Urf: The Intersection of Islam and Indian Culture
Urf, an integral concept in Islamic jurisprudence, represents the collective practices and customs recognized as commendable by a society. The term originates from the Arabic root meaning “to know” and embodies the idea of societal knowledge that is both familiar and good. Within the Islamic legal tradition, ‘urf serves as a secondary source of law, subordinate to the Qur’an and Sunnah, but significant in its role as a mediator between divine principles and human contexts. By incorporating beneficial local practices that align with Islamic values, ‘urf allows Islam to adapt to diverse cultural settings without compromising its core tenets. Understanding ‘urf is essential to appreciating how Islam embraces regional customs, particularly in a multicultural society like India.
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