THE CONCEPTS OF MAʿRŪF AND ʿURF WITHIN THE FAMILY INSTITUTION

Abstract

Maʿrūf, (literally “known”), is one of the important ethical concepts in the Qurʾān which has been used interchangeably with ʿurf, (literally “custom”). This study examines the usage and significance of the terms maʿrūf and ʿurf in the Qurʾān to determine whether the concept of treating individuals bi-l-maʿrūf is rooted in universal ethical principles or shaped by local customs and morals. The study employs textual analysis and historical review. It explores how classical and modern Muslim exegetes have interpreted maʿrūf and ʿurf in their respective contexts, with a particular focus on their occurrences within the family institution. Given that ʿurf is recognized as a secondary source of Islamic law in uṣūl al-fiqh and it influences contemporary Muslim family laws, this study investigates how these concepts inform the social realities of modern Muslim families. Special emphasis is placed on the 2004 Moroccan family law reform, which introduced the principle of shared responsibility of spouses, to illustrate how maʿrūf and ʿurf contribute to reimagining family dynamics in modern Muslim families.

Date of Award	2024
Original language	American English
Awarding Institution	HBKU College of Islamic Studies