Hussein Hallaj: dissent within Islam and the birth of mysticism (part I)

by Shaheryar Ali

I am He whom I love, and He whom I love is I.
We are two spirits dwelling in one body.
If thou seest me, thou seest Him
And if thou seest Him thou seest us both

Mansur Al-Hallaj

Two Hussein’s are important in the search of any attempt to reconstruct [or reconcile as is the more academic fashion these days] ideas of “liberation” and “freedom” within Islam.