Which Sufi Was Killed? The Truth About the Sufi Martyr
The most famous Sufi ever executed was Al-Hallaj , a 10th-century Persian poet and thinker, who was put to death in Baghdad for his controversial statement "Ana al-Haqq" ("I am the Truth")—a phrase that sparked both reverence and outrage and continues to be debated in Islamic history and Sufi thought. His story of sacrifice and controversy remains one of the most compelling chapters in the history of Islamic mysticism, embodying the tension between personal conviction and institutional authority. Asking "Which Sufi was killed?" is not simply a matter of historical fact—it is a question that opens a window into the profound struggles over freedom of expression, the meaning of faith, and the cost of devotion. Husayn ibn Mansur Al-Hallaj , known simply as Al-Hallaj, was born in 858 CE in Fars, Persia, and became one of the most prominent and provocative voices of his era. His teachings emphasized complete selflessness and ultimate unity with God, challenging ...