Zahir (Islam)

Zahir is an Arabic term used in certain exegeses of Quran to denote that which is external and manifest. Certain esoteric interpretations of Islam maintain that the Quran has an exoteric or apparent meaning, known as zahir, as well as an underlying esoteric meaning known as batin. Batin can only be interpreted by a figure of esoteric knowledge. For Shi'a Muslims, the Imam of the Time is alone capable in understanding the esoteric meaning.