Ẓāhir or zaher (Arabic: ظاهر) is an Arabic term in some tafsir (interpretations of the Quran) for what is external and manifest.[1] Certain esoteric interpretations of Islam maintain that the Quran has an exoteric or apparent meaning, known as zahir, but also an underlying esoteric meaning, known as batin (baten), which can be interpreted only by a figure of esoteric knowledge. For Shi'a Muslims, the Imam of Time alone can understand the esoteric meaning.
In Sufism, the actions of an individual are the zahir, and the intention in the heart is the batin.[2]Zahir is the world of bodies whereas batin is the world of souls. Sufis believe in the purification of the batin by their spiritual guide to assure a zahir that follows Shariat.
According to the "Epistle of the Right Path", a post-Mongol Persian-Ismaili treatise, the zahir (exoteric) form and the batin (esoteric) essence co-exist, in that the zahir (exoteric) form is the manifestation of the batin (esoteric) essence. The zahir (outer form) without the batin (essence) is just like a mirage or an illusion.[3]
Many IsmailiMuslim thinkers have stressed the importance of the balance between the exoteric (ẓāhir) and the esoteric (batin) in the understanding of faith, and have explained that spiritual interpretation (ta’wil) entails elucidating the esoteric meaning (bātin) from the exoteric form (ẓāhir).[4]
Referencesedit
^. University of Oxford. 2008-05-06. Archived from the original on November 19, 2015. Retrieved 2015-12-31.
^Virani, Shafique N. (2010). "The Right Path: A Post-Mongol Persian Ismaili Treatise". Iranian Studies. 43 (2): 197–221. doi:10.1080/00210860903541988. ISSN 0021-0862. S2CID 170748666.
^Virani, Shafique (2019). "Hierohistory in Qāḍī l-Nuʿmān's Foundation of Symbolic Interpretation (Asās al-Taʾwīl): The Birth of Jesus". Studies in Islamic Historiography: 147.
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zahir, islam, other, uses, zahir, disambiguation, Ẓāhir, zaher, arabic, ظاهر, arabic, term, some, tafsir, interpretations, quran, what, external, manifest, certain, esoteric, interpretations, islam, maintain, that, quran, exoteric, apparent, meaning, known, za. For other uses see Zahir disambiguation Ẓahir or zaher Arabic ظاهر is an Arabic term in some tafsir interpretations of the Quran for what is external and manifest 1 Certain esoteric interpretations of Islam maintain that the Quran has an exoteric or apparent meaning known as zahir but also an underlying esoteric meaning known as batin baten which can be interpreted only by a figure of esoteric knowledge For Shi a Muslims the Imam of Time alone can understand the esoteric meaning In Sufism the actions of an individual are the zahir and the intention in the heart is the batin 2 Zahir is the world of bodies whereas batin is the world of souls Sufis believe in the purification of the batin by their spiritual guide to assure a zahir that follows Shariat Zahir is also the underlying principle of the Ẓahiriyya a school of thought in Islamic jurisprudence and theology that relies only on the manifest or apparent meaning of expressions in the Quran and the Sunnah According to the Epistle of the Right Path a post Mongol Persian Ismaili treatise the zahir exoteric form and the batin esoteric essence co exist in that the zahir exoteric form is the manifestation of the batin esoteric essence The zahir outer form without the batin essence is just like a mirage or an illusion 3 Many Ismaili Muslim thinkers have stressed the importance of the balance between the exoteric ẓahir and the esoteric batin in the understanding of faith and have explained that spiritual interpretation ta wil entails elucidating the esoteric meaning batin from the exoteric form ẓahir 4 References edit Zahir Oxford Islamic Studies Online University of Oxford 2008 05 06 Archived from the original on November 19 2015 Retrieved 2015 12 31 Bayman Henry 2003 Exoteric and Esoteric ISBN 9781556434327 Virani Shafique N 2010 The Right Path A Post Mongol Persian Ismaili Treatise Iranian Studies 43 2 197 221 doi 10 1080 00210860903541988 ISSN 0021 0862 S2CID 170748666 Virani Shafique 2019 Hierohistory in Qaḍi l Nuʿman s Foundation of Symbolic Interpretation Asas al Taʾwil The Birth of Jesus Studies in Islamic Historiography 147 nbsp This Islam related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Zahir Islam amp oldid 1195872353, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
