We live here in the US and we decided a long time ago to boycott all the products and the companies who help our enemies the Israelis. The problem is that sometimes these products that we are boycotting are on sale and they cost cheaper than the others. Nevertheless, we buy the more expensive ones just to avoid giving our money to kill our brothers and sisters in Palestine. My question is: Are we wasting our money (Tabdir) by buying more expensive products to avoid helping the enemies?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

Islamicly, being wasteful is to spend money inappropriately such as in prohibitions or exaggerating in permissible matters. If a person spends all his money appropriately, he is not considered as being extravagant.

Ibn Mas'ood said regarding the interpretation of the verse of Allaah: (interpretation of the meaning): {But spend not wastefully (your wealth) in the manner of a spendthrift.}[17:26], saying: "Wasting wealth means spending money inappropriately."

Ibn Jareer also reported that Ibn Mas'ood said: 'We, as companions of the Prophet used to consider that wasting one's wealth (or being extravagant) is to spend one's wealth inappropriately."

Moreover, Ibn 'Abbaas interpreted the saying of Allaah: (interpretation of the meaning): {Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils…}[17:27], saying they are those who spend their wealth inappropriately. [Ibn Jareer, Al-Bayhaqi, and Al-Bukhari]

In addition to the above, Ash-Shaafi'ee said: 'Being extravagant and wasteful is spending one's wealth in other than its proper channel and there is no extravagance when spending it is in common good.' Al-Qurtubi after quoting Ash-Shaafi'ee, said that this is the opinion of the majority of scholars. Therefore, it becomes evident to us that boycotting the goods of the enemy, and buying other goods even with a more expensive price is not considered as wasting, because boycotting the goods of the enemy is a common good and spending on this is not considered as wasting.

Lastly, we draw the attention of the questioner that the Muslims should know that the greatest means of victory over the enemy is to obey Allaah and his Prophet and to abide by the legislations of Allaah. It is not correct for a Muslim to be negligent regarding obligations and transgress the limits of Allaah, then expect victory only by boycotting American goods and other goods, leaving aside the principle and abiding by one of its branches. This is a mistake that many Muslims make.

Allaah knows best.