Abul Hassan Somnun al Khauwas lived in Baghdad in the late 9th century, and is said to have died in 913 CE. Little is now known about him, but he was a companion of Sirruddin Saqati, and a contemporary of the great Sufi Junayd. He was wholly devoted to the path of love and for this was called Somnun the Lover, although he called himself Somnun the Liar.

They asked Somnun about love and he replied:
“One can speak of something
only through something more subtle and refined.
There is nothing subtler than love.
So what could ever express love?”