But scholars hold two views concerning a heretic who outwardly professes repentance: should his repentance be accepted and his life spared? Or should he be executed because his sincerity cannot be known, since he has always made such outward professions?

One group ruled that he should be invited to repent and spared execution, while the majority ruled that he should be executed even if he professes repentance. If his repentance is sincere, it will benefit him before Allah, though he is executed in this world, and the prescribed punishment will purify him. Similarly, if adulterers, thieves, and others repent after their cases have been brought before the ruler, the prescribed punishment must still be carried out upon them. If they are sincere, their execution serves as an expiation for them; whoever falsely claims repentance is punished by his execution.

Thus, if al-Hallāj had inwardly repented by the time of his execution, Allah will benefit him through that repentance. If he was lying, however, he was executed as a disbeliever. No miraculous favors appeared at the time of his execution. Anyone who claims that his blood wrote Allah’s name on the ground, that fluid ceased to flow from his leg, or anything similar, is lying.

Only an ignorant person or a hypocrite recounts these things. They were fabricated by heretics and enemies of Islam so that one of them could say, “The law of Muhammad ibn Abd Allāh puts Allah’s friends to death,” and so that such ravings would be heard. Yet many prophets were killed, as were countless companions of theirs, Companions of our Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—Successors, and other righteous people whose number Allah alone knows. They were killed by the swords of evildoers, disbelievers, oppressors, and others, yet none of their blood wrote Allah’s name. Blood is also impure