My dear friend is putting on a dance performance in NY this weekend. It is titled “He Who Burns,” and plays with the idea put forward by Hallaj that Iblis was cast out of Heaven for being the truest lover of God. He refuse to bow to Adam not because he was disobedient, but because none is worthy of worship other than God. Check it out.
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4 thoughts on “He Who Burns”
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Does that imply, then, that God didn’t know Satan’s heart?
Great question. In Sufi thought it’s understood as a test of true monotheism, which Iblis passes. He is now a devoted servant, helping God constantly test belief to make it worthwhile.
Is the play inspired from some other literary work or is it his own creation because I have come across similar retelling of the story before.
It is inspired by the Tawasin of Hallaj, but as far as I know it is an original interpretation.