Mahdi Lock

Sheikh Mahdi Lock is a professional freelance translator of classical Arabic Islamic texts into English. He holds a BA in Arabic and History from the University of Leeds, an MA in Arabic Linguistics from King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah, and a Diploma in Translation from the Chartered Institute of Linguists in London, where he is also a Member (MCIL). In addition to his academic background, he has studied theology, law, and other Islamic sciences for many years with teachers across England, North Africa, and the Middle East. His translated works include major classical texts such as Kitab al-Halal wa al-Haram by Imam Abu Hamid al-Ghazali, Kitab al-Waqf from al-Mughni al-Muhtaj by al-Khatib al-Shirbini, the introduction to al-Majmu‘ by Imam Yahya al-Nawawi, and Sharh al-Sudur by Imam Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti. He has also translated nearly 2000 pages of the Khawatir of Imam Muhammad Mutawalli al-Sha‘rawi. Other notable translations include La Dhukuriyyah fi al-Fiqh by Imam Muhammad al-Tawil and Manhaj al-Hadarah al-Insaniyyah fi al-Qur’an by Imam Muhammad Said Ramadan al-Buti. For Nawa Books, Sheikh Mahdi has translated several key works, including Al-Wafi: A Thorough Commentary on the Forty Nawawiyyah by Imams Mustafa al-Bugha and Muhyi ad-Din Mistu, as well as numerous titles from the Pinnacle Papers series by Imam al-Buti such as Man and Allah’s Justice on Earth, Inward Sin, A Unique Pedagogical Approach in the Qur’an, To Every Young Woman Who Believes in Allah, and Islam and the Problems of the Youth. He also translated the first volume of al-Fiqh al-Manhaji ‘ala Madhhab al-Imam al-Shafi‘i and The Rights of the Husband and Wife by Shaykh Abdul Hadi al-Kharsah, along with Remembrances & Etiquettes of The Prophet ﷺ. In addition to his translation work, Sheikh Mahdi has over two decades of experience teaching English and Arabic at all levels, from primary school to university. He also teaches Islamic sciences privately—primarily fiqh—and conducts regular online study circles such as the Halaqah Book Club. His work continues to make classical Islamic knowledge accessible to a global English-speaking audience.