Consumer Boycotts and Jurisprudential Challenges Related to Identifying Their Legal Cause (‘İllah)

Year 2024, Issue: 61, 179 - 193, 30.06.2024

Ozat Shamshıyev

https://doi.org/10.29288/ilted.1447487

Abstract

Recently, consumer boycott has been used as an economic weapon and a tool of passive resistance. There are several dimensions to consumer boycott, which serves as a means for Muslim communities to assert their will and to make their voices heard. This study primarily examines the legal (fiqhi) justifications for consumer boycott. The main objective of the study is to identify the reasons (causes) that lead Muslims to engage in consumer boycott. In addition, a secondary objective of our study is to present the problems that may arise in issuing fatwas in relation to the identified causes and abiding by the consequences of these causes. The qualitative analysis method was used to achieve the objective of the study. This analysis was largely carried out using literature and content analysis techniques. Classical jurisprudential principles (uṣūl al-fiqh), principles of issuing fatwas (uṣūl al-iftā), consideration of consequences (i‛tibār al-ma’ālāt)
and principles of Islamic governance (al-siyāsah al-shar‛iyyah) were also highlighted in the research methodology. According to our findings, the concept of boycott is not commonly found in classical jurisprudential sources. The rulings on boycott are more implicitly addressed in issues regulating commercial relations with non-Muslims. As far as contemporary literature is concerned, there are numerous studies on Muslim consumer boycott from different perspectives. However, there is a gap in the literature regarding the identification of the cause of boycott. As a result, four causes of boycott have been identified: “disrespect for Muslim dignity”, “insulting religious values”, “supporting the enemy in a state of war with Muslims”, and “political interests and general welfare of Muslims”. Some issues related to the practical application of these grounds are also discussed. In addition, the author raises the question of whether threatening the ḥalâl and healthy nutrition of Muslim communities is a reason for boycott and suggests it as a topic for further research.

Keywords

Islamic Law, Consumer Boycott, Fiqh Analysis, Jurisprudential Challenges, the Ratio Legis (‘illah).

Tüketici Boykotu ve İlletinin Tespitine İlişkin Fıkhi Problemler

Abstract

Son dönemlerde tüketici boykotu bir ekonomik silah ve bir pasif direniş aracı olarak kullanılmaktadır. Müslüman toplumların iradelerini ortaya koymada ve seslerini duyurmada başvurdukları bir vasıta olan tüketici boykotunun birçok boyutu söz konusudur. Bu çalışmada tüketici boykotunun özellikle fıkhî gerekçeleri incelenmektedir. Çalışmanın esas amacı Müslümanları tüketici boykotuna sevk eden sebeplerin (illetler) tespit edilmesidir. Bununla birlikte tespit edilen illetlerle ilgili olarak fetvâ verilirken ve illetin gereğine göre amel edilirken karşılaşılabilecek problemlerin sunulması da çalışmamızın ikincil bir amacıdır. Çalışmanın hedefine ulaşılırken nitel analiz yöntemine başvurulmuştur. Söz konusu analiz büyük ölçüde literatür ve içerik incelemesi tekniğine göre gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırmanın metodolojisinde klasik fıkıh usûlü, fetvâ usûlü, i‛tibâru’l-me’âlât ve siyâset-i şer‛iyye gibi mefhumlara da dikkat çekilmiştir. Tespitlerimize göre klasik fıkıh kaynaklarında boykot mefhumuna pek rastlanmamaktadır. Boykotla ilgili hükümler daha çok gayrimüslimlerle ticari ilişkileri düzenleyen konularda zımnen ele alınmaktadır. Güncel literatüre gelince, Müslüman tüketici boykotu ile ilgili farklı açılardan yapılmış birçok çalışma mevcuttur. Ancak literatürde boykotun illetinin tespiti ile ilgili bir boşluk söz konusudur. Sonuç olarak “Müslüman onurunun ayakaltına alınması”, “dini değerlere hakaret edilmesi”, “Müslümanlarla savaş hâlindeki düşmana destek verilmesi” ve “Müslümanların siyasi çıkarları ve genel maslahatı” olmak üzere dört illet tespit edilmiş ve bunların uygulama boyutu ile ilgili birtakım sorunlara değinilmiştir. Ayrıca yazar tarafından “Müslüman toplumun helal ve sağlıklı beslenmesine yönelik tehdit oluşturmanın” bir boykot illeti olup olmayacağı tartışmaya açılarak sonraki araştırmacılara bir konu önerisinde bulunulmuştur.

Keywords

İslam Hukuku, Tüketici Boykotu, Fıkhi Analiz, Fıkhi Problemler, İllet.

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