Himam al-thawāqib, the magnum opus of ʿAlī Naqī Kamarehī (d.1650), the Shaykh al-Islam of Isfahan during the reign of Abbas II, offers a distinctive Shiʿi counsel manual that departs from conventional Perso-Islamic advice literature, offering a unique and distinct approach to Shiʿi statecraft. In it, Kamarehī critiques the marginalisation of the Shiʿi ethos under Shah Safī (d. 1642) and envisions a utopian Shiʿi society characterised by a symbiotic relationship between dawlat (state) and dīn (religion), grounded in the ethical and theological teachings of the Shiʿi Imams. Engaging critically with a range of thinkers, he addresses enduring debates on Qurʾānic authority, human freedom and predestination, and Sunni–Shiʿi relations, while reflecting on the complex ties between the ʿulamāʾ and Safavid elites.

This book presents the first critical edition with annotated translation of Himam al-Thawāqib, based on two extant manuscripts. It provides a comprehensive introduction to the life and works of Kamarehī, including a concise overview of the structure and major themes of Himam al-Thawāqib, and situates Kamarehī’s contributions within broader Safavid, Mughal and Ottoman contexts. The book offers fresh insights into Safavid religio-political history and Islamic political thought, as well as highlighting how Kamarehī’s ideas continue to resonate in contemporary Iran, where debates over governance and clerical authority remain central.