Our Aalims

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What makes Karwan-e-Abid Australia unique is the calibre of scholarship that travels with every group. Our tours aren't just accompanied by a coordinator, they are personally led by eminent Shia ulema, bringing their people skills and years of hawza learning directly to the shrines. That means guided ziyarat and correctly recited duas at the right place and moment, real answers to your questions as they come up, and a standard of religious guidance our pilgrims won't find matched elsewhere.

Meet the scholars who have led our groups over the years.

Maulana Syed Abul Qasim Rizvi

Maulana Syed Abul Qasim Rizvi is one of Australia's leading Shia Islamic scholars, with over 30 years of experience in Islamic education, community leadership, and international preaching. After completing his Hawza studies in Mumbai and Qom, he served as the Resident Alim in Kampala, Uganda, before settling in Australia in 2006. He is the Founder and President of the Shia Imams Council of Victoria, representing the Shia Muslim community through active engagement with local, state and federal governments, as well as multi-faith organisations across Australia. He is widely respected for promoting interfaith dialogue, community harmony and Islamic education. Fluent in Arabic, Persian, English, Urdu, Hindi, Marathi and Gujarati, Maulana Rizvi has delivered lectures and majalis in Australia and across North America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent and New Zealand. For many years, he has also been leading Hajj, Umrah and Ziyarat groups, guiding thousands of pilgrims with his extensive knowledge of the Holy Cities and sacred Islamic sites. His practical experience, spiritual guidance and personal care ensure that every pilgrimage is both meaningful and memorable.

Maulana Sadiq Hasan

Maulana Sadiq Hasan is a leading aalim and historian of Shia Islam. Originally from Pakistan, he migrated to Australia years ago and settled there. Every year he travels to the Middle East, Pakistan, USA, Canada, UK and Africa to deliver lectures and majalis during Muharram, Ramadhan and other months. His most prominent work is a series of lectures on Seerat-e-Nabi (s.a.w.w.) delivered over a number of months and years. He leads Hajj and Umrah groups every year to Saudi Arabia, and other groups to Iraq, Iran and other Shia Muslim holy sites.

Maulana Kumail Mehdavi

Maulana Kumail Mehdavi is a highly respected Shia Islamic scholar and international lecturer, renowned for his insightful lectures and deep understanding of the teachings of the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.). After completing his advanced Hawza studies in the holy city of Qom, Iran, he has devoted his life to serving Muslim communities through religious education, youth development, and community leadership. Based in Melbourne, Australia, Maulana Mehdavi delivers majalis, lectures, and educational programmes throughout Australia and internationally. He is widely appreciated for presenting Islamic teachings in a practical, engaging, and thought-provoking manner, making them relevant to people of all ages and backgrounds. Through his scholarship, humility, and commitment to serving the community, Maulana Kumail Mehdavi continues to inspire Muslims around the world while helping pilgrims transform their journey into a truly memorable and spiritually enriching experience.

Sheikh Jihad Ismail

Sheikh Jihad Mohammed Wassef Ismail was born in Kuwait in 1964 to Lebanese parents, living there until he was 14 years old. In 1978, he migrated to Australia with his parents, finished high school, and joined the University of Western Sydney to complete a BA in Interpreting and Translation in the mid-1980s. Born to Sunni parents, he pursued his religious education further at Al-Azhar University. After graduating from the Faculty of Da'wah and Usool, he returned to Australia and began his tabligh work. Influenced by his late father — a great advocate of unity between Sunnis and Shias who had met the late Ayatollah Sheikh Mohammad Hussein Aal-Kashef Al-Ghataa — he developed a strong interest in the School of Thought of Ahl al-Bayt (a.s.), and after extensive study decided to convert. He then travelled to Qum, Iran to continue his religious studies according to the School of Ahl al-Bayt (a.s.). He currently serves as the Imam & Religious Advisor of Nabi Akram Mosque in Sydney, has held a number of government and non-government positions including official Interpreter/Translator in the Australian court system, was formerly Head of the Arabic and Islamic Studies Department at Al-Zahra Islamic College, Sydney, and is one of the official spokespersons for the Islamic community with the Australian government and media.

Mirza Zaheen Najafi

Maulana Mirza Zaheen Najafi is a distinguished Shia scholar, respected Aalim-e-Deen, renowned speaker, and gifted poet devoted to the Qur'an and Ahlul Bayt (a.s.). He began his religious education in New Delhi and Bangalore, before studying at the Hawza Ilmiyyah Syeda Zainab (a.s.) near the Holy Shrine in Damascus from 2007 to 2009. In 2009, he moved to Najaf-e-Ashraf, the sacred city of Ameerul Momineen Imam Ali (a.s.), where he has studied for over 15 years under renowned teachers of the Hawza Ilmiyyah Najaf. He founded the Ashoora Foundation in Najaf in 2010 and launched the respected Urdu magazine "Durr-e-Najaf" in 2015. His majalis and lectures have reached audiences across Europe, the UK, Thailand, Australia, the greater Middle East, and since 2019, throughout the continental United States. He is also a gifted poet, with thousands of lines written in devotion to the 14 Masoomeen, spreading the message of Islam.