Abstract

A hefty relation has been observed between Islam and Pakhtunwali (Pakhtun social organization) for as long as Pakhtuns are among those who wholeheartedly accept Islam as a religion. Both (Islam and Pakhtunwali) serve as the basic pillars and tend to bring social harmony and integrity through the socio-cultural, economic, religious and political aspects of Pakhtuns living in their demarcated territory. The current study focuses on those misconceptions that are prevalent among the inhabitants about Islam as an ideal type religion that has affinity to Pakhtunwali. Particularly, the research study emphasizes over relegation of those rights, which have evenly been scribed for both men and women in Islam, while on the contrary, Pakhtun social organization through the adherence of ideal traditional social structure looks down upon women. The information utilized in this study was collected during a PhD research survey in 2008 from 4425 households through anthropological techniques including participant observation, case studies and in-depth interviews from 775 respondents (both male and female of age 25 and above inChakdara Town, District Dir Lower). Furthermore, the secondary information (relevant literature and Islamic scripts) have been utilized for the relational analysis of both the ideal types. The study patently summarizes clear disparity between the implementation of ideal Islamic Sharia and Pakhtunwali. Almost all the internal and external activities ofPakhtuns are overseen under the traditional system of Pakhtunwali (Pakhtun social organization) while Islam as an ideal type religion has no such role in the indulgence of women’s rights in many aspects of life.

Key words: Pakhtunwali, relegation, rights to divorce, remarriage, property, spouse selection, ideal type.