About

Hodhod Press

The hoopoe fluttered forward; on his breast
There shone the symbol of the Spirit's Way
And on his head Truth's crown, a feathered spray.
Discerning, righteous and intelligent,
He spoke: "My purposes are heaven-sent;
I keep God's secrets, mundane and divine,
In proof of which behold the holy sign
Bismillah etched for ever on my beak,
No one can share the grief with which I seek
Our longed-for Lord, and quickened by my haste
My wits find water in the trackless waste."

— ʿAṭṭār, Conference of the Birds

Hodhod Press is a specialist publisher of classical Islamic scholarship, working at the intersection of timeless wisdom and contemporary thought.

The hoopoe

In Farīd al-Dīn ʿAṭṭār's Conference of the Birds, the hoopoe leads the seekers across seven valleys to the throne of the king they have been searching for. We took its name to mark a press dedicated to journeying with the seeker — through Qur'anic studies, theology, mysticism, and the lives of those who shaped early Islam.

What we publish

Beautiful, accessible English editions of classical works in Qur'anic studies, theology, mysticism, philosophy, imamate, and biography. Our books are typeset for reading rather than reference, and pitched at the curious reader as much as the specialist.

Editorial principles

• Rigour without ostentation. Every translation is checked against the original; every footnote earns its place.
• Beauty in form. A book's design is part of its argument. We invest in typography and binding accordingly.
• Welcoming the seeker. Our editions assume curiosity, not specialist training. Glossaries and translator's notes are written for the reader, not for the field.

Publish with us

We are open to proposals from scholars working on original manuscripts, translators bringing classical texts to new audiences, and emerging authors whose work sits within our remit. We can support a project from manuscript development through to final production. To discuss your work, write to editor@hodhodpress.com with a short overview.

Contact

Editorial inquiries: editor@hodhodpress.com
General: contact@hodhodpress.com