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He says, 'There's nothing left of me. I'm like a ruby held up to the sunrise. Is it still a stone, or a world made of redness? It has no resistance to sunlight.' This is how Hallaj said, I am God, and told the truth! The ruby and the sunrise are one. Be courageous and discipline yourself. Completely become hearing and ear, and wear this sun-ruby as an earring.

Al Hallaj#12

HallajMysticismDevotionDisciplineMetaphorTransformation

About this quote

What does it mean?
The quote uses the ruby/sunrise metaphor to describe mystical union with God. It calls for courage and discipline to embody this truth.
In plain terms
Becoming like the sun means fully merging with God.
What can you take from it?
Discipline yourself to embody spiritual truth.

Where it applies

  • spiritual training
  • devotion
  • self-sacrifice

Putting it to work

  • ascetic practice
  • daily discipline

Questions to consider

  • How do you live divine truth daily?

Another view

It risks misreading as literal divinity claims.

More from Al Hallaj

  1. From Hallaj, I learned to hunt lions, but I became something hungrier than a lion.

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  2. People image that it is a presumptive claim, whereas it is really a presumtive claim to say 'I am the slave of God'; and 'I am God' is an expression of great h…

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  3. I saw my Lord with the Eye of my heart, And I said: Truly there is no doubt that it is You. It is You that I see in everything; And I do not see You through an…

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