سماجی اصلاح میں عرف و عادات کے کردار کا جائزہ

A Research Overview of The Role Of ‘Urf and‘ādah in Social Reforms

Abstract

‘Urf (custom) and ‘ādah (tradition) are recognized as important subsidiary sources of Sharī‘ah, as social systems are largely governed by prevailing customs and traditions. Although their validity is subject to the theoretical supremacy of Sharī‘ah, ‘urf and ‘ādah are considered operative when they fulfill certain essential conditions, such as being widespread, recurrent, and generally practiced within Muslim societies. This article examines the pivotal role of ‘urf and ‘ādah, particularly in the fields of social reform and da‘wah. Since customs and traditions are deeply rooted in society and are often resistant to change, they must be given special consideration in da‘wah activities and reformative efforts. The study further demonstrates, with supporting evidence, that social reforms yield meaningful results only when they are grounded in social realities, factual understanding, and prior knowledge of the target society. Moreover, it argues that calls for social reform and da‘wah do not necessarily guarantee success unless the genuine issues of society are properly identified, addressed, and discussed.