The Martyrdom of al-Hallaj (Allahabad 1017a) , 17th century
Walters Art Museum, Baltimore
Mansur Al-Hallaj was a Persian mystic executed as a heretic in 10th century Baghdad. Hallaj would frequently drop into trances, during which he would say, " Ana al-Haqq ," or "I am God." His followers interpreted these statements as the ultimate expression of humility, that Hallah was saying that he did not exist except to the extent that God's spirit was present within him. The officials... read more