Mansour al-Hallaj, also known as Mansour Hallaj, was a Muslim mystic, poet, preacher, and teacher of Sufism, and one of the most controversial figures in Islamic history. During his lifetime he attracted a large popular following and was acclaimed as a saint by many ordinary believers, while Muslim jurists condemned him as a heretic. Most of his contemporary Sufis likewise disapproved of his actions, although he later became a major figure in the Sufi tradition. 858 – March 26, 922; died at about 64. Alive at the same time as Alfred the Great, Farabi, Abu Bakr al-Razi, Al-Kindi, and Charles the Bald. Wiki link