Boycotting Non-Muslim Products in Muslim Societies: Sharʿi Ruling
Source: Ahkam wa Masail, Vol. 01, in the light of the Qur’an
❖ Question
I, Naumana Khalid bint Khalid Siddiq, am writing an M.A. thesis in Islamic Studies at Punjab University, Department of Islamic Studies, Lahore, Pakistan, on the topic: “Utilization of Non-Muslim Products in Muslim Societies — A Religious and Economic Review.”
In this regard, I request your guidance to make it easier for me to understand the truth.
Nowadays, the use of non-Muslim products has become common in Muslim societies, despite the clear reality that non-Muslims (such as Jews and Qadianis) often use the profits earned from these products to conspire against Muslims and to oppress innocent Muslims.
In this connection, I have two questions:
➊ What is the Sharʿi ruling on boycotting the products of non-Muslims?
➋ Can Muslims import from non-Muslim countries such products or luxuries that are not available in their own countries?
❖ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʿAmma Baʿd!
◈ As a principle, trade with non-Muslims is permissible, provided there is no element of ḥarām or fear of fitnah in it.
◈ The Noble Prophet ﷺ also conducted transactions with non-Muslims. For instance, at the time of his passing, his armor was pledged with a Jew in exchange for thirty ṣāʿ of barley.
However, in the present circumstances — when conspiracies are continuously being plotted against Muslims, and profits from trade with them are being used against us, even to the extent of killing our Muslim brothers — in such a situation, we should avoid encouraging trade with them and should boycott their products.
Because in these circumstances, trading with them results in harm to Muslims, and Sharīʿah has prohibited every action that causes harm.
Hadith of the Prophet ﷺ:
"لا ضرر ولا ضرار” (Ibn Mājah)
Therefore, all Muslim countries should promote inter-Islamic trade through the platform of OIC, so that no harm is caused to any Muslim.
هذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
