الْبَاطِنُ
The Hidden
Al-Batin
The Hidden
The One whose true nature is hidden and beyond the grasp of human intellect and perception.
Hadîd 57:3
Virtue
Al-Batin declares that Allah's essence cannot be known or seen by His servants—yet He knows the interior, the deepest secret, of every thing. In Surah al-Hadid 57:3 He says: 'He is the Manifest and the Hidden.' The balance of these two names is important for the believer: Allah's works are plainly visible (Az-Zahir), yet His essence is unknowable (Al-Batin). The servant who reflects on this name lets go of trying to grasp Allah's essence—they know that He is, without asking how. At the same time, they remember Al-Batin knows even the most hidden intention of their heart; their hidden intention must be pure.
Related Hadith
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: 'Deeds are only by intentions.'
[Buhârî, Bed'ü'l-Vahy, no. 1]
