The Death of Al-Hallaj: A Dramatic NarrativeAlthough not widely known in the Western world, al-Hallaj is one of the great figures in the history of the Muslim religion. Martyred in 922 by the government for his teachings, al-Hallaj has lived on through the centuries in the legends and memories of Muslims the world over. The reader who meets al-Hallaj for the first time in this book will be impressed by the striking similarities he shares with Jesus Christ, Socrates, and the Jewish Hasidic masters. Al-Hallaj is a man so caught up in God's love that he speaks with the wisdom of a mystic. Yet he is worldly and down-to-earth in his affection, his wit, and his joy. In this dramatic narrative of the last days of al-Hallaj, Herbert Mason has distilled the essence of al-Hallaj in moving, beautifully drawn scenes with his son, his protectress, and a devoted disciple. The timeless confrontation between freedom and political expediency, between faith and fatalism, ends here in love that is stronger than death. So finely has Mason presented al-Hallaj that the fire of his love reaches across the centuries to glow again on these pages. This is a book to read, and to re-read. |
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Common terms and phrases
afraid AKAKAWAY HALLAJ Albert Duclos Allāh ATA Of course Baghdad beauty believe Caliph's mother captive Carmathians CAVALLAR cell crowd dance we dance Death of al-Hallaj desire disciple embrace enemies esplanade eternal everything excess executioner Failed lovers failure faith fate fear flagellation foretaste friend of God friendship gibbet gift glory God's guards HALLAJ Oh HALLAJ Yes HAMD NARRATING Ibn Hamid heresy Husayn Ibn Mansur Iran Islam jealous KAKAKAKA KAKAKAWAY KAWAWAY keep lives luxury Massignon master mean Mecca Mu'nis Muslim mystics NARRATING Ibn Ata NARRATING Ibn Dawud NARRATING My father never one's ourselves PARIS 76 Parrot pilgrimage preached prison prudence put to death religion religious Satan scholar scoundrels secret seduced Seven Sleepers Shaghab the Caliph's speak spiritual teaching temple things Tigris touch triumph Truth understand UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN Vizir Ibn Isa WAWAY witness words ZALA ZALAL ZAWAY