Abul Hassan is one of the most celebrated Sufi mystical poets, known especially in the Arabic-speaking world and in Andalucia, North Africa. His poetry manages to express deep mystical thoughts about Oneness and monism in simple yet profound ways. Influenced by his master, Ibn Sabin, he dedicated his work to the philosophy of Absolute Oneness. This belief holds that all of existence is essentially God, and that any sense of multiplicity we perceive is merely an illusion.

Through everyday things like mountains, trees, and plants, Hassan saw the Divine. In his view, everything individual was an illusion; the only reality was God. This sense of Oneness pervades his work, often encapsulated by the slogan “God only.”

He originally hailed from a village near Guadix in present-day southern Spain, close to Granada. The natural beauty of this region undoubtedly influenced his early years and spiritual outlook. Standing in this area brings a deeper connection to his work.

One of his notable poems is “Just Understand Me,” translated by Lords Maria Alvarez. The poem captures the essence of his mystical philosophy, emphasizing that the Divine is present in everything and everyone, transcending all forms of duality. The recurring refrain “just understand me” underscores the simplicity and depth of his message.

In this poem, Hassan speaks of the Divine as encompassing all existence, visible in various forms and across different beliefs. He sees his beloved in everything, from plants and minerals to the pen and ink, affirming that there is no mistake in this view. He believes that those who truly know God see Him in everything, and that one’s external appearance is unimportant compared to the marvels within.

Hassan encourages readers to detach from the world of illusions and imagination to understand the true essence of existence. He speaks of annihilating oneself in contemplation to realize that there are no boundaries, only the infinite presence of God.

In these verses, he emphasizes that understanding and embracing God’s presence leads to joy and clarity. He beckons his readers to open their hearts, embrace unity, and achieve a state of spiritual perfection. For Hassan, the secret of existence lies in recognizing the interconnectedness of all things with the Divine.

His poetry invites us to see beyond the physical and understand the deeper truths of existence, reminding us that everything is an expression of one singular reality—God only.