Batiniyya () refers to groups that distinguish between an outer, exoteric (zāhir) and an inner, esoteric (bāṭin) meaning in Islamic scriptures. The term has been used in particular for an allegoristic type of scriptural interpretation developed among some Shia groups, stressing the bāṭin meaning of texts.
Batiniyya () designates groups that differentiate between an external, manifest (zāhir) and a hidden, concealed (bāṭin) meaning in Islamic writings. This term is particularly associated with a symbolic interpretation of scriptures among some Shia communities, highlighting the bāṭin significance.