alBatin

Al-Batin (Arabic: الباطن) is one of the ninety-nine names of Allah in Islamic tradition. The name is usually translated as The Hidden, The Inward, or The Inner. It denotes God’s existence beyond outward appearances, His knowledge of the unseen, and the inner realities of existence. It is commonly paired with Al-Zahir (The Manifest) in classical lists to express that God encompasses both the visible and the hidden, while remaining beyond full human perception.

In theology and mysticism, Al-Batin emphasizes that God is not limited to what can be perceived, and that human beings cannot fully grasp His essence through senses or intellect alone. The attributes are understood as inseparable from God’s essence by many scholars, and they describe the relationship between God and the world, including hidden motives, interior truths, and the unseen order of creation.

The exact ordering and inclusion of the 99 Names vary by source, but Al-Batin appears in many traditional lists and is invoked in devotional contexts to acknowledge God’s hidden knowledge and inward reality. In Sufi thought, the term is often used to denote the inward path of spiritual realization and the quest to comprehend divine realities beyond outward form.

Significance: For Muslims, recognizing Al-Batin invites humility before the unknowable depth of God and encourages reflection on the inner dimensions of faith, conscience, and the cosmos. The name is part of broader discussions about how God relates to the world—both through apparent signs and through what remains hidden.