Book excerpt: Although not widely known in the Western world, al-Hallaj is one of the great figures in the history of the Muslim religion. Martyred in 922 by the government for his teachings, Hallaj has lived on through the centuries in the legends and memories of Muslims the world over. In this dramatic narrative of the last days of al-Hallaj, Herbert Mason has distilled the essence of Hallaj in moving, beautifully drawn scenes.