Anal Haq
Encyclopedia
Anal Haq is a short story in the collection Anargha Nimisham written by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer
, in typical Khalil Gibran
style based on the life of the renowned Sufi, Mansur Al-Hallaj
who was indicted and killed on charges of heresy.
Mansoor Al-Hallaj was condemned to hang by the neck for shouting in ecstasy Anal-Haq, Anal-Haq (I am the Truth, I am the Truth). The orthodoxy understood this to mean that he was claiming to be God himself, whereas he had proclaimed in his sublime spiritual ecstasy, simply a total annihilation of himself. Mansoor Al-Hallaj climbed the gallows with his head held high, not the least daunted by his imminent death. Nor could his shouts be drowned in the tumult of abuses which were hurled at him; they rose loud and clear and high Anal-Haq, Anal-Haq until his soul departed to the fountainhead of his life on high.
Basheer draws parallel between Anal Haq and Aham Brahmasmi the Upanishad
mahakavya
which means I am Brahman . Basheer uses this term to intend God is found within one's 'self'. The story is written in such a way as to attack the orthodox practices in Islam.
In the edition of Anargha Nimisham which was published in 1982, Basheer added a note saying that "This story was written some forty years back. Now I believe that ordinary human beings who are just the products of the All Mighty saying things like "I am God" is a sin. I had also claimed that the work is based on a real story, but now; take it just as a fantasy".
This is considered as a marked change from his earlier convictions. Critics contented that Basheer had become more religious towards his later life, contradicting some of his earlier works.
Basheer did not leave even this note without a touch of humour; this note too ended with Anal Haq,similar to that of the protagonist of the story.
Vaikom Muhammad Basheer
Vaikom Muhammad Basheer was a Malayalam fiction writer from the state of Kerala in India. He was a humanist, freedom fighter, novelist and short story writer. He is noted for his pathbreaking, disarmingly down-to-earth style of writing that made him equally popular among literary critics as well...
, in typical Khalil Gibran
Khalil Gibran
Khalil Gibran Jubrān Khalīl Jubrān,Jibrān Khalīl Jibrān, or Jibrān Xalīl Jibrān; Arabic , January 6, 1883 – April 10, 1931) also known as Kahlil Gibran, was a Lebanese American artist, poet, and writer...
style based on the life of the renowned Sufi, Mansur Al-Hallaj
Mansur Al-Hallaj
Mansur al-Hallaj was a Persian mystic, revolutionary writer and pious teacher of Sufism most famous for his poetry, accusation of heresy and for his execution at the orders of the Abbasid Caliph Al-Muqtadir after a long, drawn-out investigation.-Early life:Al-Hallaj was born around 858 in Fars...
who was indicted and killed on charges of heresy.
Mansoor Al-Hallaj was condemned to hang by the neck for shouting in ecstasy Anal-Haq, Anal-Haq (I am the Truth, I am the Truth). The orthodoxy understood this to mean that he was claiming to be God himself, whereas he had proclaimed in his sublime spiritual ecstasy, simply a total annihilation of himself. Mansoor Al-Hallaj climbed the gallows with his head held high, not the least daunted by his imminent death. Nor could his shouts be drowned in the tumult of abuses which were hurled at him; they rose loud and clear and high Anal-Haq, Anal-Haq until his soul departed to the fountainhead of his life on high.
Basheer draws parallel between Anal Haq and Aham Brahmasmi the Upanishad
Upanishad
The Upanishads are philosophical texts considered to be an early source of Hindu religion. More than 200 are known, of which the first dozen or so, the oldest and most important, are variously referred to as the principal, main or old Upanishads...
mahakavya
Mahakavya
Mahākāvya , also known as sargabandha, is a genre of Indian epic poetry in classical Sanskrit literature. The genre is characterised by ornate and elaborate descriptions of scenery, love, battles and so on — in short, everything that tests a poet's skill at description...
which means I am Brahman . Basheer uses this term to intend God is found within one's 'self'. The story is written in such a way as to attack the orthodox practices in Islam.
In the edition of Anargha Nimisham which was published in 1982, Basheer added a note saying that "This story was written some forty years back. Now I believe that ordinary human beings who are just the products of the All Mighty saying things like "I am God" is a sin. I had also claimed that the work is based on a real story, but now; take it just as a fantasy".
This is considered as a marked change from his earlier convictions. Critics contented that Basheer had become more religious towards his later life, contradicting some of his earlier works.
Basheer did not leave even this note without a touch of humour; this note too ended with Anal Haq,similar to that of the protagonist of the story.