HALLAJ, AL-

Abu al-Mughith al-Husayn ibn Mansur al-Hallaj, b. 858 in Tur, Iran and d. March 26, 922, Baghdad, was a controversial sufi. He won the admiration of many Muslims and the ire of the orthodox jurists. He learnt under many famous sufis. From 895-910 A.D., he travelled extensively and taught and wrote. He who went further than al-Junayd in his ideas of union with God and claimed "I am the Truth" (Ana al-haqq). This claim landed him into trouble and he was crucified as a heretic and brutally tortured by orthodox Muslims in Baghdad. At his death, he uttered words of forgiveness for his torturers. More from Britannica Online.

By the same token, Jesus would be condemned as a heretic by orthodox Muslims, for he said :

Jesus said to him : I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father but by me. (John 14:6)
see what Al-Hallaj says about God.


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