For the ‘Urf to be given consideration and for Ahkaam to be built or based upon it, the following have been stipulated as conditions:

1 – That it is not contrary to the Nass (text) where it represents a Saheeh ‘Urf like the permissibility of Istisnaa’ (ordering a thing to be manufactured) and is not a Faasid ‘Urf like managing alcohol at Waleemahs (celebration dinners).

2 – That the ‘Urf is Muttarid (general) or Ghaalib (predominant) meaning that the ‘Urf is widespread amongst its people, well-known to them and acted upon by them. The predominance means that the majority of the people act in accordance to it.

3 – That the ‘Urf had arisen prior to the time of acting upon it and then the ‘Urf continues until its time so that it proceeds hand in hand with it simultaneously. That means that at the time of the conduct, the ‘Urf is being acted upon.

4 – That there is no speech or action that establishes the opposite of the ‘Urf. This would be like if it was from the ‘Urf that the fees of exporting were upon the buyer whilst the two contracting partners agreed for it to be upon the seller. In this case the ‘Urf would be dropped and what the two contracting parties had agreed would be taken. The Qaa’idah in this case according to them states: ‘That which is established by ‘Urf without mention is not established if the contrary has been stated”. This is taken from the ‘Qawaa’id’ (principles) of ‘Al-‘Izz Bin Abdis Salaam volume 2 page 178.