AL-HALLAJ

Hussein Mansour Al-Hallaj (242-309) Fars, Persia. Al Hallaj, was a controversial historical figure, a Sufi mystic, a superb poet, and a martyr whose spiritual legacy remains a legendary symbol of the unity with the Absolute. In 262 Al-Hallaj made his formal profession of Sufism in the city of Basra, an Islamic religious and literary centre. There he received the Sufi habit, a simple wool robe, worn as a sign of ascetic living. Thus began Al-Hallaj's search to purify his heart in a life-long quest to consummate his mystical union with God. Shortly after he went on his first Pilgrimage to Mecca where he stayed for one year fasting and meditating. Upon completing this period of intense spiritual learning Al- Hallaj started preaching. His eloquent sermons became extremely popular among the masses. Al-Hallaj's growing influence attracted the attention of the authorities, mistaken for a political agent; he was arrested and flagellated. Al-Hallaj went on extended Apostolic journeys through the great Iranian plateau and in later years travelled as far as India. All the while his miracles multiplied, his fame expanded and the numbers of his followers grew incessantly. Around 282 Al-Hallaj settled in the erudite city of Baghdad. During this period various schools of thought were in evidence; the Hindu -Persian current, the Greek Aristotelian and Neo - Platonic one, Gnosticism etc. This period marks a decline in the fabric of Islamic society when the ruling class justified its abusive behaviour on literal, superficial interpretations of the religious texts. It is in this context that Al-Hallaj's unorthodox teachings shocked his contemporaries out of their stupor. Eventually, in official circles the mystic was felt to be a threat .He was denounced to the Caliph. Following a hostile political trial Al-Hallaj was crucified in Baghdad.The mystic's outcry for justice was not of a political nature but originated in his belief of the Lord as the only Desire and Eternal Truth. . Al-Hallaj's beautiful spiritual words were provocative, prophetic and ultimately wise to the point of "blasphemy" in their message of faith. The sharpness of his poetic language slashes the silence of centuries in a luminous vision of the Truth, as the promised fulfilment of our destiny. Today, Al-Hallaj is remembered in the Islamic world as an itinerant saint.