Abu Bakr Siraj Ad Din

Martin Lings, also known by his Muslim name Abū Bakr Sirāj ad-Dīn, was an English writer, Islamic scholar, and philosopher, born in 1909. He received his education in English Literature at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he was influenced by the works of metaphysicians René Guénon and Frithjof Schuon. Lings became a disciple of Schuon and joined the Alawiyya tariqa. After teaching in Lithuania, he moved to Cairo in 1939, where he lived for over a decade, teaching English and engaging with Arabic studies. Following his return to the UK, he earned advanced degrees in Arabic and wrote his doctoral thesis on the Algerian Sufi saint Ahmad al-Alawi. Lings later worked at the British Museum and British Library, overseeing Eastern manuscripts. He passed away in 2005. Lings is recognized for his scholarly contributions to both Shakespearean studies, exploring the esoteric dimensions of his plays, and Islamic scholarship, most notably through his widely acclaimed biography of the Prophet Muhammad.

Born in Manchester in 1909, Martin Lings pursued his higher education in English Language and Literature at Magdalen College, Oxford. During his time at Oxford, he encountered the philosophical writings of René Guénon and Frithjof Schuon. This encounter led him to meet Schuon in Basel in 1938, where Lings embraced Islam and became a disciple of Schuon's spiritual lineage, the Alawiyya tariqa. His academic journey also included teaching Anglo-Saxon and Middle English at Vytautas Magnus University in Lithuania before his move to Cairo.

In 1939, Lings relocated to Cairo, Egypt, where he resided for over a decade. He worked as an English language instructor at the University of Cairo and became involved in producing Shakespeare plays. After being compelled to leave Egypt in 1952 due to anti-British sentiment, he returned to the United Kingdom. There, he continued his academic pursuits, earning a BA in Arabic and a PhD from the School of Oriental and African Studies. His doctoral research focused on the Sufi saint Ahmad al-Alawi. Later in his career, Lings held significant positions at the British Museum and the British Library, managing their collections of Eastern manuscripts.

Martin Lings authored numerous books across various subjects. His most celebrated work is the 1983 biography, 'Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources,' which garnered significant recognition within the Muslim world. Lings also made notable contributions to the study of William Shakespeare, highlighting the deeper, spiritual, and esoteric meanings embedded within his plays. His work on Shakespeare has been recognized with a foreword by Charles III in later editions, and a film exploring his perspective on Shakespeare's spirituality was made posthumously. He also explored Sufi doctrines and the spiritual crisis of the modern world in his writings.