Hallaj is the first authoritative translation of the Arabic poetry of Husayn ibn Mansur al-Hallaj, an early Sufi mystic. Despite his execution in Baghdad in 922 and the subsequent suppression of his work, Hallaj left an enduring literary and spiritual legacy that continues to inspire readers around the world. In Hallaj, Carl W. Ernst offers a definitive collection of 117 of Hallaj's poems expertly translated for contemporary readers interested in Middle Eastern and Sufi poetry and spirituality. Ernst's fresh and direct translations reveal Hallaj's wide range of themes and genres, from courtly love poems to metaphysical reflections on union with God. In a fascinating introduction, Ernst traces Hallaj's dramatic story within classical Islamic civilization and early Arabic Sufi poetry. Setting himself apart by revealing Sufi secrets to the world, Hallaj was both celebrated and condemned for declaring: "I am the Truth." Expressing lyrics and ideas still heard in popular songs, the works of Hallaj remain vital and fresh even a thousand years after their composition. They reveal him as a master of spiritual poetry centuries before Rumi, who regarded Hallaj as a model. This unique collection makes it possible to appreciate the poems on their own, as part of the tragic legend of Hallaj, and as a formidable legacy of Middle Eastern culture.

MANSUR HALLAJ: SELECTED POEMS Translation & Introduction by Paul Smith The Perfect Master, poet & martyr, Husayn Mansur al-Hallaj (died 919), was born in Shiraz and tortured and executed in Baghdad for declaring: "I am the Truth (Anal Haq)." Much has been written about his famous (and in-famous) statement, but few of his powerful, often mysteries and always deeply conscious and spiritual poems in Arabic have been translated before from his Divan into English, and in the poetic form in which they were composed. The Introduction contains: The Life, Times and Works of Mansur Hallaj, The Perfect Master (Qutub), 'Anal-Haq' or 'I am the Truth' of Mansur Hallaj, Four Master Poets of Baghdad who influenced Hallaj, Sufis & Dervishes: Their Art & Use of Poetry. There is a wide selection of his qit'as, ghazals, ruba'is, qasidas. A Selection of Poetry from the Persian, Turkish & Pashtu poetry about or influenced by him. Pages 178. COMMENTS ON PAUL SMITH'S TRANSLATION OF HAFIZ'S 'DIVAN'. "It is not a joke... the English version of ALL the ghazals of Hafiz is a great feat and of paramount importance. I am astonished. If he comes to Iran I will kiss the fingertips that wrote such a masterpiece inspired by the Creator of all." Dr. Mir Mohammad Taghavi (Dr. of Literature) Tehran. "Superb translations. 99% Hafiz 1% Paul Smith." Ali Akbar Shapurzman, translator from English into Persian, knower of Hafiz's Divan off by heart. "Smith has probably put together the greatest collection of literary facts and history concerning Hafiz." Daniel Ladinsky (Penguin Books author). Paul Smith is a poet, author and translator of over 80 books of Sufi poets from the Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Turkish, Pashtu and other languages... including Hafiz, Sadi, Nizami, Rumi, 'Attar, Sana'i, Jahan Khatun, Obeyd Zakani, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Khayyam, Rudaki, Yunus Emre, Shah Latif, Bulleh Shah, Mahsati, Lalla Ded and many others, as well as poetry, fiction, plays, biographies, children's books and a dozen screenplays.