The Islamic Texts Institute (ITI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization registered in Michigan, USA. It was founded in 2006 with the aim of making Islamic primary sources available to Muslims in the West by providing accurate, scholarly translations of major shi´ah collections of traditions accompanied by sufficient commentary to facilitate the reader´s comprehension and assimilation of these teachings.

The Pressing Need

      Without a doubt, these collections of traditions contain a vast wealth of knowledge. However, none claims to contain only authentic traditions. In fact, a perusal of any chapter will quickly reveal apparent contradictions among the traditions and between the traditions and the Qur´an. Sifting through this veritable quagmire requires precise knowledge of the Arabic language, a comprehensive understanding of all Islamic primary sources, and years of training under the tutelage of a scholarly tradition extending back to the time of the Imams and the Prophet himself. It is precisely because it is not possible for each individual Muslim to attain these skills that a correct understanding of the traditions is intrinsically dependent on commentary to prevent the reader from drawing incorrect conclusions from his readings.

      To date only limited attempts have been made to translate this vast literature into English. Most of these efforts have not succeeded in effectively transmitting the teachings of Islam to an audience that is largely unfamiliar with Arabic. Furthermore, these efforts have not sought to couple their translation with facilitating commentary.

      ITI aims to fill this tremendous void. The team at ITI consists of highly trained scholars with expertise in various fields vital to the study of the traditions. The team also consists of a translator with honed language skills, a strong western education, and an extensive traditional Islamic education.