The Fatwa Committee of the Palestinian Scholars Association (an independent body) issued a fatwa declaring unequivocally that dealing with the Israeli occupation, its companies, and supporting companies is forbidden (haram). They affirmed that “anyone who engages with the Zionist entity or its companies commits a grave sin of the highest order.”
In a statement posted on their account on the X platform, the committee stated, “Islamic scholars unanimously agree on the prohibition of engaging economically with the enemy in anything that strengthens them. Modern economic science has proven that any form of economic interaction that strengthens the enemy is detrimental because a country’s economy is viewed not only in parts but as a whole.”
“They are invaders and occupiers.”
The statement further added, “The Zionists are not just combatants, but they are invaders and occupiers of part of the Muslim lands and their sanctities. Therefore, dealing with them must be based on the necessity of tightening the noose around them, besieging them, and cutting off all forms of interaction with them, which is a form of defensive jihad against this brutal occupying enemy.”
The Fatwa Committee of the association continued, “Several eminent late jurists have emphasized the complete prohibition of any form of engagement, even if it involves food. One of the most notable fatwas was issued by the prominent Maliki scholar at Al-Azhar at the time, Sheikh Alish, prohibiting the supply of food, meat, and animals to the French army occupying Algeria, which is inherently known in religion.”
The statement clarified that “Sheikh Alish (may God have mercy on him) based this prohibition on the ruling of jihad, thus illustrating that boycott is related to jihad and its ruling. Therefore, supporting Muslim fighters in Palestine is mandatory, based on the principle that what cannot be achieved except by it is obligatory, as anything weakening this enemy is a legitimate duty.”
Utterly forbidden…
The Palestinian Scholars Association, which includes scholars residing outside Palestine and is based in Istanbul, affirmed that “dealing with Zionist occupiers, their companies, and supporting companies is utterly forbidden, and this prohibition is known in and of itself and is inherently part of religion.”
According to the Fatwa Committee, “Anyone who engages with the Zionist entity or its companies commits a grave sin of the highest order.” They also stated that “anyone who deals with the occupying entity and its companies and supports it, and is sympathetic to it and desires its victory over Muslims in Gaza and Palestine in general, is an apostate beyond the pale of Islam.”
The Fatwa Committee further explained that “the ruling on dealing with foreign companies supporting the occupation and companies licensed in Islamic countries is forbidden for others, because engaging with companies is permissible in principle but becomes prohibited due to their support for the Zionist entity, even if this support is merely moral.”
Similarly, regarding companies from countries supporting the occupying entity and not dissociating themselves from their state’s actions, dealing with them is prohibited for others in order to pressure those countries supporting the occupation, according to the Palestinian Scholars Association.
As of Thursday, the US-backed Israeli war, ongoing since October 7, has resulted in more than 124,000 Palestinian fatalities and injuries, mostly children and women, with over 10,000 missing, amid massive destruction and famine that has claimed the lives of dozens of children.
Tel Aviv continues its war despite two UN Security Council resolutions demanding an immediate cessation, and orders from the International Court of Justice to end the invasion of Rafah, and to take measures to prevent “genocidal acts” and improve the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.
