The 1983 biography Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources earned Martin Lings international recognition, including official honors from the governments of Pakistan and Egypt. Beyond his literary output, he maintained a lifelong commitment to the Alawiyya tariqa, serving as a disciple and expositor of the spiritual teachings promoted by the metaphysician Frithjof Schuon.
Early Education and Influences
Born in Burnage on 24 January 1909, Lings attended Clifton College before enrolling at Magdalen College, Oxford. During his time there, he pursued English Language and Literature and formed a friendship with C. S. Lewis. His intellectual interests shifted toward metaphysics after he discovered the work of René Guénon and Frithjof Schuon. In 1938, he traveled to Basel to meet Schuon and formally joined the Alawiyya tariqa.
Academic Career in Egypt
Lings moved to Cairo in 1939 to visit an associate of Guénon. Following his arrival, he began studying Arabic and eventually secured a position as an English language teacher at the University of Cairo. He spent over a decade in Egypt, where he directed annual Shakespearean theatrical productions. In 1944, he married Lesley Smalley, and the couple resided in a village near the pyramids until political instability led to his departure in 1952.
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Upon returning to the United Kingdom, Lings enrolled at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, earning a BA in Arabic and a PhD. His doctoral thesis focused on the Algerian Sufi Ahmad al-Alawi. He subsequently joined the British Museum and the British Library, where he served as the Keeper of Oriental Printed Books and Manuscripts. He remained a consistent contributor to the journal Studies in Comparative Religion throughout his professional tenure.
Literary Contributions
Lings authored numerous works on Sufism, Shakespearean studies, and sacred art. His analytical approach to Shakespeare emphasized the esoteric and spiritual dimensions of the plays. His writings were broad in scope, ranging from The Eleventh Hour to his exploration of Islamic calligraphy in Splendors of Qur'an Calligraphy And Illumination. He died on 12 May 2005 in Westerham, Kent, after a career that bridged Western academic traditions with Eastern spiritual philosophy.
Fast facts
- Born: 24 January 1909, Burnage
- Died: 12 May 2005, Westerham
- Education: Clifton College, Magdalen College, SOAS University of London
- Religion: Islam
- Spouse: Lesley Smalley
- Key work: Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources
- Citizenship: United Kingdom
- Languages: English, Arabic
Questions readers ask
What was Martin Lings' contribution to Shakespearean studies?
He focused on identifying deeper esoteric meanings and spiritual dimensions within Shakespeare's plays.
Did Lings live in Egypt?
Yes, he lived there for over a decade from 1939 until 1952, working as an English teacher at the University of Cairo.
What was Lings' role at the British Library?
He served as the Keeper of Oriental Printed Books and Manuscripts, overseeing eastern textual works.
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