engaging insights. Whether you are curious about the spiritual significance of Karbala, the concept of jihad beyond war, or the everyday practices of prayer and pilgrimage, this book provides clear answers for readers of all levels and backgrounds.

In this episode, Dr. Roshan Iqbal speaks with Dr. Saba Fatima, Professor of Philosophy at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, about her new book, A Brief Guide to Shia Islam: Beliefs, Practices, and Exemplars. Together, they explore the core tenets, rich traditions, and influential figures of Shia Islam in a conversation designed to be accessible and engaging. This episode offers a warm and informative introduction for students and curious listeners alike, inviting deeper understanding and appreciation of one of Islam’s major traditions.

Based on Fatima, Saba. “I know what happened to me: The Epistemic Harms of Microaggression” in Microaggression and Philosophy. Edited by Lauren Freeman and Jeanine Weekes Schroer, Routledge, 163-183, 2020

Epistemic Harms of Microaggression

Interview by Dr. Sana Rizvi

Race, Ethnicity and Education Network

University of Exeter