Boycotting American Goods

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, a woman named Abeer sent you this question: Is it true that you, Honorable Shaykh, issued a ruling that it is not permissible to boycott American goods?

Answer:
We did not say it is not permissible. We say that one should not boycott unless ordered by the one in authority. If the one in authority orders a boycott, then it is boycotted. As for a spontaneous boycott by some people, this is not permissible, and it does not make the lawful forbidden. The default is that one does not make the lawful forbidden unless an order is issued by the one in authority, who looks to the interest of the Muslims and the interest of the country. If he issues an order, then it is obligatory to comply and boycott the goods of the hostile state that is being boycotted.