BOYCOTTING PRODUCTS AND services is a powerful tool to generate awareness and exert economic pressure, discouraging companies from supporting or investing in the Zionist state.
As Muslims, boycotting is not merely an option but a sacred duty. How can we, in good conscience, support those who enable the slaughter of our Ummah? The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “A Muslim is a brother of another Muslim, so he should not oppress him, nor should he hand him over to an oppressor. Whoever fulfilled the needs of his brother, Allah will fulfil his needs; whoever brought his (Muslim) brother out of discomfort, Allah will bring him out of the discomforts of the Day of Resurrection, and whoever screened a Muslim, Allah will screen him on the Day of Resurrection.” (Bukhari)
The Scale of the Boycott
The depth of Israeli involvement in global trade is profound. Many well-known and obscure brands have direct or indirect ties to Israel. The boycott list continues to grow, exposing the entanglement of multinational corporations in the occupation. Capitalism deceives us into believing we have choices, but in reality, a handful of corporations control the markets, making it difficult to find truly ethical alternatives.
Our boycotting thus requires some sacrifice but this is insignificant compared to the daily horrors endured by Palestinians. Mothers clutching their lifeless babies, fathers digging through rubble for their families, entire generations wiped out before our eyes—how can we justify continuing to fund their oppressors?
Is the Boycott Effective?
Yes, there have been successes—companies like Puma, McDonald’s, and Starbucks have felt the heat. But let us be brutally honest: if our goal is to end the genocide and liberate Palestine, the boycott alone has not been enough.
Eighteen months into this slaughter, Israel’s war machine grinds on, emboldened by unwavering support from its allies. While trade is crucial for Israel, our efforts are drowned out by the overwhelming backing of its Western patrons and treacherous Muslim regimes.
Unwavering Western Support
Israel has been the largest cumulative recipient of U.S. foreign aid since its founding, receiving about $310 billion (adjusted for inflation) in total economic and military assistance. In 2016, President Obama signed a $38 billion military aid package for the decade 2017-2028. More recently, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio invoked emergency powers to expedite $4 billion in military aid to Israel, emphasizing that Israel has “no greater ally in the White House than President Trump.” Since taking office, the Trump administration has approved nearly $12 billion in foreign military sales to Israel.
The U.S. is not just supporting Israel—it is arming it to the teeth, ensuring its continued reign of terror over Palestine. Just as the then superpowers, Britain and France, carved up the Middle East after World War I, today’s superpower fuels Israel’s settler-colonialist expansion for its own strategic interests.
The Complicity of Muslim Rulers
But the most painful betrayal does not come from the West—it comes from within.
Muslim-majority states have not just remained silent; they have actively facilitated Israel’s war efforts. The UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan have provided land access to bypass the Houthi blockade of the Red Sea, keeping Israel’s trade routes open. Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan continue to supply oil via Turkey. Jordan has allowed U.S. weapons to pass through its territory into Israeli hands. And despite his fiery speeches, President Erdoğan’s Turkey maintains trade with Israel.
What does this tell us? While we boycott McDonald’s, our own rulers are fueling the Zionist machine with oil, weapons, and logistics. Our protest is countered at every turn by the very leaders sworn to defend our interests.
Can Boycotting Ever Work?
Boycotts, trade embargoes, and sanctions are powerful tools—but they are most effective when enforced by states. When Russia invaded Ukraine, the U.S. and Western Europe didn’t ask their citizens to boycott Russia; they imposed immediate sanctions, even at the cost of rising energy and food prices.
Muslim-majority countries have the power to impose crippling sanctions on Israel. Even without military intervention, they could close land and air routes, enforce a Red Sea blockade, and cut off oil and trade. But they refuse. They betray the Ummah for nationalistic and economic gains, while Palestinian blood soaks the streets of Gaza.
Did Boycotting Not End S African Apartheid?
Boycotting is often presented as a means to stop the genocide in Gaza and dismantle Israel’s apartheid system, similar to how it helped end apartheid in South Africa. However, this comparison has its limits.
Historically, the West ignored apartheid in South Africa because the regime was viewed as an ally against communism during the Cold War. While anti-apartheid support grew among the public in the West, state-led boycotts and withdrawal of support only really materialized after the fall of communism.
The existence of Israel is key to US foreign policy in the Middle East, just as it was for Britain and France before. As Biden stated, supporting Israel is a crucial investment for the US: “It is the best $3 billion investment we make. Were there not an Israel, the United States of America would have to invent an Israel to protect her interests in the region.”
It’s unlikely this policy will change, as political Islam is seen as an ongoing threat to Western hegemony much like it was a major reason for the abolition of the Ottoman Khilafah and the fragmentation of the Muslim world.
The Real Problem: Our Rulers
The harsh truth is this: the biggest obstacle to change is our own rulers. These treacherous leaders must go.
Regardless of where we live or our backgrounds, we must unite in calling for their removal. We must demand a leadership that fears Allah, not the West. Our armies must rise to defend the oppressed and liberate occupied Muslim lands.
The Changing Global Order
The world is shifting. Political landscapes are redrawn, superpowers are faltering, and the established order is crumbling. Why should we remain shackled by the borders and systems imposed upon us by colonialists and which they do not respect?
The Muslim Ummah must break free from mental colonization. We must return to the Islamic way of thinking. The Khilafah is not a distant dream—it is the only viable solution for unity, justice and strength. Only through its reestablishment can we achieve true liberation, not just for Palestine, but for the entire Muslim world.
Let us no longer be content with half-measures. Let us not merely boycott but strive for complete transformation. Now is the time to act.
Living For Islam 