Ḥusayn ibn Manṣūr al-Ḥallāj: Scholarly Verdict
Taken from: Fatawa Ameenpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Ameenpuri
❖ Question:
What do scholars say about Ḥusayn ibn Manṣūr al-Ḥallāj?
❖ Answer:
Ḥusayn ibn Manṣūr al-Ḥallāj (d. 309 AH) was a zindīq (heretic) and a believer in ḥulūl (the belief that Allah indwells within creation).
- The scholars of truth reached ijmā‘ (consensus) on his disbelief and heresy.
- His core belief was that Allah had entered everything — the root of the doctrine later known as Wahdat al-Wujūd (unity of existence).
- Due to this kufr and deviation, the scholars declared his execution lawful, and he was executed.
- Even today, extremist Ṣūfīs regard al-Ḥallāj as their spiritual leader.
Statements of Scholars
❀ Imam Ibn al-Jawzi (597 AH):
"A group of Sufis, out of ignorance and disregard for the consensus of the jurists, showed partisanship towards al-Ḥallāj."
(Talbīs Iblīs, p. 155)
❀ Hafiz Ibn Kathir (774 AH):
"He was killed by the consensus of the jurists."
(al-Bidāyah wa’l-Nihāyah, 14/786)
Conclusion:Ḥallāj was unanimously declared a heretic by the scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah. His execution was based on ijmā‘ of the fuqahā’, and his doctrines are considered clear disbelief.
