One wonders about all these conflicting religious edicts — fatwas — on the subject of boycotting Western products. Some say the boycott is allowed — halal — while others tell us that it is forbidden — haram. Why deny ourselves something we desperately need on the grounds that it is made in the West if it is known that such products are manufactured only in the West? Does using these products mean we have linked ourselves to the West or became loyal to it? No, I don’t think so.
Those who approve the boycott argue that when Muslims buy a Western product they are assisting in the killing of fellow Muslims. The reasoning is that they are providing non-Muslims with the means to kill Muslims. And to avoid this, they tell us that Muslims should obviously stop using Western products. Even if we assume that this is true, who can guarantee to us that all such products are manufactured by a non-Muslim? And even if it were so, how do we know that the non-Muslim was really helping the enemies of Islam? In fact, the factory where the product is made might be owned jointly by a Muslim and a non-Muslim.
For example, there are millions of Muslims in America. A product we think should be boycotted may be manufactured in a factory owned by one of these Muslims or in another factory jointly owned by a Muslim and non-Muslim. What about a boycott in such cases?
We should not be swayed by articles fed to us by those who, from time to time, come up with a call for a boycott without any supporting explanations or facts. International companies tend to build factories and set up production lines in many different countries — including Muslim ones. Some have factories in Muslim countries and any boycott of their products would certainly harm Muslims.
On the other hand, for any boycott to be effective and produce the desired results, it has to enjoy both popular and official support. Otherwise, it will be futile. A boycott is closely linked to an economy which is in turn entwined with politics, and all these are influenced by globalization. In these days of global economies, open boundaries and global politics, any attempt to boycott will end in failure unless ordered by a government. Refusing to trade with somebody must be carefully studied, weighed and considered. It must be used as a tool of foreign policy to influence, and exert pressure upon, our enemies.
In the end, a boycott is a weapon for the weak. If Muslims were united, they would have rushed to help their brothers in Palestine, liberate their lands and drive out the Israeli occupiers in humiliation and defeat as happened in South Lebanon.
Arab News From the Local Press 22 January 2003
