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Show 85 nished their own reputations. Still, Hallaj ported by thousands of followers, Caliph's as court and who possible. Ha11aj was of whom able to forestall were Ultimately, some went the to were scaffold sup influential Ha1laj's execution in the as long however, Hallaj's persecutors prevailed, and publicly executed on 26 March, 921. The following is a popu- lar account of Ha1laj's execution: When they brought him to the base of the gallows at Bab a1-Taq, he kissed the wood and set his foot upon the ladder. "How do you feel?" they taunted him. "The ascension of true is men the top of the he answered Then cut off his gallows," they hands. He laughed. "Why do you laugh?" they cried. "It is an easy matter to stri ke off the hands of a man who is bound," he answered. "He is a true man, who cuts off the hands of attributes which remove the crown of aspiration from the brow of the Throne." He smiled. They hacked off his feet. "Wi th these feet I made an earth 1 y journey," he said. "Other feet I have, which even now are jour If you are able, hack neying through both worlds. Next they plucked out his eyes. off those feet! A roar went up from the crowd. Some wept, some Then made to out his tongue. stones. cut they flung "Be patient a little, give me time to speak one "0 God," he cried, lifting his word," he entreated. f ace to heaven, "do not exc 1 ude them for the suf fering they are bringing on me for Thy sake, neither Praise be to God, deprive them of this felicity. for that they have cut off my feet as I trod Thy And if they strike off my head from my body, way. have raised me up to the head of the gallows, they The last words contemplating Thy majesty." Ha 11 aj spoke were these: "Love of the One is i so 1 a tion of the One."l? ...• ..•. •••• This Ha 11 aj off and account cont i nued his body of to martyrdom continues Ha11aj's speak set to to the fire. crowd by indicating that even as hi s Hi sashes, as they floated down the head was bei ng cut |
