Ayn al-qu āt between divine jealousy and political intrigue

Modern scholars have been interested in the great Persian Sufi martyr Ayn al-Qu āt Hamadānī (d. 525/1131) for over six decades. Despite this fact, many aspects of his life and thought still remain terra incognita. Our knowledge of the circumstances surrounding his death is a case-in-point. Although we have a fairly good understanding of the factors which led to Ayn al-Qu āt's demise, there are other “causes” which simultaneously complement and problematize this understanding. Chief amongst these are the underlying reasons for Ayn al-Qu āt's critique of the Seljuk government, as well as something which Ayn al-Qu āt saw as a more subtle cause for his death several years before his anticipated state execution.