The Duality of al-Zahir and al-Batin (the esoteric interpretation): A Reading of the Diwani Messages in Egypt during the Fatimid era

Abstract

This paper deals with the study of the impact of the Shiism on the Arabic literature in general, and on the Fatimid literature in particular. It treats the issue of)al-Zahir and al-Batin(in the Holy Qur’an or what is called the esoteric interpretation. The Fatimid writers exerted more attention and paid their effort in employing Qur’anic verses through esoteric interpretation, their goal in that was to get the Imamate or the Caliphate, it was the utmost motivation for the esoteric interpretation.  the Imamate was right for Ali bin Abi Talib and for his descendants and they sought to maintain this right contextually not by selection.  The study deals with the concept of "esoteric interpretation" and its relationship to the issue of Alzaher and Albatin (deep and surface meaning), as it was mentioned in the Diwaniyah letters of the Fatimid writers. It also examines the manifestations of the esoteric interpretation with the Imam on one side and with the Fatimid writers on the other side. The study ends with presenting the elements of their use of esoteric interpretation through selected models from the Diwaniya messages, directly related to the thought and belief of the Fatimids.