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Abu'I-Mugith al-Husayn bin Mansur bin Mahamma al-Baydawi is honoured in the Encylopaedia of Islam with no less than ten columns. Al-Halladj (the wool-carder of consciences), as he is known, was born in Persia around 857 A.D. As a boy he sought the hidden knowledge of Islam among Sufi teachers. In Mecca he preached a personal, sober and mystical way to God, leading the authorities to mistrust him. He travelled through India and Turkestan, building in his home town Bagdad a miniature Ka'ba and gaining an ever-increasing band of disciples. Hence he ended up in prison for nine years - Later he was forced to stay in the Palace, where he gained respect thanks to magical healings. Once again he became a victim of court machinations. Regarded as a rebel, he was displayed to the public in 922 on the scaffold, a crown on his head and half beaten to death. The nextday he was beheaded. Almost immediately rumours started about miracles. This video production is certainly a miracle. Against an intriguing back-drop, this story is told using song, recitation, titles and sign-language.
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