A fundamental aspect of embodying a
gheerah mindset is making a conscious decision not to support individuals or entities that insult the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and take delight in doing so. The Prophet ﷺ emphasized the importance of loving him above all else, stating: “None of you will have faith till he loves me more than his father, his children, and all mankind.”
This attitude should also include rejecting those who oppress his followers, as he ﷺ reminds us that the sanctity of the Muslims, their wealth, and their blood is equal to that of the day of Hajj.
Despite this, many Muslims actively contribute to the very systems that disparage the Prophet ﷺ, belittle Islamic beliefs, and harm his followers.
For example, despite its well-documented history of mocking Islam and discriminating against Muslims—projecting caricatures of the Prophet ﷺ on government buildings,
banning hijab (most recently in relation to Muslim French female athletes at the Olympics),
and vilifying mainstream Islamic practices
—France remains a popular destination for Muslim travelers. In 2023, it ranked 13
th among non-OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation) destinations for Muslims in the Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI).
This is not an insignificant statistic, especially when we consider that Muslim travelers are projected to spend USD 225 billion by 2028.
It is troubling that while French Muslims are leaving France to be able to escape discrimination and practice their faith more freely,
other Muslims visit the same place for leisure and entertainment. Similarly, the UK and Germany—both active partners in the genocide against Palestinians—attract significant numbers of Muslim travelers. The UK has supplied armaments, political cover, and military intelligence that facilitate Israel’s ongoing bombardment of Gaza.
Germany, as the second-largest supplier of weapons used against Palestinians after the United States,
has not only sought to shield Netanyahu and Gallant from ICC arrest warrants
but has also been accused of exhibiting “raging Islamophobia”
and producing content reminiscent of Nazi propaganda to demonize visible Muslims,
while simultaneously suppressing expressions of Palestinian solidarity.
Furthermore, like France, it enforces bans preventing Muslim women who wear the hijab from pursuing certain professions.
Despite this, both countries remain top destinations for Muslim travelers, ranking 2
nd and 7
th, respectively, among non-OIC countries in the GMTI 2023.
Why should Muslims support the economies of countries that openly ridicule their beliefs and actively participate in the genocide of their fellow Muslims?
These examples show us that it is crucial to reevaluate our choices, with each decision being made with careful consideration of various factors, particularly the impact on one’s spiritual development and broader benefits to the ummah. The clearest case for boycotting these countries in terms of travel pertains to purely optional leisure activities, where travel is unnecessary and where alternatives exist that are more in line with a gheerah mindset.
As for companies, many businesses, such as McDonald’s, Caterpillar, Adidas, and Starbucks, are already being boycotted for their perceived support of genocide or marginalization of Palestinians. These efforts should continue, and additional companies added to the list. For instance, Tesla, which opened a showroom in East Turkistan (aka Xinjiang)—the site of the Uyghur genocide—should also be targeted for boycotts. It is also worth noting that the company’s CEO has expressed support for Germany’s anti-Muslim party AfD,
the British anti-Islam activist Yaxley-Lennon,
and backed Israel during its relentless bombardment of Gaza.
However, a
gheerah mindset goes beyond simply reevaluating consumption habits and calls for us to think more deeply and substantively about our approach. This means not only refraining from purchasing products made in certain countries or by certain companies, and avoiding traveling to specific places, but also refraining from looking up to (privately or publicly) people, countries, and companies that are actively disparaging our faith and harming the
ummah.
It might seem that individual boycotts won’t have a significant impact on these entities’ financial standing. However, the essence of a gheerah mindset goes far beyond economic impact (important as that is) or a reactive strategy triggered only in response to events. It is about having a level of self-respect and dignity that prevents a Muslim from supporting those who insult the Prophet ﷺ, denigrate Islam, or oppress fellow Muslims.
To put this into perspective, consider a personal scenario: would you ingratiate yourself with or give money to someone who insults your parents and mocks them in the most offensive manner? Certainly not. If some relatives from the tribe of Quraysh, including non-Muslims, stood by the Prophet ﷺ and his followers during the three-year boycott out of tribal loyalty, can we, as Muslims bound by the much stronger bond of faith, not change our mindset to abandon anyone who debases us, oppresses fellow Muslims, and insults our beloved ﷺ, who will intercede for us on the Day of Judgment?