QUESTION:
With reference to the question on boycotting Israeli products, please comment on the article below and advise if it is correct or acceptable?
“Pro BDS or not, boycotting products or not, supporting Israeli products or not, these are individual or collective choices. Fruit grown in occupied territories, products manufactured in factories built on occupied land using cheap Palestinian labour, these might be common ground for boycotting Israeli products. But general products, these bring varied responses. Generally it’s all about money, and nothing is higher on the occupation agenda, than fiscal and monetary bolstering and protection. Chopping their “trees” which in today’s time is their pocket. Hit them where it hurts the most, which is why they hate the BDS movement.
Whichever side you choose, respect the others opinion and decision. I have a friend who for years, only shops at Muslim-owned supermarkets. Yes, he buys products manufactured by everyone, but he only buys at Muslim outlets. I respect him, and was in awe when he told me that many years ago he knew it was cheaper at say, Pick n Pay, but he made a conscious decision to support Muslim businesses only. So, I say that we can choose whichever side, but just respect the others viewpoint. If I choose to buy Coke, respect me, and if you choose to not buy Coke, I should respect you.
The benefit of not supporting them in whatever way we can, can best be understood in the South African case.
Disinvestment (or divestment) from South Africa was first advocated in the 1960s, in protest against South Africa’s system of apartheid, but was not implemented on a significant scale until the mid-1980s. The disinvestment campaign, is credited by some as pressuring the South African Government to embark on negotiations ultimately leading to the dismantling of the apartheid system.
On the flip side, the benefit of supporting them, well with all due respect, lies in the rubble in Gaza.”
ANSWER:
Unfortunately, the Ummah is so intensely divided that we cannot collectively unite on even a single matter. The Hadith states that the Ummah is like a single body, hence at the bare minimum, we should be united when the Muslim Ummah is being massacred and oppressed. To boldly state that it’s a matter of choice is an indication of selfishness and not being concerned of our brethren that are being massacred in other parts of the world. I wonder if we would have said the same if we were being massacred and oppressed, whilst the Muslims of the world enjoy themselves selfishly? It seems that we have stooped to such an ebb that our luxuries are more valuable to us than the blood of our Muslim brothers. We supposed to have been sacrificing our lives for Deen, but we can’t even sacrifice a Coke. May Allah Ta’ala guide us all. Ameen!
ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date:- 18 Rabi-ul-Aakhir 1445 / 03 November 2023
