Batiniyya

Batiniyya is a somewhat pejorative term to refer to those groups, such as Alevism, Ismailism, and often Sufism which distinguish between an inner, esoteric level of meaning Batini in the Qur'an, in addition to the outer, exoteric level of meaning Zahiri. Batini ta’wil is the name given to the exegesis (ta'wil) of the esoteric knowledge which rests with the Imam, or with the Shaykh/Pir in Sufism.

See also

• Esoteric interpretation of the Qur'an
• Qarmatians
• Bektashi, another group focusing on batin and zahir
• Alevism
• Sufism
• Druze

External links

• Glossary of Ismaili terms, at The Institute of Ismaili Studies
• Zahir and batin, short definitions.
• Citicism of the Batinis, based on the Qur'an