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.