Religion:Batiniyya

From HandWiki

Batiniyya (Arabic: باطنية, romanized: Bāṭiniyyah) refers to groups that distinguish between an outer, exoteric (zāhir) and an inner, esoteric (bāṭin) meaning in Islamic scriptures.[1]

Ismaili Batiniyya

The term has been used in particular for an allegoristic type of scriptural interpretation developed among early Ismaili Shia groups, stressing the bāṭin meaning of texts.[2] It has been retained by all branches of Isma'ilism and various Druze groups as well. The Alawites practice a similar system of interpretation.[2] Batiniyya is a common epithet used to designate Isma'ili Islam, which has been accepted by Ismai'lis themselves.[3]

Sunni writers have used the term batiniyya polemically in reference to rejection of the evident meaning of scripture in favor of its bāṭin meaning.[2] Al-Ghazali, a medieval Sunni theologian, used the term batiniyya pejoratively for the adherents of Isma'ilism.[2][4] Some Shia writers have also used the term polemically.[1]

Sufi Batinyya

When the Islamic world of the Fatimid dynasty entered an Ismaili age in the 10th century, Batinyya became less practiced.[clarification needed] As Ismailism turned into political conflicts, the Ayyubid Kurds began their de-Ismailization of Upper Mesopotamia and beyond, reversing the Fatimid forced Ismailization policies.[5] The Kurdish core of the Ayubid empire itself reverted to Sufi Sunni Islam and appropriated the Batini Ismaili beliefs into Sufi Islam .

See also

References