Boycotting

Boycotting Products Manufactured by Non-Muslims

Question: There is a drink called ‘Cola’ that is supposedly produced by a Jewish company. So what is the ruling of consuming this drink, or of selling it? Is it considered cooperating in something that is sin and transgression?[1]

Answer: You have never heard that the prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam used to buy food from a Jewish man to feed his family?! He died while his shield was pawned to this Jewish man.[2] You have never heard that the Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam used to accept gifts from the Jews?![3] If we are going to go so far as to say this, then let us not overlook something even more obvious: we use automobiles that are manufactured by Jewish companies. There are other beneficial products made only by them.[4]

Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Saalih Al-Uthaymeen

[1] This fatwa was taken from a book called ‘Al-Fataawa Ash-Shar’iyyah fi Al-Qadhaya Al-‘Asriyyah’, a collection of various rulings by Muhammad Ibn Fahd al-Husayn.

[2] This is mentioned in the hadeeth recorded by al-Bukhaaree (no. 2068) and Muslim (no. 4090)

[3] This is mentioned in the hadeeth recorded by al-Bukhaaree (no. 5777)

[4] Taken from: Al-Baab al-Maftuh (no. 61-70, pg. 95)

Question: Some people these days call others to boycott American products and companies like Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, etc. So, should we comply with such requests? Are transactions like buying and selling with non-Muslims in countries at war against us permissible, or are they only allowed with whom we have peace? [1]

Answer: It is allowed to buy any product that is permissible in itself no matter where it was produced unless the government commands that we should boycott something for some benefit to Islam or the Muslims. This is because the general rule regarding buying and selling is that it’s allowed, Allaah subhanahu wa ta’aala says:

And Allaah has made selling permissible. [Soorah al-Baqarah, 2:275]

And the prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam used to buy things from the Jews.[2]

[1] This fatwa was taken from a book called ‘Al-Fataawa Ash-Shar’iyyah fi al-Qadhaya Al-‘Asriyyah’, a collection of various rulings by Muhammad Ibn Fahd al-Husayn.

[2] Fatwa by The Permanent Council for Research and Religious Verdicts (no. 21776, 12/25/1421 Hijrah)

Boycotting American Products

Question: These days, we find written in some newspapers people calling others to boycott American products, not to buy or sell them. It was even written today in a newspaper that Muslim scholars themselves call for such boycotts and that doing this is an obligation upon every single Muslim. It is said that to purchase even one item from these products is forbidden and that anyone who does so commits a major sin and is assisting them and the Jews in killing Muslims. We hope you will clarify this matter since there’s a dire need for such clarification. Also, would a person ever be rewarded for doing this (boycotting)?[1]

Answer: First, I would request a copy or the clipping from this newspaper that contains this kind of talk the questioner mentioned. 

Second, this is incorrect. The scholars have never issued religious verdicts saying that buying American products is forbidden. These American goods are still imported and sold in Muslim markets. And even so, it wouldn’t harm America in the least if you yourself did not buy their products. No products are to be boycotted unless the government, the legitimate ruler, issues a sanction or boycott against another country. In this case, the boycott would be legitimate and binding. As for just some individuals wanting to do this and passing their own religious verdicts in support of it, then this is forbidding something that Allaah has made permissible and that is not allowed.

Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan.[2]

[1] This fatwa was taken from a book called ‘Al-Fataawa Ash-Shar’iyyah fi al-Qadhaya Al-‘Asriyyah’, a collection of various rulings by Muhammad Ibn Fahd al-Husayn.

[2] Taken from the casette: Fataawa al-Ulamaa’ fi al-Jihaad wa al-‘Amaliyyat al-Intihariyyah’.