QUESTION:
“Do you want to join the war? Read the article until the end!!
The Jews, who took refuge in the castles of Khayber, were waiting for our Prophet to leave with their stocks of food and drink. The castles of Khyber were on a solid, high place. If you shot an arrow, it would come back to you. Even if you threw stones, it wouldn’t reach them. If you shouted, your voice wouldn’t reach you. Khayber was not destroyed. Khayber was not conquered. The Islamic army waited for days. But the Jews did not leave the castles. The Muslims were about to run out of stock and their morale. They waited for days. But in vain! After this long wait, our prophet developed a strategy. Date trees would be cut down. The economy of the Jews of Khyber would be cut off one by one. Their fortunes would collapse. Their future would be uprooted. Because for the Jews, money, wealth, and prosperity were everything. As the trees were cut down, the Jews were devastated. There would be no point in staying here after the trees were cut down. They made an agreement and would leave Khaybar, the capital of the Jews, with as much cargo as they could carry.
If you want to join the battle of Khayber, cut down a tree too! Even if you curse today, your voice will not reach the Jews! Even if you throw a stone, it will not reach Israel! Even if you shoot an arrow, it won’t reach the Tel Aviv! But you, too, can follow our Prophet’s strategy! Take your axe and cut down the Jews’ trees!
How?
Every Jewish property that enters your house is a tree. Every Jewish detergent you use is a tree. Every cola you drink is a tree. Every Jewish water you drink is a tree.
Coke, Pepsi, Fantas, M&S, MacDonald’s, Dominos, Pizza Huts, Tescos, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons ,Ariel, Algidas, Max, Danones and look on Google who are supporting them- they are their trees.
Do you want to join the battle of Khyber? So take your “boycott axe” and cut down the Jews’ trees!” (End of Article)
The Prophet got the date palm trees of the tribe of Bani-An-Nadir burnt and the trees cut down at a place called Al-Buwaira . Hassan bin Thabit said in a poetic verse: “The chiefs of Bani Lu’ai found it easy to watch fire spreading at Al-Buwaira”
Are the contents of the aforementioned article correct? Please advise!
ANSWER:
Imaam Bukhari Rahimahullah quotes the following narration under the chapter of cutting trees and date palm trees.
حدَّثنا موسَى بنُ إسْمَاعِيلَ قَالَ حدَّثنا جُوَيْرِيَةُ عنْ نافِعٍ عنْ عبدِ الله رَضِي الله تَعَالَى عَنهُ عنِ النبيِّ صلى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسلم أنَّهُ حرَّقَ نَخْلَ بَني النَّضِيرِ وقَطَعَ وهْيَ البوَيْرَةُ ولَهَا يَقولُ حَسَّانُ: وَهَانَ علَى سَرَاةِ بَنِي لُؤَيٍّ حَرِيقٌ بالبُوَيْرَةِ مُسْتَطِيرُ (صحيح البخاري :٢٣٢٦)
Na’fi narrates from Abdullah Radiallahu Anhu from Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam that Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam burnt the date palm trees of Banu Nadheer and cut it at a place called ‘Buwaira’, in regard to which Hassaan Bin Thabit mentioned (a couplet), “It became easy for the leaders of Banu Luai (Muhaajireen) to ignite a fire at ‘Buwaira’ whose sparks spread all over.
This is the 5th chapter (in Bukhari Sharif) to prove the importance of farming. When farming, one is required to uproot trees at times, whereas there is great harm in the cutting down of trees. A tree takes many years to grow to its maximum, hence it shouldn’t have been made permissible to cut trees. However, it is proven that one is permitted to cut down trees due to necessity such as farming, or at the time of war.
During the battle of Banu Nadheer, the Jews locked themselves in their forts and would not emerge. To get them out of their forts, the Muhajireen cut their trees and uprooted their gardens at a place called ‘Buwaira.’ It was on this occasion that Hadrat Hassan Radiallahu Anhu rendered a couplet which is recorded in the narration above. [Re:- Tauhfatul Qari Pg.370 Vol.5]
The narration is in no way related to boycotting Kuffar products as the article states, rather it pertains to the strategies of war. Under normal circumstances, there is no need to cut and uproot trees but if it proves beneficial (in war) then it is acceptable.
The objective of not supporting or boycotting the Kuffar companies, whether Israel or other countries of the world, is to stop their oppression against the Muslims.
However, we haven’t come across any narrations or verses that prove boycotting of products so that the Kuffar may mend their ways and stop persecuting the Muslims. If the Muslims didn’t have sufficient manpower to fight the Kuffar, as was their condition when living in Makkah Sharif, then they were commanded to exercise patience and turn to Allah Ta’ala, and when they had sufficient ability to fight the Kuffar, as was their condition when they migrated to Madinah Sharif, then they were permitted to fight the Kuffar due to being oppressed. This is the actual way of countering the Kuffar and not through boycotting their products only.
If 2 billion Muslims in the world boycott their products, then there are another 6 billion Kuffar to support them and purchase their products. So, boycotting is not the actual solution in trying to rectify the ways of the Kuffar. Yes, we do agree that it will affect their turnover to some extent, but that is not sufficient to prevent their oppression. Also, Muslims have become so weak that they boycott their products and stores for a week or two and then end up supporting them again, whilst others cannot do without their products even during these difficult times. Taking to the streets, boycotting, handing over letters to the various embassies, hasn’t really changed the situation. The actual solution in ridding the bad elements of society is by implementing Jihaad and reforming. When the Ummah will obey the commands of Allah and follow the teachings of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam then the help of Allah will certainly descend.
We, as Muslims, should always support our stores and manufacturers rather than supporting the Kuffar, whether they are oppressing the Muslims, or not. Unfortunately, we state that we hate the Kuffar, and we hate what they are doing to our Muslim brethren, yet our lifestyle contradicts our words in every way. We are obsessed with their fashion, perfumes, clothing, sports, holidays, cruises, entertainment, lifestyle, etc. A container throws out its contents-when our hearts are filled with the love of their ways, how will we ever be able to boycott them? Therefore, Hadrat Maulana Yusuf Saheb Khandelvi Rahimahullah used to make Dua, “O Allah, remove Judaism and Christianity from the hearts of the Muslimeen.” Whilst we outwardly claim to hate them, we love them deeply in our hearts and this is proven from our lifestyle. Let us start with removing their love from our hearts, implement Deen and Sunnah in our lives, and the help of Allah Ta’ala will surely descend as it had descended for the Sahaaba on the occasion of Badr.
ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Maulana Ahmed Saeed
Date:- 16 Rabi-ul-Aakhir 1445 / 01 November 2023
CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai Saheb
