The Role of Custom (‘Urf)

A great number of the shariah rules on halal and haram in foodstuffs relate to the customary practices (‘urf) of people in different regions and continents. The rules of fiqh have often adopted the customary preferences of people that did not violate any of the basic principles of Islam. This chapter examines general custom (‘urf, ‘adah), which is a recognized source of law and judgment in Islamic jurisprudence. It is defined as “recurrent practices that are acceptable to people of sound nature.” Custom represents the people’s convenience, but it is rejected if it is in conflict with a clear injunction of shariah.