When is boycotting permissible?
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The questioner : When is boycotting permissible?
The Shaykh : This is what we see: if boycotting the sinner or the wrongdoer only increases the severity of the matter, then what is the purpose of boycotting? It is for the sake of reform and to deter him. If he is not deterred and may even increase in evil, consider this example: if you see a man shaving his beard and you boycott him, will he stop doing it? If he stops, then there is no harm. But if he does not stop, and instead increases in his hatred of you and the truth you are calling him to, and he continues on, what is the benefit? Furthermore, we have the authentic hadith:Sunan Abi Dawud 4914Sahih (Al-Albani) and this is in Muslim.
The questioner : Is it permissible to boycott someone for the sake of reforming him?
The Shaykh : There is no doubt that it is permissible for the sake of reform, or out of fear that people may be harmed by him.
The Shaykh : This is what we see: if boycotting the sinner or the wrongdoer only increases the severity of the matter, then what is the purpose of boycotting? It is for the sake of reform and to deter him. If he is not deterred and may even increase in evil, consider this example: if you see a man shaving his beard and you boycott him, will he stop doing it? If he stops, then there is no harm. But if he does not stop, and instead increases in his hatred of you and the truth you are calling him to, and he continues on, what is the benefit? Furthermore, we have the authentic hadith:
It is not allowable for a Muslim to keep apart from his brother for more than three days
لا يحل لمسلم أن يهجر أخاه فوق ثلاثThe questioner : Is it permissible to boycott someone for the sake of reforming him?
The Shaykh : There is no doubt that it is permissible for the sake of reform, or out of fear that people may be harmed by him.