Diversity within the Unity When the Prophet (SAW) was sent with the divine message, the change that took place was the fact that rather than traditions and ancients customs being the yardstick for right and wrong, it was the book of Allah, the Qur’an and the Prophetic traditions (sunna) that was the adjudicator. However, this did not mean that the Prophet ﷺ wanted to completely change the status quo and overthrow every aspect of life that the people had been accustomed to. Custom or `urf, is something that is considered in Islamic law. For example, is the obligation of the husband to financially support his wife (nafaqa)—the actual amount is not stipulated. It is referred to the custom of the people to decide how much is fair. Thus far from doing without custom altogether, many aspects and rulings of the sharia are dependent on the customs of a people, in order for them to be actionable. Another example is when the Prophet (SAW) who said to Aisha (RA) when she took a woman on her wedding night to a man from among the Ansar: “O ‘Aisha, was there any entertainment (in the gathering)? For the Ansar love entertainment.” (Bukhari) He (SAW) knew the custom of the Ansar and respected it. The point of mentioning all this is to highlight the fact that Islam is not supposed to be practiced in a vacuum, where anything, by virtue of it being foreign, is rejected and seen to be something that the sharia despises. This is more so when it seems almost fashionable for young practicing people to boast how some practice is “just” traditional, and hence they want to rid themselves of it. Islam is a universal religion, and our Prophet (SAW) is a universal prophet. In the words of the Qur’an: “And We have not sent you except comprehensively to mankind as a bringer of good tidings and a warner. But most of the people do not know.” (Qur’an, 34:28) This universality implicitly accepts the cultures and traditions of all people with the condition that they do not contradict the Qur’an and sunna. This difference is an aspect of life that is to be embraced, not an imperfection to be erased.
Posted on: Mon, 04 Nov 2013 05:22:52 +0000
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