By passion, Lord Sayyid is a recognized researcher of political science and Islam, trained for twelve years under the tutelage of one of the world's leading authorities on classical Islam of the 20th century – Grand Shaykh Nazim al-Qubrusi. Sayyid was recognized with over twenty-three degrees for his research by Grand Shaykh Nazim al-Qubrusi. The late Grand Shaykh Nazim was the second most influential Muslim in the world according to a 2009 Reuters online poll, and regularly recognized among the world's 50 most influential Muslims. In the annual publication, The 500 Most Influential Muslims: he was ranked 49th, 49th, 48th, 45th, and 42nd in the 2009-2013 editions, respectively.