batin

Batin, from the Arabic word batin meaning inner, hidden, or interior, is a term used in Islamic thought to distinguish an inward, esoteric dimension from the outward or apparent aspect, zahir. The distinction appears in Islamic vocabulary and exegesis, where texts may carry both a literal level and a deeper, concealed meaning.

In Islamic theology, batin refers to the hidden or spiritual meanings of scripture and ritual that may be known through insight, revelation, or the guidance of a recognized interpreter. The opposite concept is zahir, the outward or surface meaning. Exegesis that seeks to uncover batin is called ta’wil, a practice more developed in Shiʻa and Isma’ili traditions and in certain Sufi circles, where interpretation moves beyond the literal text.

Historically, ideas about inner meaning have been associated with esoteric currents within Islam. Some groups labeled as Batiniyya by polemicists emphasized inner knowledge and sought allegorical understandings of religious texts. In Isma’ili and Twelver Shiʻa thought, believers sometimes regard the imam or a divinely guided authority as the custodian of batin, guiding interpretation beyond the literal. In Sufism, batin is integral to the inward path to God, achieved through spiritual disciplines and contemplative practice, while still recognizing outward rites and ethics.

In contemporary use, batin remains a general term for inner or esoteric dimensions of faith across Muslim communities, contrasting with outward observance. It features in discussions of Qur’anic interpretation, mystical Islam, and the history of Islamic sects.