Al-Hallaj and Crucifixion of Jesus

One of the controversial mystics in the history of Islam, Husain bin Mansur al-Hallaj (d. 309 H) who was executed by crucifixion under the authority of the Abbasids, is reported to have recited a portion of the Ayah (4:157) while being crucified:

وَكَانَ يقْرَأ فِي وَقت الصلب ‌وَمَا ‌قَتَلُوهُ وَمَا صلبوه وَلَكِن شبه لَهُم

“They did not kill him nor did they crucify him but it was made to appear to them” (Fadâ’ih al-Bâtiniyyah, p.109):

This indicates that al-Hallaj believed that the Messiah على نبينا وعليه السلام was apparently crucified as he was being apparently crucified at that time, but that in reality it could not be said that they were responsible for killing him.