Esoteric or Sufi interpretation attempts to unveil the inner meanings of the Quran. Sufism moves beyond the apparent (zahir) point of the verses and instead relates Quranic verses to the inner or esoteric (batin) and metaphysical dimensions of consciousness and existence. According to Sands, esoteric interpretations are more suggestive than declarative, they are allusions (isharat) rather than explanations (tafsir). They indicate possibilities as much as they demonstrate the insights of each writer. COUNT 4
QSN1 What is another term for Sufi Quranic interpretation? ANS1 Esoteric QSN2 What Arabic word describes the aspects of Quranic verses that Sufism tries to push beyond? ANS2 zahir QSN3 What is an Arabic term for allusions? ANS3 isharat QSN4 Sands says Sufi interpretations tend to use which literary device rather than direct explanation? ANS4 allusions