Hallaj
Al-Husayn ibn Mansur al-Hallaj (857-922) was a Persian Moslem mystic and martyr. He reinforced ecstatic and pantheistic tendencies already present in the Islamic third century, and they became a continuing part of Islamic life after al-Hallaj's teaching and martyrdom.
Al-Hallaj was born in what is now southern Iran but was educated in Arabic-speaking Iraq, studying with one of the eminent Sufis, or mystics, of the time, Sahl al-Tustari. After his marriage in 877, al-Hallaj settled in the capital of the Abbasid Empire, Baghdad, and continued to study and experience mysticism. He made three pilgrimages to Mecca, each of which was a deep emotional experience for him, and he is also alleged to have traveled in India and central Asia.
A Teaching Sufi
Al-Hallaj early began to preach to crowds of listeners about his ecstatic mystical experiences. This brought him to the notice of the orthodox theologians. A political reform movement led by religious persons, in which al-Hallaj does not seem to have been personally involved, led to a reaction against the reformers. He was arrested and imprisoned in 911 with many others, but after being pilloried as a politicoreligious extremist (he seems to have been wholly inactive politically), he was kept under lenient arrest in the caliph's palace. There he influenced powerful personages such as the queen mother and the vizier Ibn Isa.
Financial corruption among candidates for the vizier's office led to the public trial in 921-922 of al-Hallaj, whose execution for heterodoxy was desired by one of the contenders to prove his own support of the orthodox position. The condemnation was pushed through, despite much popular sentiment in favor of al-Hallaj, on the grounds that he had said, "I am the Truth,” that is, "I am God." He was tortured and executed in 922 in an extremely brutal manner by Moslem extremists.
After al-Hallaj
The sordid political intrigues to which al-Hallaj fell victim are less important in historical perspective than the spiritual issues which he aroused during his lifetime and after. Orthodox Islam is a religion which stresses the remote transcendent quality of God, and the absolute monotheism which it preaches scarcely admits of even metaphorical and ecstatic expressions such as mystics in every religion are prone to utter. Later Sufis regarded al-Hallaj as a martyr and viewed his faults as primarily lack of discretion about the mystic experience; his example led to persecution for the Sufis for a time and to a certain care on their part that their sayings and poetry not be taken too literally.
Time: a wintery midnight
Place: inside an ancient room, middle of 12th century
A warm blanket, dusty old Setar (lute); snowflakes are falling down; a freezing wind is blowing outside.
Hallaj
He is kneeling besides the fireplace and praying; he continuously chants with his hands raised towards the sky: Truth, Truth, Truth, I’m the truth
Truth, Truth, Truth, I’m the truth
Hallaj: you have been the constant witness, you have witnessed that I’ve never said that I’m God. I’ve never said that God is within me.
I have said that I’m the truth, meaning my words are the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
I’m not a liar, those who opposed righteousness and truth opposed me; they were the ones who hanged me as my words were the weapon of truth which shattered their false foundations.
That’s why they eliminated me, but they have forgotten that Truth unveils itself in action.
I have learned the things that I had to learn, hasn’t the time for a new beginning arrived yet?
I’m in love with you and your creation; I have always loved you by serving others. Help me as I’m burning inside out with this love; rescue me before wind scatters my ashes.
Everywhere becomes silent.
Angel
Suddenly there is an immense light entering the room, amidst it an angle appears.
Angle: get up Hallaj, standup; your cries are heard throughout the heavens. This is because you are speaking from depths of your being.
They amputated your hands, now you have such capable hands; they amputated your legs, you have now stronger legs that compete with lightening.
They beheaded you and your head is beaming high on top of the sky, high and outstanding.
Don’t cry and stand tall.
He lifts his head up and wipes his tears away, smiles.
Hallaj: you came back? I waited a long time for your return.
Angle: yes, I’ve come back. How have you been?
Hallaj: I’ve reached a great conclusion; I know that we cannot hide the sun and its shining. We cannot pull a curtain over the moon; we cannot deny the solid existence of mountains.
Angle: they have been born into this creation; it would be meaningless without them. They have influence on everything that has love within it.
They come out of them and again, return to each and every one of these divine beings; these reflections go on, yes they go on.
And love!
Hallaj: yes, love. Love has neither a beginning nor an end; it could not be gained through a contract. It is not given only by touch, words, or deeds; love is a truth and requires a heart to be felt.
Why did you come anyways?
Angle: a new beginning; your wish has come true. I have a command for you.
Hallaj: what command?
Angle: a command and a message.
Hallaj: I’m glad. Tell me
Angle: which should I say first? The message of love or the divine command
Hallaj: either is fine with me, they are both precious to me.
Angle: I’ll tell you the message first.
The message of love
The only thing that exists is Love
Without love, there are only empty containers
This is not my word but the word of an individual in the extraterrestrial existence
That is not easily believed by anyone
Unless they know what it means
In the infinite realm, put the chariots in motion
Because the guardians of the heavens are in need of the events on earth
Pierce that cannot be pierced
Go into the heart of rock and separate the compositions