Boycott: An Islamic Response to the Occupation of Palestine By Friends of Al-Aqsa. www.foa.org.uk Abstract: This article shows how the concept of boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) can be seen from within Islamic history and was common even during the time of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). It was something the Prophet (Peace be upon him) endorsed and employed. Taking the holistic teachings of Islam (Qur’an, Ahadith and Sunnah) it can be established that all individuals of consciousness and piety are encouraged to refrain from assisting oppressors, handling stolen property and prolonging injustice. We can therefore conclude that BDS is a means by which Muslims can help the occupied and oppressed Palestinians; who have had their land and property stolen by Israel which has now built illegal settlements in their place. These settlements use stolen Palestinian farmland to grow produce and sell to the world. Do not be amongst those who buy such stolen produce. The Holy Quran “…..[Believers] help one another in acts of righteousness and piety, and do not help one another in sin and transgression. Fear Allah…(Al-Maidah 5:3) Since the Israeli occupation of Palestine began, people of conscience who oppose it have established various methods to pressure the international community in to questioning Israel's oppression and occupation of the Palestinians. One of the most effective approaches has been the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement. The BDS movement has exposed the extent of the oppression and applied pressure on Israel to end its oppressive occupation and policies. Ordinary people are able to participate by boycotting Israeli goods grown in or manufactured from the illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT). Many organisations are active and successful in raising awareness by emphasising the need for an economic, academic and cultural boycott of Israel. This has now become a global phenomena with millions of ordinary citizens participating. This article hopes to emphasise why it is imperative for Muslims to participate in and promote the BDS movement from an Islamic perspective. Islamic history from the time of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) reveals that boycott in various forms was a common theme. Three specific incidents are described below which can help Muslims to better understand the BDS movement. 1. The Boycott of the Prophet and the Banu-Hashim in Makkah The Makkans tried to silence the Prophet (Peace be upon him) from preaching by imposing oppressive measures against him, his followers and his tribe the Banu- Hashim. They finally imposed severe sanctions against them which lasted three years. This included the banning on intermarriages and trade (including food) with the Muslims and their associates. This was an example of the implementation of harsh and calculated policies designed to break the will of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) and early Muslims. The lesson from this period of the Prophet’s (Peace be upon him) life is beneficial for the Palestinians and their supporters. The Prophet and his supporters were marginalised and oppressed, resulting in great hardship but they overcame their plight with endurance, patience and confidence that their ‘just’ cause would eventually be successful. Palestinians, despite being restricted of their rights to freedom of movement, economy, farming, religion, education and civil liberties; must draw comfort and steadfastness from the life of the Prophet (Peace be upon him), and the example of his steadfastness during the oppressive boycott. This example can also be used by the supporters of the Palestinian cause and those who seek justice. They should persevere in their cause until justice is obtained. 2. Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) Employ’s the Boycott Strategy A) Battle of Tabuk & Boycott of the Three Companions. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) also used boycott in a different way in order to keep those Muslims whom he loved dearly on the righteous path. Boycott was used by him almost as a form of therapy and as a lesson for these Muslims, so that they could correct their actions. Tabuk was a town strategically positioned between Damascus and Madina. The possibility of an attack on Madina was very real since the outcome of the Battle of Mu'ta had been inconclusive. Moreover, senior commanders, including Heraclius himself, who had just returned the cross to Jerusalem, were still in al-Sham. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) accordingly called upon his Companions to come forward and march on Tabuk to check the Byzantine advance. It was the month of Rajab and the heat was intense. The people were hard pressed because Madina was experiencing a severe drought. As such, very few crops and fruits could be cultivated and harvested. Hence, this expedition is also referred to as Al-'Usra (the expedition of hardship). The Prophet (Peace be upon him) had issued a call to defend the religion and the Sahaba responded in large numbers. However, in this expedition, the Munafiqun (the hypocrites), who had entered Islam either for their advantage or worked against the Muslims from within, behaved as Allah willed for them. They exposed themselves by refusing to undertake what appeared to them a perilous expedition across the burning hot Arabian Desert without adequate provisions or equipment. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) granted them exemption. Thousands of Muslims came forward. They were the ones who feared for the hereafter, who believed that having Allah on their side was more important than all the comforts of this life. Upon the Prophet's (Peace be upon him) return to Madina, as was his Sunnah (the Prophets way) after returning home from a journey, he went to the Mosque and offered two rakkah salah (units of prayer). Thereafter, he received the people. From those who had stayed behind, the Hypocrites came forward first, offered (false) excuses and took oaths before him. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) accepted their excuses, took their pledge of allegiance and asked Allah's forgiveness for them, and left the secrets of their hearts for Allah to judge.i One man amongst the faithful believers who had not made the journey was Ka’b ibn Malik (ra).ii The Prophet (Peace be upon him) ordered the companions to boycott Ka’b ibn Malik (ra) and two other Muslims, Murara ibn Ar-Rabi Al-Amri (ra) and Hilal ibn Umaiya Al- Waqifi (ra), who also failed to join the expedition. This boycott was not out of anger, but rather it was intended to ensure that these believing Muslims who were not of the hypocrites were made to understand the extent of their wrong deed in not joining the venture. Ka’b (ra) says: 'The people stopped talking to us and the very land where I lived appeared strange to me as if I did not know it'. Before forty days had elapsed, a Nabati (Christian farmer) from al-Sham asked people to lead him to Ka’b ibn Malik. They did so. The Nabati handed Ka’b a letter from the Chief of Ghassanids. In it was written: 'I have been informed that your friend (the Prophet) has treated you harshly. Anyhow, Allah does not let you live at a place where you feel inferior and your right is lost. So join us, and we will console you.' Evidently, the Byzantine espionage was effective enough to have learned, within forty days, of the situation in Madina, and contemplated inducing Muslims to defect. The Muslims’ knowledge of the Byzantines’ sinister intents justified their unease and insecurity. Ka’b (ra) says, 'When I read the letter, I said to myself, “This is also a test.” Then I took the letter to the oven and made a fire therein by burning it.' The boycott continued and later the Prophet (Peace be upon him) ordered the three to abstain from cohabiting with their wives. The boycott lasted for a total of 50 days, after which Ka’b and his colleagues were forgiven for their misdeed. Ka’b ibn Malik's sincerity and honesty is merely an example of the Sahaba’s practices. This is an example of how boycott was used by the Prophet (Peace be upon him) as a lesson for believers. B) Thumaamahiii bin Uthaar and Boycott of Makkans An incident which took place in the 6AH helps Muslims understand the need to employ BDS against oppressors to help bring about justice. Thumaamah bin Uthar, 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 (Peace be upon him) asked him to accept Islam. Thumaamah declined and despite his refusal and the crime he committed the Prophet (Peace be upon him) released him and gave him his freedom. Thumaamah bin Uthaar 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 Quresh) to perform Umrah. On witnessing the hatred and malicious plans of the Quresh, Thumaamah pledged to boycott the Makkans and withhold the sale of food/Grain from Yamamah. The ahadith in Sahih Bukhariiv and Sahih Muslim state: “……By Allah, you will not get a single grain of wheat from Yamama until it is permitted by the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him).” The boycott took place and we can conclude that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) permitted him to use this strategy. However upon the signing the treaty of Hudaybiyah in 632, the Makkans told the Prophet (Peace be upon him) that this boycott contravened the treaty and the prophet, because of the treaty of Hudaybiyah, requested for the boycott to be lifted.