Boycott is not something new. And it can be traced in Islamic History. It is an economic war against terrorism, islamophobia, illegal occupation of the Muslim lands or blasphemy.
An example is the incident which took place in the 6th Hijra which helps Muslims to understand the need to employ boycott against oppressors to help bring about justice when necessary.
Thumaamah bn Uthaal, the chief of Banu-Hanifa and leader of Yamamah, had killed several companions and was later apprehended. He was to spend three days in Medina as a prisoner during which period the Prophet asked him to accept Islam. Thumaamah declined and despite his refusal and the crime he committed, the Prophet solla Allahu alayhi wa sallam released him and gave him his freedom.
Thumaamah left Medina but returned back and accepted Islam at his own free will. Thereafter, he headed to Makkah (which was still under the control of Quraesh) to perform Umrah. On witnessing the hatred and malicious plans of the Quraesh (islamophobia), Thumaamah pledged to boycott the Makkans and withhold the sale of food/Grain from Yamamah.
It was reported in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim that Thumamah said: “…By Allah, you will not get a single grain of wheat from Yamama until it is permitted by the Messenger of Allah.”
The boycott took place and we can conclude that the Prophet permitted him to use this strategy.
However, upon signing the treaty of Hudaybiyah in Dhul Qa’dah of the same 6th Hijra, the Makkans pleaded and told the Prophet that this boycott contravened the treaty and the prophet, because of the treaty of Hudaybiyah, requested for the boycott to be lifted.
And this example reflects how boycott is not something new in Islam.
Likewise Sheikh Ahmad Shakir who Died 1958, a scholar of Hadith and a leader of Salafiyyah da’wah in Egypt; wrote an article on boycott المقاطعة. (attached).
Even though his own Fatwa on boycott is too extreme; perhaps if understood within the sociological context of his time, it won’t be considered extreme.
As for the case of the present campaign which asks Arabs and Muslims not to buy French products in response to President Emmanuel Macron’s statements this month, describing Islam as a religion in crisis, this is a very good jihad against Islamophobia.
This same Macron backed the publishing of caricatures of the Prophet solla Allahu alayhi wa sallam in the spirit of “freedom of expression”.
The prophet is deeply revered by us and any kind of visual depiction is forbidden in Islam. These caricatures are seen as offensive and Islamophobic because they are perceived to link Islam with terrorism.
Macron has also promised to put forward a draft law on December 9 to combat what he terms “Islamist separatism” by banning the “importation” of foreign-financed and trained imams.
He is also proposing tax breaks and state funding to mosques that sign a charter accepting French principles of secularism, democracy and the rule of law.
These measures in an increasingly populist political environment against France’s embattled Muslim community could be seen in the context of shoring up Macron’s base ahead of the 2022 presidential elections.
Hence, the campaign of boycott against French products (particularly government products and companies which support such islamophobia movement) is justified and should be encouraged by all Muslims. Sooner or later, when they started feeling the heat, they will apologize and will never take the Muslims unity against oppression for granted.
I hope we unite.