Al-‘Urf linguistically means: With a Dammah on the ‘Ayn it is the opposite of An-Nukr (denial) and it has also come with the meaning of the elevated place where it is said ‘‘Urf ul-Jabal’ (the high or elevated place of the mountain) and the flesh of the head of the cockerel is called an ‘Urf due to its high position in respect to its body.

It is what the people have made habitual and are accustomed to whether this relates to speech or an action.

Al-Ghazaaliy (rh) defined it as: “Al-‘Urf is what has settled in the Nufoos (i.e. deeply in the people) by way of the ‘Uqool (minds) and the sound nature has received it with acceptance”.

In the view of the Fuqahaa it means the ‘Aadah (the custom, norm, practise, habit).

Al-‘Aadah is taken from which carries the meaning of repetition. Therefore, the one who comes with an action and repeats it to such a level that it becomes hard for him to leave it, that action is called an ‘Aadah.

The ‘Urf is the ‘Aadah of the Jamaa’ah (collective). It is what the society has become accustomed to and made habitual so that they proceed according to it in speech and action in their lives.