Editing Druze (section)

=== Esotericism ===
The Druze believe that many teachings given by prophets, religious leaders and holy books have [[Western esotericism|esoteric]] meanings preserved for those of intellect, in which some teachings are [[Religious symbolism|symbolic]] and [[allegory|allegorical]] in nature, and divide the understanding of holy books and teachings into three layers.

These layers, according to the Druze, are as follows:
* The obvious or [[exoteric]] ''([[Zahir (Islam)|zahir]])'', accessible to anyone who can read or hear;
* The hidden or [[esoteric]] ''([[Batin (Islam)|batin]])'', accessible to those who are willing to search and learn through the concept of [[exegesis]];
* And the hidden of the hidden, a concept known as ''[[anagoge]]'', inaccessible to all but a few really enlightened individuals who truly understand the nature of the universe.<ref>{{Citation |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A3694809 |contribution=The Druze|title=h2g2 |date=8 April 2005 |publisher=BBC |place=UK}}</ref>

Druze do not believe that the esoteric meaning abrogates or necessarily abolishes the exoteric one. Hamza bin Ali refutes such claims by stating that if the esoteric interpretation of ''[[Islam|taharah]]'' (purity) is purity of the heart and soul, it doesn't mean that a person can discard his physical purity, as ''[[salat]]'' (prayer) is useless if a person is untruthful in his speech and that the esoteric and exoteric meanings complement each other.<ref>{{Cite book |contribution=The Epistle Answering the People of Esotericism ''(batinids)'' |title=Epistles of Wisdom |volume=Second }} (a rough translation from the Arabic)</ref>